Best Feeding Schedule for a Newborn
Feeding your newborn can feel overwhelming at first—how often should they eat? How much breast milk or formula is enough? Should you wake them up to feed? Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or doing a combination of both, feeding on demand is key, but having a flexible feeding schedule in mind can help you figure out what to expect during those early months.
Let’s break down what you need to know about creating a feeding schedule for your newborn, week by week and month by month. This guide offers a clear and easy-to-follow approach to creating the best feeding schedule for a newborn. Let’s dive in!
Baby Feeding Schedule by Age
Newborns grow quickly, and their feeding needs change quickly too. Did you know that most babies triple their birth weight in the first year? They need enough food and nutrients to support healthy growth; however, they have tiny bellies and can only eat a small amount at a time.
While every baby is different, here’s a general overview of what to expect:
0–4 weeks: Frequent feedings, often every 1–3 hours, even through the night (once cleared by your pediatrician, you may allow your baby to wake on demand, but initially it’s important to wake them to feed every 3 hours)
1–3 months: Feedings may stretch to every 3-4 hours if you're formula-feeding (but may still be every 2-3 hours if you're breastfeeding), and you may experience a longer stretch at the beginning of the night
4–6 months: Baby eats regularly every 3 hours, now with longer stretches overnight, usually still waking to feeding at least 1-2x times per night
6 months and older: Solid foods begin to supplement breast milk and/or infant formula
Regular weight measurements and consulting with your health care clinician can help assess whether a baby's feeding schedule and methods are effective. If weight gain is slower or more rapid than expected, talk to your doctor. It might be a good idea to make some feeding-related changes, whether breastfeeding or formula feeding, or both.
What is Responsive Feeding?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), feeding schedules are especially helpful for premature babies or babies with certain illnesses to help parents and pediatricians ensure that babies are getting enough nourishment. But, if a baby is healthy and born around their due date, you can breast and/or bottle feed them on-demand using responsive feeding.
Responsive feeding (also called, “feeding on demand”) means offering milk whenever your baby shows signs of hunger, not just by the clock. This is key to meeting your baby’s needs at each stage.
Every baby is unique! Look for signs of fullness (turning away from breast or bottle) and hunger cues (rooting, sucking motions, smacking lips) to guide you.
***TOP TIP: Use paced bottle feeding techniques to help prevent overfeeding when using a bottle by mimicking the rhythm of breastfeeding.
Newborn Formula Feeding Chart (mL and oz)
As your baby grows, the amount per feeding increases, but the number of feedings may decrease slightly. On average, your baby should take in about 2½ ounces (75 mL) of infant formula per day for every pound (453 g) of body weight.
Here is a helpful chart to monitor your baby’s intake by age:
Baby Age # of Feeds/day mL/Feeding Oz/Feeding
0-1 weeks 8-12x/day 30-60 mL 1-2 oz
1-2 weeks 8-10x/day 60-90 mL 2-3 oz
2-4 weeks 7-9x/day 90-120 mL 3-4 oz
2-4 months 6-8x/day 120-180 mL 4-6 oz
4-6 months 6-8x/day 180-240 mL 6-8 oz
Remember to always follow the preparation guidelines on your baby formula packaging. Avoid making homemade formula, using raw milk formula, or buying formula from another country that hasn’t been legally imported into the U.S. and/or reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Feeding Schedule for a Newborn Breastfeeding
Breastfed newborns usually eat 8–12 times a day. If your baby is growing well, feel free to let your baby set the pace! Trusting your baby’s hunger signals helps fuel proper growth and development and is the foundation of responsive feeding.
A sample schedule at 2 months of age for an exclusively breastfeeding baby might look like this, with nursing sessions happening about 8-9 times per day:
7:00 AM – Feed
9:30 AM – Feed
12:00 PM – Feed
2:30 PM – Feed
5:00 PM – Feed
7:30 PM – Feed
10:00 PM – Feed
2:00 AM & 5:00 AM – Night feeds (depending on your baby’s needs)
Signs of Poor Feeding in a Newborn
If your baby isn't getting enough milk, you might notice:
Fewer than 6 wet diapers a day after the 5th day of life
Poor weight gain
Constant fussiness or sleepiness
Dry lips or signs of dehydration
Not latching well or feeding for very short periods (less than 10 minutes)
Weak suck or poor latch with little to no swallowing sounds
Baby seems unsatisfied or fussy after feeds
** If you have concerns about your baby's feeding or weight gain, contact your pediatrician, registered dietitian, or a lactation consultant for further evaluation.
Cluster Feeding Newborn
Cluster feeding is when your baby wants to nurse or bottle-feed more frequently than usual, often in the evenings. It’s totally normal and helps boost your milk production.
Babies get hungrier when they go through growth spurts, which are usually around the age of 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. This causes your baby to nurse longer and more often. It may feel exhausting, but it usually passes within a few days. Hang in there!
Newborn Hiccups After Feeding
Hiccups are common during infancy and usually harmless. They may happen due to swallowing air while feeding. If hiccups persist or interfere with feeding, consult your pediatrician. To help prevent them:
Burp your baby in the middle of feeding and again at the end
Try paced bottle feeding techniques
Keep baby upright after feeds for at least 20-30 minutes
Use an anti-colic bottle to help reduce air intake
Final Thoughts…
Feeding your newborn may feel like a full-time job—and it kind of is! But trust your instincts, observe your baby’s cues, and don’t hesitate to ask for support. With responsive feeding, love, and patience, you’re giving your baby exactly what they need to thrive.
Have questions about your baby’s feeding schedule for newborns or tips for transitioning to a 6-month-old feeding schedule? Drop them in the comments—I’m here to help! You can also schedule an appointment for a virtual one-on-one consultation here, or check out these recent posts:
3-month-old feeding schedule
6-month-old feeding schedule
9-month-old feeding schedule
12-month-old feeding schedule
If you’re getting ready to start your baby on solids, download my FREE Baby-Led Feeding Essentials Checklist to make sure you have everything you need to get started. You might also want to check out my online course for parents, which will walk you through the whole process of starting solids using a baby-led approach.
If you prefer books and want help with starting solids, finding recipes the whole family (baby included) can enjoy, and navigating food allergy prevention during infancy all at the same time, check out my new cookbook and guide to starting solids and introducing allergens! It gives you the latest research on safely introducing all top 9 allergens and lots of recipes and tips to continue offering them consistently.
Thanks for reading!