When it comes to feeding your baby pumped breast milk, one of the most common questions new parents have is “How much should I give them at each feeding?” Here are some quick answers to help guide you:
Quick Answers
– For newborns 0-1 month, offer 2-3 ounces per feeding every 2-3 hours during the day. They may eat less or more at each feeding.
– For infants 1-6 months, offer 4-6 ounces per feeding every 3-4 hours during the day. They may eat less or more at each feeding.
– Let your baby’s cues guide you on how much milk they need rather than sticking to a strict amount per feeding.
– Pace bottle feeding to prevent overfeeding – go slowly, take breaks, use pauses.
– Breastfed babies don’t need to finish every bottle. It’s okay if they don’t always drink the full amount offered.
– Breast milk supply is based on demand. Let your baby’s appetite cue you on how much milk you need to pump and store.
– Avoid wasting milk by starting with smaller amounts (2-3 oz) and offering more if baby is still hungry after finishing the bottle.
– Breast milk storage guidelines: room temp 6-8 hours, fridge 3-5 days, freezer 6-12 months for best quality.
How much should a newborn eat?
For the first month of life, most newborns need around 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours during the day. Newborns have very small stomach capacities, so they can only take in a small amount at each feeding. Some newborns may demand less milk (1-2 oz), while others have bigger appetites and may want up to 4 ounces at a time. Let your baby’s hunger cues guide you.
During the first few weeks, babies feed very frequently, typically 8-12 times or more in 24 hours. This helps establish your milk supply as you and your baby learn the breastfeeding process together. Don’t worry about sticking to a strict schedule – feed your newborn whenever they show signs of hunger such as rooting, mouthing, sucking on fingers, fussing or crying.
When bottle feeding pumped breast milk, pace the feeding by tipping the bottle sideways to control the milk flow, pausing regularly, and providing breaks to burp. This prevents your newborn from overeating or taking in too much milk too fast, which can lead to spit up, gas or upset stomach.
It’s normal for newborns to sometimes eat less or more at each feeding. Let your baby’s cues guide how much milk to offer rather than focusing on a certain number of ounces per feeding. If they are still acting hungry after finishing a bottle, you can always offer more.
Typical newborn feeding amounts:
| Age | Recommended Amount |
|---|---|
| Newborn 0-1 month | 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours |
How much should a 1-6 month old eat?
As babies grow bigger and more active, their stomach capacities and nutritional needs increase. Here are some general feeding amount guidelines for infants age 1-6 months old:
– 1-3 months: 4-5 ounces per feeding every 3-4 hours.
– 4-6 months: 5-6 ounces per feeding every 3-4 hours.
However, every baby is different. Some babies will consistently eat less or more than these amounts. Avoid becoming too focused on the number of ounces. Instead pay attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues throughout the day.
Growth spurts are common during these months as babies go through developmental leaps. During growth spurts, your baby may seem hungrier than usual and want to feed more frequently or take in larger amounts at each feeding. Support their needs by offering breast milk whenever they are hungry.
As solids are introduced around 6 months, the amount of breast milk or formula needed may decrease slightly. But most babies under one year still get the majority of their nutrition from breast milk or formula. Continuing to breastfeed provides important nutrition, hydration, and immune protection.
Typical feeding amounts for 1-6 month olds:
| Age | Recommended Amount |
|---|---|
| 1-3 months | 4-5 ounces every 3-4 hours |
| 4-6 months | 5-6 ounces every 3-4 hours |
Watch for feeding cues
Rather than focusing on sticking to a certain amount of milk per feeding, pay attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues to determine how much to offer. Signs it’s time to feed include:
- Rooting (turning head side to side with mouth open)
- Increased alertness or activity
- Sucking on fingers or fists
- Moving lips or tongue
- Crying
Signs your baby is full or done with their bottle include:
- Decreased or stopped sucking
- Turning head away
- Pushing bottle away
- Closing or unlatching from the bottle
- Increased drowsiness or sleepiness
Pay attention to your baby, not the clock. Some days they may be hungrier and want more milk. Other days when growth is slower they may eat less. Let your baby’s cues guide their feeding schedule and amounts rather than trying to get them to fit a prescribed schedule or intake.
