Can I feed my 1 month old 4 ounces?

Quick Answer

Most experts recommend feeding a 1 month old baby 2-3 ounces per feeding, so 4 ounces may be too much for some babies this age. However, every baby is different. If your baby seems hungry after 3 ounces, it’s okay to offer another ounce. Watch for signs of fullness and don’t force a baby to finish a bottle.

How Much Should a 1 Month Old Eat?

At 1 month old, babies have very small stomachs, so they need to eat frequently but don’t need large amounts at each feeding. The general guideline is that a 1 month old will eat around 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours, or 16-24 ounces total per day.

However, every baby is different. Some 1 month old babies will only eat 1-2 ounces per feeding, while others may need as much as 4 ounces. Babies will naturally eat more frequently during growth spurts.

It’s best to follow your baby’s hunger cues rather than sticking to a strict schedule. Signs your baby is still hungry include:

  • Rooting (turning head) toward your breast or bottle
  • Bringing hands to mouth
  • Sucking noises and motions
  • Fussing or crying

If your baby shows hunger cues after finishing 2-3 ounces, it’s perfectly fine to offer another ounce. Just watch for signs of fullness.

Is 4 Ounces Too Much for a 1 Month Old?

Feeding more than a baby needs at one time can lead to vomiting, gas, fussiness or difficulty breathing. This is because a 1 month old’s stomach is still very small and can easily be overfilled.

That said, some 1 month old babies will need more than the “average” 2-3 ounces per feeding, while others will need less. So there’s no hard-and-fast rule about the “right” amount.

If your baby gulps down 3 ounces and seems satisfied, there’s no need to keep pushing more. But if your baby is showing hunger cues and you offer another ounce slowly, that may be fine. Just watch for any signs of fullness or distress.

Signs of Fullness

  • Turning head away from bottle
  • Pushing bottle out of mouth
  • Decreased or stopped sucking
  • Coughing or sputtering on milk
  • Falling asleep
  • Spitting up or vomiting

If you notice any of these signs, take a break from feeding. Your baby may take more after resting.

Tips for Feeding a 1 Month Old

Here are some tips to keep in mind when feeding a 1 month old baby:

  • Respond to hunger cues. Feed on demand rather than a strict schedule.
  • Pace feedings. Go slowly, pausing to burp, to avoid overfeeding.
  • Hold upright. Keep baby in upright “football” hold to reduce risk of choking.
  • Watch for fullness cues. Don’t force baby to finish a bottle.
  • Use smaller bottles. Offer 2-4 ounces in a newborn nipple bottle.
  • Avoid overnursing. Keep each feeding under 30 minutes to avoid nipple confusion.
  • Burp frequently. Burp after every 1-2 ounces.

How Often Should a 1 Month Old Eat?

On average, a 1 month old will need 8-12 feedings per day, about every 2-3 hours. However, you should allow baby to eat when hungry rather than sticking to a strict timeline. Watch baby for hunger cues like:

  • Moving mouth/tongue
  • Sucking on fists
  • Whimpering or fussing
  • Waking up and rooting

Newborns tend to eat more frequently during the day, such as every 2 hours. At night, it’s normal to go 3-4 hours between feedings once baby has regained birth weight. Premature or low birth weight babies may need to eat more often.

If your baby is showing hunger cues sooner than 2 hours, feed again. Growth spurts can cause increased appetite. Also increase frequency if baby is not producing enough wet diapers or not gaining weight.

How to Know if Baby is Getting Enough

It can be hard to know if your 1 month old is eating enough, but there are some signs that baby is properly fed:

  • Having 6 or more wet diapers per day
  • Having 3-4 stools per day
  • Appearing satisfied after eating
  • Gaining 4-8 ounces per week
  • Having good energy and alertness when awake

Talk to your pediatrician if your baby has any of the following signs of not getting enough milk:

  • Not having at least 6 wet diapers a day
  • Dry skin or mouth
  • Weight loss or failure to gain weight
  • Dehydration signs like no tears or sunken fontanel
  • Constant crying or fussiness
  • Drowsiness or lethargy

You may need to wake your baby more often to eat or supplement with pumped breast milk or formula if intake seems low.

