Newborn Feeding Schedule by Age (0–6 Months)

I remember staring at my tiny newborn and thinking, “Okay… but how much milk are you actually supposed to drink?”

I’d Google “Newborn Feeding Schedule by Age” at 2 a.m., see a bunch of numbers and ounces, and then immediately panic because my baby didn’t seem to match any of them perfectly. One day she was cluster feeding every hour; the next day she slept a bit longer between feeds. I kept asking myself:

• Is she eating enough?
• Is she eating too often?
• Should I be waking her up or letting her sleep?

If you’re in that same anxious headspace, please know: I’ve been there, too. 💛

The truth is, there is helpful guidance about how often babies usually eat and how much they might take per feeding at different ages — but it’s not a strict rulebook. It’s more like a gentle roadmap. In this post, we’ll walk through a realistic Newborn Feeding Schedule by Age (0–6 months), talk about hunger cues, diaper output, and what’s normal for both breastfed and formula-fed babies.

My goal? To help you understand the big picture so you can stop second-guessing yourself every hour and start trusting your baby — and your instincts — a little more.

Big Picture : Feed on Demand, Use the Schedule as a Guide

Before we dive into age-by-age details, here’s the most important thing to remember:

👉 Your baby’s body, not the clock, is the boss.

Most pediatric experts recommend feeding on demand — meaning you offer the breast or bottle whenever your baby shows hunger cues, rather than forcing them to wait for a strict schedule.

Typical hunger cues include :

• Rooting (turning their head toward your chest or the bottle)
• Sucking on hands or fingers
• Smacking or licking lips
• Fussiness that isn’t fixed by a diaper change or cuddle

Crying is actually a late hunger cue. If you can catch the earlier signs, feeds are often calmer and easier.

The “schedule” you’re about to see isn’t there to control your baby. It’s there to:

• Help you know what’s typical by age
• Reassure you that your baby’s frequent feeding is normal
• Give you ballpark numbers to discuss with your pediatrician if you’re concerned

You’re not failing if your baby doesn’t eat “exactly every 3 hours” or take the same number of ounces every single day. Babies are humans, not robots.

Newborn (0–1 Month) : Tiny Tummies, Frequent Feeds

Those first weeks are intense. Your newborn’s stomach is tiny — think marble, then ping-pong ball — so they need to eat often.

Typical Newborn Feeding Pattern (0–1 Month)

Breastfed babies :

• 8–12 feeds in 24 hours (about every 2–3 hours, sometimes more)
• In the first days: about 0.5–1 oz (15–30 ml) per feeding
• By around 1 month: often 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) per feeding (if you’re giving a bottle of pumped milk or formula)

Formula-fed babies :

• Often feed a bit less frequently than breastfed babies, but still around 6–8+ feeds per day
• Amounts similar to above by the end of the first month

You may also hear about cluster feeding — when baby wants to eat very frequently for a few hours in a row (often evenings). It’s exhausting but normal, especially for breastfed babies, and can help increase your milk supply.

Waking Your Newborn to Feed

In the early weeks, especially if :

• Baby is very sleepy
• Baby was premature or small at birth
• Your pediatrician is monitoring weight gain

…you may be told to wake baby every 2–3 hours to feed, even at night. Once your pediatrician is happy with weight gain, you’ll usually be able to let your baby take the lead a bit more.

Mom note : I remember setting alarms to wake my baby in the beginning, then later realizing she was waking me up just fine all on her own. That transition can feel scary, but your pediatrician will guide you.

1–3 Months : Growing Appetites and Slightly Longer Stretches

After the first month, many babies become a little more predictable (I said a little, not a lot 😄).

Typical Feeding Pattern (1–3 Months)

• Breastfed babies : ~7–10 feeds in 24 hours
• Possible bottle amounts:
  • Around 1 month : 3–4 oz (90–120 ml)
  • Around 2–3 months : 4–5 oz (120–150 ml) per feed

You might notice :

• Slightly longer stretches at night (though many still wake often)
• More efficient feeding — they may finish a breast or bottle more quickly
• Some evenings of fussiness or cluster feeding still

Formula-fed babies may move toward every 3–4 hours, while breastfed babies often still eat more frequently, especially during growth spurts.

