Nutrition for a Newborn
Feeding a newborn baby can be a bit overwhelming, but there are some key things to know to ensure they are getting enough nourishment. Here's what you need to know:
- Newborns do not follow a strict schedule: Unlike adults, newborns do not usually have a set feeding schedule. Feed your baby when they show early signs of hunger, while also following your pediatrician’s guidance about how often to feed, especially in the first days and weeks of life.
- How often should a newborn eat: In the first few weeks, most healthy newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Many need to eat about every 2 to 3 hours, but feeding patterns vary. Watch your baby’s hunger cues and follow your pediatrician’s guidance, especially if your baby was born early, has jaundice, is losing too much weight, or has another medical concern.
- Look for hunger cues: Early hunger cues include opening the mouth, moving the head from side to side, rooting, sucking on hands, and smacking or licking the lips. Crying is usually a late hunger cue, so feeding your baby when early cues appear can make feeding calmer and easier.
- Tiny bellies: A newborn baby’s stomach is small, so they usually take small amounts at each feeding. Frequent feeding helps support milk supply for breastfeeding parents and gives babies practice sucking and swallowing. If you use formula or expressed breast milk, your pediatrician can help you understand how much to offer based on your baby’s age, weight, feeding cues, and growth.
- Wake your sleepy baby when needed: In the first weeks, some newborns may be sleepy and may not show strong hunger cues. Until your baby is gaining weight well and your pediatrician says longer stretches are okay, you may need to wake them to feed at least every 2 to 3 hours during the day and every 3 to 4 hours at night. Try changing their diaper, undressing them to a diaper, or gently rubbing their back or feet to help wake them.
- Weight gain and growth: A key way to know whether your baby is getting enough food is by monitoring weight gain and growth with your pediatrician. Many newborns lose some weight after birth and regain their birth weight by about 10 to 14 days of life. If your baby seems satisfied after feedings and is steadily gaining weight over time, that is a reassuring sign.
- Diaper output: Wet and dirty diapers are another way to tell whether your baby may be getting enough milk. In the first few days, diaper output gradually increases, and stools usually change from black or dark green meconium to greenish and then yellow stools. By about day 5, many newborns have at least 6 wet diapers a day. Stool patterns can vary, especially after the first few weeks, so call your pediatrician if your baby has very few wet diapers, no stools when expected, or signs of dehydration.
- Signs of being full: Your baby may slow down, relax their hands, turn away, fall asleep, or let go of the breast or bottle when they are full. If your baby is growing well, avoid forcing them to keep eating after they show fullness cues. If you are worried they are not eating enough, talk with your pediatrician.
Call your pediatrician promptly if your newborn is too sleepy to feed, refuses several feedings, has fewer wet diapers than expected, has dry mouth or no tears when crying, has worsening jaundice, has a fever, vomits forcefully or repeatedly, has blood in the stool, or is not gaining weight as expected. Every baby is different, so work with your pediatrician or another qualified health care professional to make sure your baby is feeding, gaining weight, and developing as expected. This is especially important if your baby was born early, has a medical condition, has jaundice, is having trouble latching or sucking, or is not having enough wet or dirty diapers.