How often should a newborn be eating? Getting conflicting info everywhere

5d ago1 min read

Mom is saying every 2 hours, pediatrician said 8-12 times a day, lactation consultant said follow baby's cues, and my dad said we fed our kids whenever and they turned out fine. Our 2 week old is exclusively breastfed and honestly my wife is exhausted. Should we be keeping a log? Are we supposed to supplement with formula? Just want to know if we're doing this right or slowly killing our kid.

10 comments179 views

Comments(10)

RRick M.Regular3d ago

The 8-12 times a day from your pediatrician is probably the most reliable info here. That's the typical range for breastfeeding newborns. Every baby's different but that's your ballpark.

DDanRegular4d ago

This drove me crazy with my first. Got a lactation consultant's opinion in person and that helped way more than the general advice. Follow the baby's cues and you'll be fine. Both sets of numbers your wife and doc mentioned are normal.

LLuke M.Regular3d ago

Every 2 hours for newborns sounds about right if you're bottle feeding, but if mom's breastfeeding then yes, follow the baby's cues. The lactation consultant usually has the best handle on this one.

JJustinRegular4d ago

The conflicting advice is the worst part of being a new parent. Here's what worked for us: follow the baby's cues first, but also track it. Write down when they eat and for how long. After a few days you'll see the pattern.

NNolan D.New Dad5d ago

Mom, pediatrician, and lactation consultant all saying slightly different things is normal. The real answer is your baby will let you know when they're hungry. They're pretty good at communicating that.

CChris T.Regular4d ago

Everyone's gonna tell you something different. The real answer is feed on demand. If baby's hungry, feed. Don't stress about the exact schedule. Your pediatrician's the best resource but trust what your baby is telling you.

SScott M.New Dad5d ago

8-12 times a day is the general range for breastfed babies. It's less about the clock and more about listening to your baby. We drove ourselves crazy counting at first until we just... fed him when he cried.

LLuke M.Regular5d ago

Everyone's got an opinion on this stuff. What I learned is the pediatrician is usually right, but your baby's hunger cues matter more than any number. Track wet diapers instead.

JJosh M.Regular5d ago

8-12 times a day is basically the pediatrician's way of saying follow the baby's hunger cues. Every baby is different so don't stress if yours doesn't fit that exact pattern. As long as they're gaining weight at checkups you're good.

CChristopherRegular5d ago

This drove me crazy with both my kids. The best advice I got was to ignore the numbers and just watch for wet diapers and poops. If those are happening regularly and baby is sleeping between feeds, you're on the right track.