moving their heads from side to side
opening their mouths
sticking out their tongues
placing their hands, fingers, and fists to their mouths
making quiet, cooing sounds
puckering their lips as if to suck
nuzzling again their mothers' breasts
showing the rooting reflex (when a baby moves its mouth in the direction of something that's stroking or touching its cheek)
Watch your little one's cues so that you're feeding when your baby is showing signs of hunger, which is usually every 2 to 3 hours during the newborn period. As your baby gets a little bigger and can take bigger feedings, this stretches out to every 3 to 4 hours.
How often should I make my baby's bottles?
Some parents opt to make a bottle just before each feeding, but many others choose to pre-make and refrigerate enough to use for the day. If you know your baby eats every 3 or 4 hours, for instance, you can make six to eight bottles to last you all day.
Mix your baby's formula in 2- or 3-ounce (60- or 90-milliliter) servings for the first few weeks and gradually increase the amount as you become familiar with your baby's eating patterns and appetite.
If your baby is staying with a caregiver for a long period of time, you may want to prepare just one or two bottles and leave instructions and supplies (bottles, nipples, formula, and water, if necessary) so the caregiver can prepare bottles as needed and not waste any formula. After all, you'll need to throw away any mixed formula that's been refrigerated after 24 hours.
Is my baby eating enough?
Babies grow at different rates, and at times you may wonder whether your baby is getting enough nutrients to develop properly. Here's a general look at how much your baby may be eating at different stages:
- On average, a newborn consumes about 1.5 to 3 ounces (45 to 90 milliliters) every 2 to 3 hours. This amount increases as your baby grows and is able to take more at each feeding.
- At about 2 months, your baby may be taking 4 to 5 ounces (120 to 150 milliliters) at each feeding and the feedings may be every 3 to 4 hours.
- At 4 months, your baby may be taking 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 milliliters), depending on the frequency of feedings and his or her size.
- By 6 months, your baby's formula intake can be between 24 to 32 ounces (720 to 950 milliliters). This also depends on whether you've introduced any baby food.
Your newborn's diapers are another good indicator of when your baby is getting plenty to eat. You'll probably be changing at least six wet and four dirty (soiled or "poopy") diapers each day at first. Newborns' stools (or poop) are thick and tarry in the beginning and then become more yellow and seedy as they get older. Wet diapers should have clear or very pale urine. If you see orange crystals in a wet diaper, contact your baby's doctor - these can be a sign of inadequate fluid intake or Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: August 2005