For a 2 month old baby, feeding frequency and amount can vary quite a bit from baby to baby. However, there are some general guidelines to follow to make sure your 2 month old is getting enough milk. In the first couple of months, newborns tend to eat around 8-12 times or more in a 24 hour period. This includes both breastfeeding and bottle feeding sessions.
How much should a 2 month old eat?
There is no set amount that a 2 month old “should” eat at each feeding. Breastfed babies will nurse as much as they need, while bottle fed babies may take between 2-4 ounces per feeding. At this age, it’s best to follow your baby’s cues rather than sticking to a strict schedule. Signs that your baby is hungry include rooting, sucking motions, hands to mouth, and increased alertness or activity. Crying is a late sign of hunger. When finishing a feeding, your baby should seem satisfied, but not overly full.
How often should a 2 month old breastfeed?
For breastfed babies, the frequency of feeding is entirely up to your baby. Most 2 month olds will breastfeed every 2-4 hours on average, or 8-12 times in 24 hours. However, some babies, especially those going through growth spurts, may want to nurse more frequently or cluster feed. Let your baby breastfeed on demand as long as they seem satisfied after feedings. Keep in mind that feeding frequency may increase at certain times like evenings or when going through developmental milestones.
How often should a 2 month old bottle feed?
While breastfed babies are encouraged to nurse on demand, bottle feeding should follow more of a consistent schedule at this age. Still, you’ll want to allow your 2 month old to drink however much they need rather than stick to a rigid amount. Try beginning with 2-3 ounces every 2-4 hours. If your baby is showing hunger cues before it has been 2 hours, go ahead and offer them more. As long as they seem content after eating, they are likely getting enough to eat.
Tips for feeding a 2 month old
Here are some tips to keep in mind when feeding your 2 month old:
- Look for early hunger cues like rooting, mouthing, and increased alertness to avoid crying from hunger.
- Offer smaller, more frequent feedings if your baby seems to get full easily.
- Burp your baby halfway through feeding and at the end.
- Alternate which breast you start with if breastfeeding.
- Pace bottle feeding to reduce intake of air.
- Hold your baby semi-upright during feeding to prevent choking.
- Track timing of feedings and diapers to ensure your baby is eating enough.
Signs your 2 month old is eating enough
If your baby seems satisfied after feedings and is having enough wet and dirty diapers each day, they are likely getting sufficient nutrition. Other signs your 2 month old is eating enough include:
- Steady weight gain and growth
- Strong urine output and frequent bowel movements
- Alertness and activity during awake periods
- Sleeping well between feedings
- Content after nursing or bottle feeding
Signs your 2 month old is not eating enough
Some red flags that your 2 month old may not be getting enough milk include:
- Fussiness or crying, especially 1-2 hours after eating
- Few wet diapers or infrequent dirty diapers
- Difficulty settling or frequent night wakings
- Little interest in feeding or sucking weakness
- Sleeping longer stretches early on
- Slow weight gain or weight loss
If your baby is showing any of these signs, contact your pediatrician. They can help determine if there is an underlying issue impacting your baby’s feeding or growth.
Typical daily feeding schedule for a 2 month old
While feeding on demand is ideal, especially for breastfed babies, having a sample schedule can help give you an idea of what a day might look like. Keep in mind that no two babies are alike – your baby’s routine will depend on their individual needs.
A possible feeding schedule for a 2 month old is:
| Time | Feeding |
|---|---|
| 7-8 am | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
| 9-10 am | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
| 12-1 pm | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
| 3-4 pm | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
| 6-7 pm | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
| 9-10 pm | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
| 12-1 am | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
| 3-4 am | Breastfeed or 3-5 oz bottle |
Your baby may or may not follow this exact schedule. Pay attention to when they seem hungriest and plan feeding times around those patterns. Some babies cluster feed in the evenings, taking shorter, more frequent feeds. Growth spurts may also impact feeding frequency. The most important thing is that your baby seems satisfied and is having enough wet and dirty diapers.
Night feedings with a 2 month old
While some babies will sleep for longer stretches at night by 2 months old, most will still wake up every 2-4 hours to feed. This is completely normal and helps ensure your baby is getting enough nutrition to support growth and development. If your baby is gaining weight well and seems content after feedings, there is no need to push for them to sleep through the night. Waking to feed in the early months helps establish your milk supply if breastfeeding.
Some tips for managing night feedings:
- Take feedings in shifts with a partner if possible
- Keep the room dim with minimal stimulation
- Avoid overstimulating play once your baby is awake
- Put your baby back to sleep drowsy but awake when done
- Don’t go longer than 4 hours without feeding overnight
Hang in there – as your baby grows, they will start sleeping for longer stretches and dropping night feedings. But at 2 months old, expect to still be waking up every few hours to feed at night.
