Once the long-awaited event has happened and the baby has come into the world, mothers are faced with many questions. Some of the most frequently asked questions: how to feed and how much should a newborn eat? And indeed, this is a very important point, since a properly selected and adjusted diet allows the child to grow and develop harmoniously, contributes to good health and strengthens immunity. So how to calculate the rate for the baby from the first days of life and up to a year?
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Listen to the experts
Pediatricians have long calculated the child’s intake of milk or formula, the allowable intervals between meals, and weight and height gain depending on the age of the baby. All this data is usually read out to parents at the doctor’s appointment and entered in the card for further assessment of the child’s condition. Comparison of the actual weight and the norms allowed to find out whether the child is well fed and, if necessary, to correct errors committed during feeding. If at the reception of the pediatrician something is not clear to you, do not be afraid to interrogate and clarify. After all, only a specialist can give competent advice specifically for your baby, based on the results of examinations or tests. Advice from girlfriends, grandmothers and mothers on various forums may be good, but they do not take into account the individual characteristics and needs of your child’s body. And therefore, they may not work or may even be detrimental.
Calculation standards
1. The first month of life
As soon as the baby is born, he is immediately brought to his mother’s breast to nurse. This helps strengthen the baby’s immune system and stimulates the mother’s lactation. During this period, there is no milk in the breast, but there is a very nourishing transparent sweet liquid – colostrum. It is released in the first two to three days after birth and provides the baby with all the necessary substances. To get enough to eat, the baby needs a few drops: On the first day of life, a small stomach holds only 7 milliliters. On the second day of life, the infant begins to eat more often. It should be fed on demand or every two to three hours, and the baby eats between 10 and 20 milliliters at one meal. Thus, during the day the rate will be about 90 milliliters. Starting from the third day after birth, the mother actively produces breast milk, the volume of which increases as the baby grows. In the first week of life, the baby should eat 50 to 80 milliliters of milk at a time, and for the day – 400 milliliters. At two weeks of age, the daily ration should be 20% of the newborn’s weight, and closer to a month – about 600 milliliters. It is important to keep in mind that these figures are approximate. Each infant needs a certain amount of milk or formula, depending on individual characteristics: height, weight, quality of the mother’s milk, caloric content of the formula and the rate of development of the infant.
2. One to four months
Every day your baby grows, gains weight, and increases his daily milk intake. At one month of age, the baby eats 90-100 milliliters six to seven times a day. After one month, the norms are as follows:
- At two months, the baby should eat from 120 to 150 milliliters at one time. The daily norm, therefore, is 700-800 milliliters.
- A three-month-old infant should eat from 150 to 180 milliliters. At the same time, it is recommended to feed no more than six to seven times a day.
- From the fourth month, the infant needs 180-210 milliliters of milk or baby formula. The average amount per day is at least 1/6 of the infant’s weight.
3. Five to six months
A half-year old baby normally eats 210-240 milliliters at a time, and the total amount of food for the day should be 1/7 of body weight, or 800-1000 milliliters. Also, if there are no contraindications, complementary foods are introduced from six months of age.
4. Seven to twelve months
During this period, a single serving of breast milk for the baby ranges from 210 to 240 milliliters. The average amount per day is not less than 1/8 of the baby’s body weight. Vegetable, fruit and meat purees, dairy-free and milk porridges are introduced into the diet (if the baby is not allergic to cow’s milk proteins).
Breast milk is not enough or not at all: what to do?
When your baby cries after waking up, he is hungry. Today’s doctors do not advise moms to keep any kind of strict feeding schedule. If mom gives her baby the breast when he asks for it, and the baby eats at his own pleasure, sleeps soundly and well, smiles and is not capricious, then he is full and completely satisfied.
But if your baby is crying and not sleeping well, he may not be getting enough milk. In this case, check to see if your baby is eating his age-appropriate amount and try to keep track of it from now on. Found that you do not have enough breast milk? Do not worry, it is better to see a doctor right away. A specialist can help you find a way to support milk production and improve lactation.