Should I Wake a 1 Month Old to Feed?

Most experts recommend feeding your 1 month old on demand, rather than waking baby on a schedule. However, if your baby is sleeping longer stretches and not waking up hungry, you may need to gently rouse baby for feeds.

Signs your 1 month old needs to be woken for feeds include:

  • Premature baby
  • Low birth weight
  • Not gaining enough weight
  • Not having the recommended number of wet diapers
  • Jaundice
  • Dehydration risk
  • Sleeping longer than 4 hours during the day or 6 hours at night

Babies this age should be eating every 2-3 hours, at least 8 times in 24 hours. If your baby is sleeping longer than 4-6 hour stretches, wake baby gently by:

  • Changing baby’s diaper
  • Undressing baby
  • Patting baby’s back
  • Placing baby skin-to-skin

After rousing baby, offer the breast or bottle. If baby remains asleep, try again in another 30 minutes. Talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned.

Bottles and Nipples for a 1 Month Old

Here are some bottle and nipple options to try when feeding your 1 month old:

Bottle Size: 2-5 ounces

  • Avent Natural Baby Bottles
  • Comotomo Baby Bottles
  • Dr. Brown’s Options Baby Bottles

Nipple Flow: Newborn/Slow flow

  • Philips Avent Newborn Flow Nipples
  • Comotomo Slow Flow Nipples
  • Evenflo Balance Plus Slow Flow Nipples
  • Dr. Brown’s Options Newborn Flow Nipples

Characteristics of newborn/slow flow nipples:

  • 1 hole
  • Slow milk flow
  • Soft, rounded nipple
  • Promotes pacing feedings

As your baby gets older and becomes a more efficient eater, you can introduce faster flow nipples around 3-6 months old. Always watch for coughing/choking as a sign to go back to a slower flow.

Burping and Spit Up

All babies need to be burped during feedings to allow air to come up and prevent gas and spit up. Here are some tips for burping a 1 month old:

  • Burp after every 1-2 ounces or after 5-10 minutes of nursing
  • Hold baby upright over your shoulder and gently pat/rub back
  • Lay baby face down across your lap and rub back
  • Sit baby upright on your lap, leaning slightly forward
  • Gently rub baby’s back while nursing at breast

It’s normal for babies to spit up some after eating. Reasons include:

  • Eating too much
  • Swallowing air while eating
  • Weak esophageal sphincter
  • Liquid milk moves faster than stomach empties

Spit up is usually not a concern unless baby is in distress, unhappy, or not gaining weight. Talk to your doctor if you have any feeding concerns.

Common Feeding Problems

Some common feeding problems in 1 month old babies include:

Gas: Can cause fussiness during/after feeding. Help reduce by burping often, holding upright 20 minutes after feeding, bicycling legs to pass gas.

Spit Up: As long as baby is gaining well, frequent spit up is likely normal. Keep head elevated after feeding, burp often.

Reflux: Spitting up larger amounts. Try smaller feeds, thickened formula, keep upright 20+ minutes after feeding.

Nipple Confusion: Preference for bottle over breast. Limit use of bottles/pacifiers. Pace bottle feeding.

Slow Weight Gain: If poor feeding, supplement with pumped breastmilk or formula. See lactation consultant.

Refusal to Feed: Can be from distraction, illness, overfeeding. Minimize distractions, undress to feed, watch for tiredness cues.

If feeding problems persist, see your pediatrician to rule out issues like tongue tie, allergies, or metabolic disorders. Most feeding issues with time, patience and trial/error.

Conclusion

While most 1 month old babies only need 2-3 ounces per feeding, some healthy babies will need more or less. There is no set amount that is right for every baby. Watch your baby’s hunger and fullness cues to determine how much milk they need at each feeding. As long as your baby is gaining weight well and has enough wet diapers, their feeding routine is appropriate for them. Work closely with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby eating too much or too little. With time and experience, you will learn to read your baby’s signals and respond in a way that works for both of you.

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