Growth Spurts = Wild Feeding Days

Around 6 weeks, 2 months, and 3 months, many babies have growth spurts where they suddenly:

• Want to feed more often
• Seem fussier between feeds
• Sleep patterns go a little haywire

This doesn’t mean your milk disappeared or your formula isn’t enough. Their body is just asking for extra fuel — and your job is simply to keep offering.

4–6 Months : More Efficient Eater, Still Milk as the Main Meal

By 4–6 months, a lot of babies start spacing feeds a bit more, but milk is still their primary nutrition.

Typical Feeding Pattern (4–6 Months)

• Breastfed babies : about 6–8 feeds in 24 hours, often every 3–4 hours
• Bottle amounts (breast milk or formula):
  • Around 4 months : 4–6 oz (120–180 ml) per feed
  • Around 6 months : 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) per feed

Remember, these are approximations. A small baby may take less; a larger baby or one going through a growth spurt may take more. Always follow your baby’s cues first.

What About Solids ?

Most major health organizations — including the AAP, CDC, and WHO — recommend exclusive breast milk or formula for about the first 6 months, then introducing solid foods while continuing milk feeds.

Key points :

• No solids before 4 months, and ideally around 6 months, when your baby shows readiness signs (sitting with support, good head control, interest in food, etc.).
• Even after starting solids, milk stays the main source of nutrition for a while. Think of early solids as “practice” and “tastes,” not full meals.

Mom note : I panicked at 5 months when other moms were posting videos of their babies eating avocado and oatmeal. My pediatrician reminded me: “There’s a window, not an exact date. Watch your baby, not Instagram.” That gave me so much peace.

Simple Age-by-Age Feeding Snapshot (0–6 Months)

Here’s a quick overview you can screenshot or jot down. Remember — these are ballpark ranges, not strict rules.

Newborn (0–1 Month)

• Feeds per day :
  • Breast milk : 8–12 times
• Approx. amount per feed:
  • First days : 0.5–1 oz (15–30 ml)
  • By ~1 month : 3–4 oz (90–120 ml)

1–3 Months

• Feeds per day :
  • Breast milk : ~7–10 times
• Approx. amount per feed (bottle):
  • 1 month : 3–4 oz (90–120 ml)
  • 2–3 months : 4–5 oz (120–150 ml)

4–6 Months

• Feeds per day :
  • Breast milk : ~6–8 times (often every 3–4 hours)
• Approx. amount per feed (bottle):
  • 4 months : 4–6 oz (120–180 ml)
  • 6 months : 6–8 oz (180–240 ml)
• Solids :
  • Usually start around 6 months, if baby is developmentally ready

If your baby is taking much more or much less than this, it doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong — but it’s a good reason to check in with your pediatrician for reassurance and guidance.

Hunger Cues vs. “The Clock” : Learning Your Baby

One of the most confusing parts about any Newborn Feeding Schedule by Age is that babies either:

• Don’t read the schedule 🤣
• Or seem to rewrite it every week

This is where hunger cues come in. Watching your baby is more important than watching the clock.

Early Hunger Cues

• Turning head toward your chest/bottle (rooting)
• Putting hands to mouth
• Sucking motions or lip-smacking
• Restlessness

Later Hunger Cues

• Fussiness
• Crying

Try to start feeds when you see early hunger cues. Babies tend to latch better and feed more calmly before they’re in full meltdown mode.

Over time, you’ll learn your baby’s “style.” Some are snackers; some are hearty eaters who go a little longer between feeds. Both can be normal.

Mom note : I used to obsess over the last time I fed her, watching the minutes tick by. Once I started watching her instead of the clock, everything felt just a little less stressful.

Night Feeds, “Sleeping Through,” and When to Wake Baby

Let’s clear this up: most newborns need to eat at night. And many babies still eat overnight well into the first several months. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

In the First Weeks

• You may be told to wake baby every 2–3 hours at night to feed, especially if:
  • Baby is jaundiced
  • Baby had a low birth weight
  • Weight gain needs close monitoring

As Baby Grows

Once baby is gaining well and your pediatrician gives the thumbs up, you can often:

• Let baby sleep a bit longer at night and feed when they wake
• Still expect 1–3 night feeds (or more) in the early months

Every baby has a different “night pattern.” Some do a longer stretch and then several short ones; some wake every 3 hours like clockwork. Try not to compare your baby to a friend’s baby who “slept through the night at 8 weeks” — that’s the exception, not the rule.