If it is not possible to solve the problem and normalize lactation, consult your pediatrician and find a suitable milk formula for your baby for complementary feeding. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, the instructions for preparation and the dosage on the package, the formula can compensate for the lack of breast milk and provide your baby with the necessary amount of nutrients.
Even if there is not enough breast milk to fully meet your baby’s needs, try to stay partially breastfed as long as possible. After all, mother’s milk is the ideal food for your baby.
Norms and stages of introduction of complementary food
As a rule, complementary foods are introduced at the age of six months. Before introducing new foods, your pediatrician should be consulted. In general, different types of food are introduced in stages, starting with very small portions.
1. The first stage is vegetables
According to the data and recommendations of the World Health Organization, the best product to start with is a single-component vegetable puree, such as zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, or potatoes. If all goes well, a little later you can try pumpkin, carrot, pea and tomato puree.
To fully introduce the product into the baby’s diet, you need seven to ten days. We start with half or a whole teaspoon once a day before breastfeeding. If there are no allergic or other adverse reactions, you can continue introducing this product, gradually increasing the dose to a full serving of 3.5 to 5.3 ounces.
2. The second stage is porridge
After the introduction of vegetable puree, we recommend diversifying the baby’s menu with porridges. For introduction it is better to choose liquid one-component gluten-free porridge, for example, rice or buckwheat. Then you can add oatmeal or semolina.
The initial portion of porridge is half or one teaspoon. Gradually increase to a full serving of 5.3 ounces.
3. The third stage is fruit
Fruit complementary foods also start with single component low-allergenic purees such as apple, pear, plum and banana purees. These products are not only tasty, but also contain vitamins and minerals that your baby needs.
Fruit purees are also introduced with caution, starting with half or a whole teaspoon. Gradually, the portion increases from 3.5 to 5.3 ounces.
4. The fourth step is meat
Meat is a necessary product for development, rich in iron and protein, which is well absorbed by the body. It is introduced in the form of a homogeneous single-component puree of diet turkey, rabbit, chicken, veal or lamb.
In the beginning we give a taste – half or one teaspoon, with time increasing the portion to 2.1 ounces.
5. The fifth stage – new flavors
After the successful introduction of the above products, the baby will have a complete and varied menu. So you can introduce the young foodie to new tastes that might previously have provoked allergies: multi-component purees, fruit and cereal cocktails, baby snacks, pieces of fresh fruit and vegetables.
FAQ ABOUT HOW MUCH SHOULD A NEWBORN EAT
How to warm breast milk?
To warm breast milk that has been stored in the refrigerator, use a special bottle warmer. If you do not have one, put a tightly closed bottle in a container of warm water and hold it there until the milk warms to your body temperature, 98.6°F.
How often should a newborn baby eat?
A newborn needs to be fed every 2-3 hours, that is, 10-12 times a day.
How much milk does a newborn baby eat?
During the first days of life, the baby still has a very small stomach and the sucking reflex is poorly developed. Therefore, the newborn eats 7-9 milliliters of colostrum per feeding. The mother’s breast milk does not appear until the third or fourth day.
How to calculate how much a child should eat?
To understand how much a newborn should eat, you need to know its age and weight. Data for calculation: from 10 days to 1.5 months, your baby needs an amount of food equal to about 1/5 of the baby’s body weight; from 1.5 to 4 months – 1/6, from 4 and up to 6 months – 1/7; from 6 to 8 months – 1/8; from 8 to 12 months – 1/9 of body weight.
This article provides clear and concise information about how much food a newborn baby should eat. It is very informative and helpful for new parents.
The article discusses all aspects of feeding a newborn, including breastfeeding and formula. It also discusses signs of hunger and satiety in babies.
Such an informative article! As a new parent, I was always uncertain about how much to feed my newborn. This guide provides clear and reassuring advice on newborn feeding, helping me feel more confident in meeting my baby’s needs. Thank you for this valuable resource!
Thank you for this meaningful article! As a new parent, I was constantly wondering about how much my newborn should be eating. Your guidance on feeding cues and recommended feeding amounts is really helpful. It’s given me the confidence I need to ensure my baby is well-nourished and growing.