Paced bottle feeding
Paced bottle feeding (sometimes called responsive feeding) is an approach designed to prevent overeating and mimic breastfeeding. Here are some tips:
- Hold your baby semi-upright, slightly angled during feeds.
- Gently tip the bottle horizontally so milk fills only the bottom. This controls the milk flow.
- Let your baby suck a few times then tip the bottle down to stop the flow. Repeat throughout feeding.
- Burp your baby every 1-2 ounces by holding them upright over your shoulder and gently patting their back.
- Offer short 1-2 minute breaks during the feed by lowering the bottle.
- Watch for your baby’s hunger and fullness signals rather than encouraging them to finish the bottle.
Paced feeding may take longer but helps prevent overfeeding, spit up, gas and colic symptoms. Go slowly and let your baby set the pace.
It’s okay if baby doesn’t finish
With bottle feeding pumped breast milk, you want to avoid waste by not warming more milk than your baby will drink. But it’s also important not to overfeed just to get them to finish the bottle. Here are some tips:
- Start with smaller amounts like 2-3 ounces at first.
- Offer more if your baby is showing clear hunger signals after finishing the bottle.
- Stop feeding when your baby loses interest or shows fullness cues even if there is milk left.
- Store any leftover milk immediately – it can be offered at the next feeding if refrigerated.
- Adjust the starting milk amounts based on your baby’s intake.
Keep in mind that breastfed babies self-regulate their intake and don’t always take the same amount at each feeding. Let your baby’s appetite guide how much they need rather than encouraging them to always finish the bottle. Waste some milk if needed to respect when they are full.
How much milk should I pump and store?
Trying to figure out how much expressed milk to have on hand can also be confusing. Here are some tips for building and maintaining your stash:
- Pump after or between breastfeeding sessions to collect extra milk.
- Aim to pump the same number of ounces baby drinks in a typical feeding.
- Freezing 3-5 oz portions allows flexibility in how much you defrost/warm.
- Wait until supply is well established around 4-6 weeks before freezing large amounts.
- Only pump as much as needed based on your baby’s intake.
- Adjust pumping and freezing amounts as intake changes.
As a general rule, most exclusively pumping or working mothers need about 25-35 oz of stored milk per day to feed an infant. But allow your baby’s needs to guide you – don’t just pump and store set amounts daily.
Watch your fridge and freezer stash. Only pump enough to use within a few days and replenish as needed. There is no need to build a huge surplus unless medically advised.
Following breast milk storage guidelines
To avoid wasting your precious pumped milk, be sure to follow proper storage guidelines:
- Store in clean breast milk storage bags or bottles.
- Label with date pumped.
- Use coolers with ice packs if transporting.
- Refrigerate promptly after pumping, within 4 hours.
- Freeze milk that won’t be used within a few days.
Here are the storage time limits for pumped breast milk:
| Breast Milk Storage | Time Limit |
|---|---|
| Countertop, room temp | 6-8 hours |
| Refrigerator | 3-5 days |
| Freezer | 6-12 months frozen |
Use milk within these time frames for safety and optimal nutrition. Do not refreeze thawed milk. Any spoiled or expired milk must be discarded – do not take chances with your baby’s health.
Talk to your pediatrician
As a final tip, don’t hesitate to discuss any feeding questions or concerns with your pediatrician. Some situations when it’s especially smart to check in with baby’s doctor include:
- If you worry your baby is not getting enough milk or nutrients.
- If your baby seems to be having gastrointestinal issues like reflux or constipation.
- If you are having supply concerns and need to supplement with formula.
- If your baby is ill and their appetite changes.
- If you need help transitioning from breast to bottle or vice versa.
Your pediatrician can offer personalized advice on milk amounts and feeding patterns to help ensure your baby’s needs are all met. They can also rule out any underlying issues if your baby is not eating well or seems unhappy after feedings.
Conclusion
Feeding a newborn breast milk in the amounts they need can take some trial and error. But letting your baby’s cues guide you instead of rigid schedules or amounts can make the process smoother. Remember that fed is best – whether from the breast or bottle. As long as your baby is growing well, gaining weight, and content after feeding, then their unique intake is just right for them.