How to Know If Your Baby Is Getting Enough

Instead of focusing only on ounces and hours, most pediatricians look at overall patterns:

1. Diaper Output

After the first few days, a well-fed baby typically has :

• Around 6–8 wet diapers per day
• Regular poopy diapers (breastfed babies may poop more often or sometimes skip a day; formula-fed babies tend to be more predictable)

2. Weight Gain

• Steady weight gain following their individual growth curve is a key sign things are going well.
• You’ll track this at well-baby visits, but call sooner if you’re worried.

3. Overall Behavior

• Baby seems content or calm between many feeds (not all — some babies are just spicier by nature!).
• They’re alert in short bursts, making eye contact, moving their arms and legs.

If you’re ever unsure, it is never overreacting to call your pediatrician or a lactation consultant and say, “I just need to make sure everything is okay.”

Breastfeeding vs. Formula : What Changes, What Stays the Same

Whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding, or combo feeding, you are feeding your baby with love. That’s what matters most.

Breastfeeding

• Breast milk is digested more quickly, so breastfed babies often eat more frequently.
• It’s harder to know exact ounces, so you’ll rely more on diaper output, weight gain, and satiety cues (do they seem relaxed and content after feeds?).
• Major organizations like the AAP, CDC, and WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, then continued breastfeeding with solids.

Formula Feeding

• Formula takes a bit longer to digest, so many formula-fed babies naturally feed a bit less often.
• You can see exactly how much they take, which is reassuring — but try not to obsess over every single ounce.

Both feeding methods still follow the same big principles :

• Watch your baby, not just the bottle or clock.
• Don’t force them to finish a bottle if they’re clearly done.
• Don’t stretch feeds too long just to “match a schedule” if baby is clearly hungry.

Mom note : I’ve done both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, and the mental load is real either way. You’re doing something huge, no matter how you feed.

When to Call the Pediatrician About Feeding

Reach out to your pediatrician if you notice :

• Very few wet diapers (fewer than 4 per day after the first few days)
• Baby seems constantly hungry and unsatisfied after full feeds
• Baby is very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds
• Frequent projectile vomiting or very forceful spit-ups
• You’re worried about poor weight gain or hear concerns at checkups
• You’re feeling overwhelmed, confused, or unsure about your feeding plan

You are never annoying or dramatic for asking questions about how your baby eats. Feeding is one of the biggest parts of newborn life, and getting support is part of being a good mom, not a failing one.

You’re Doing Better Than You Think

Mama, I know how loud the doubts can be :

• “Am I feeding enough?”
• “Am I doing this right?”
• “Why doesn’t my baby follow the schedule in the baby book?”

Here’s the truth :

You show up for every feed, every night wake-up, every diaper change. You notice your baby’s cues, even when you can’t always decode them. You care enough to read a whole post about a Newborn Feeding Schedule by Age — that alone says so much about your heart.

You and your baby are figuring this out together. There will be messy days, cluster-feeding nights, and bottles that get spilled all over the couch (been there). But there will also be sleepy milk-drunk smiles, soft little sighs against your chest, and the quiet magic of knowing: I am the one keeping this tiny human going.

Small tweaks — like watching hunger cues, offering feeds a bit more often, or checking in with your pediatrician — can make a big difference over time. Give yourself grace. You’re learning, and that’s more than enough. 💛

Let’s Talk : What Does Feeding Look Like for You Right Now?

I’d love to hear from you:

• What’s the hardest part of feeding your baby right now — the nights, the guessing, the schedule?
• Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, or combo feeding? What’s been helping you cope?

Share your experience in the comments — your story might be exactly what another tired mama needs to read at 3 a.m. tonight.

And if you’d like more gentle, practical support for newborn life, feeding, sleep, and real mom-life moments, join my email list so we can navigate this season together, one feed and one day at a time.