how much a newborn should eat
One of the most common questions new parents ask is how often their baby should eat. The best answer is surprisingly simple: in general, babies should be fed whenever they appear hungry.
How do I know when my baby is hungry?
For premature babies or babies with certain conditions, scheduled bottle feeding recommended by your pediatrician is best. However, for most healthy babies, parents can use their bottle fed baby, rather than the clock, as a guide when they are hungry. This is called feeding on demand or reactive feeding.
Hunger cues
A hungry baby will often cry out. However, it is best to look out for signs of hunger before the baby starts crying. This is a late sign of hunger and can make it difficult for him to calm down and eat. Some other typical hunger cues in babies:
• Licking lips • Sticking tongue out • Rooting (moving jaw and mouth or head in search of breast) • Putting his/her hand to mouth repeatedly • Opening her mouth • Fussiness • Sucking on everything around
