Feeding 101 – from the Baby Whisperer


This very helpful feeding table is summarized from The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems by Tracy Hogg. It is designed for a baby who weighs 6-6 1/2 lbs. or more at birth, and assumes your baby doesn’t have any digestive or neurological problems. For preemies, use their developmental age.

The First 3 Days

  • Bottle-feeding: 2 oz. every 2 hours (between 16 and 18 oz. total)
  • Breast-feeding: 1st day – 5 min. at each breast (all day, whenever baby wants); 2nd day – 10 min. at each breast (every 2 hrs); 3rd day – 15 min. at each breast (every 2 1/2 hrs); 4th day or once milk comes in – Hogg recommends emptying one breast before switching (every 2 1/2 hrs).
  • Breast-feeding moms should feed more often to get the milk flowing at this time.

Up to 6 weeks

  • Bottle-feeding: 2-5 oz. per feed (7 or 8 feeds per day; 18-24 oz. total)
  • Breast-feeding: Up to 45 minutes
  • Feed every 2 1/2 – 3 hrs during the day; cluster feed in the early evening (feed at two-hour intervals in the early evening, at 5 and 7 or 6 and 8)
  • “Dream Feed” your baby somewhere between 10 and 11 pm. This means you feed your baby while she’s asleep. Not talking, turning on the lights, or changing diaper. Just feed and plop baby back in the crib.
  • Babies are capable of going 4-5 hours during the night, depending on weight and temperament.

6 weeks-4 months

  • Bottle-feeding: 4-6 oz. per feed (6 feeds + dream feed; typical range is 24-32 oz.)
  • Breast-feeding: Up to 30 minutes
  • Feed every 3 – 3 1/2 hrs; by 16 weeks, should be able to go 6-8 hrs during the night. Don’t continue cluster feeding past 8 weeks.
  • Goal should be to extend the time between feedings during the day, so that at 4 months, your baby lasts around 4 hrs between feeds. Exception for babies going through a growth spurt.

4 – 6 months

  • Bottle-feeding: 5-8 oz. per feed (5 feeds + dream feed; typical range is 26-38 oz.)
  • Breast-feeding: Up to 20 minutes
  • Feed every 4 hrs; should be able to go 10 hrs during the night.
  • Between 4 and 6 months, some babies’ appetites are affected by teething and their newfound mobility. So, they may consume less.

6 – 9 months

  • Bottle-feeding: 5 feeds a day, including solids. Liquid intake is typically 32-48 oz. Liquid consumption declines by the number of oz. of solids baby is eating. (A baby who once took 40 oz. of liquid now takes 15 oz. of solids and 25 oz. of liquid, totaling 40 oz.)
  • Breast-feeding: Give food first and then the bottle or 10 min. on breast. Since they can gulp liquids quickly at this age, it will probably only take 10 min. (versus the 30 minutes).
  • Typical routine: 7:00 – Liquid; 8:30 – Solids “breakfast”; 11:00 - Liquid; 12:30 – Solids “lunch”; 3:00 – Liquid; 5:30 – Solids “dinner”; 7:30 – breast or bottle before bed.

You might also want to check out this Solids Feeding Guide that goes up to 15 months.

Want your own copy of this phenomenal book by The Baby Whisperer. Share the love and buy it here:

 

 

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Feeding

Don’t know how much to feed your little one?

How often should you be nursing?

How often should she have a bottle?

How do you get that little rebel to eat solids?

Check out some of these posts:

 

Feeding 101 from the Baby Whisperer

A Baby Feeding Guide | Newborn – 15 Months

Tips to Get Baby to Eat Solids

What is a Toddler Serving Size?

Eating Organic: The Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15

 

Helpful Websites for Feeding

Kelly Mom (breastfeeding and more)

Wholesome Baby Food
(make healthy, homemade baby food)

NurtureBaby (more homemade baby food recipes and guidelines)

 

 

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