Growth spurts and cluster feeding
Around 2 months old, some babies go through growth spurts where they seem hungrier than usual and want to feed very frequently. Their stomach capacity is still small at this age, so they need to feed more often to take in enough calories to support a developmental leap. These phases are temporary and feeding frequency will even back out after a few days. Growth spurts can occur again around 4 months, 6 months, and 9 months old.
Cluster feeding is a related phenomenon where baby wants to feed every hour or less, especially in the evenings. Like growth spurts, this is their way of ramping up your milk supply as their nutritional demands increase. Let your baby breastfeed as often as they want during these phases rather than trying to space out feeds. The frequent nursing will help boost your supply.
Bottle feeding tips
Here are some bottle feeding tips if you are formula feeding or pumping breastmilk for your 2 month old:
- Choose a slow flow nipple to prevent overfeeding
- Hold your baby semi-upright during feeds
- Pace feedings by tipping bottle side-to-side
- Offer 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours to start
- Stop feeding once your baby seems full
- Don’t prop the bottle – hold your baby during feeds
- Burp regularly throughout and after the feeding
Following your baby’s cues is just as important with bottle feeding. Don’t force your 2 month old to take a full bottle if they seem to lose interest partway through. They are the best judge of how much they need.
Breastfeeding tips
If you are exclusively breastfeeding, keep the following tips in mind:
- Feed on demand whenever your baby shows hunger cues
- Switch which breast you start with each feed
- Offer both breasts at each session
- Aim for at least 10-15 minutes per breast
- Pump after feeding to build up milk supply
- Wake your baby if it has been 4 hours since last feeding
- Allow comfort nursing to increase supply
- Stay hydrated and eat a balanced diet
The most important thing is to feed your baby whenever they show signs of hunger. Don’t wait for a specific amount of time to pass if your baby is eager to feed sooner. This will help ensure your supply keeps up with their demands.
Formula feeding tips
If you are exclusively formula feeding, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Stick to a brand of formula – switching can upset baby’s tummy
- Make sure to mix formula properly each time
- Offer 2-3 ounces every 2-4 hours
- Buy ready-to-feed formula if worried about proper mixing
- Heat bottles under warm running water
- Test bottle temperature before feeding
- Refrigerate prepared bottles within 1 hour
- Don’t microwave breastmilk or formula
Following package instructions closely each time you prepare formula is crucial. Proper mixing reduces the risk of contamination and ensures your baby is getting adequate nutrition. Feeding your 2 month old on a consistent schedule also helps ensure their stomach isn’t overloaded.
Combined breast and bottle feeding
You may choose to both breastfeed and bottle feed your baby with pumped milk or formula. Here are some tips if using this combination approach:
- Aim for 8-12 breastfeedings per day if possible
- Start and end each feed with breastfeeding
- Offer a bottle after nursing or between breastfeeds
- Use the slowest flow nipple to avoid confusion
- Don’t offer more than 4-6 ounces per bottle feeding
- Mix up bottle contents – don’t just use one type
Make sure to pump or breastfeed frequently when adding in bottle feeds. This will help maintain your supply while still giving your baby the benefits of breastmilk. Keep bottle portions small to ensure your baby still gets adequate time feeding at the breast.
Weaning from breast to bottle
If you are ready to wean your 2 month old from breast to bottle completely, keep these tips in mind:
- Gradually replace one breastfeed per day with a bottle
- Pump when skipping a nursing session
- Decrease nursing sessions every 3-5 days
- Expect a temporary dip in supply as you drop feeds
- Blend breastmilk and formula during the transition
- Offer lots of skin-to-skin contact for comfort
Make sure to wean gradually rather than going cold turkey. Abrupt weaning can be painful and affect your milk supply. Ease into bottle feedings slowly and your body will adjust to producing less milk as your baby’s demands decrease.
Introducing solid foods
While your 2 month old will still get all their nutrition from breastmilk or formula, you can begin introducing them to solid foods. Offering a very small amount of pureed food once daily helps your baby get used to new flavors and textures. This early exposure may reduce pickiness down the road.
When starting solids at 2 months old:
- Only give a teaspoon or two per feeding
- Focus on single ingredient purees like apples or carrots
- Give solids shortly after milk feeding
- Don’t add cereals to bottles
- Watch for signs of readiness like tongue thrust reflex
- Stop if your baby shows disinterest or distress
Keep solid feeding low-pressure and don’t expect your baby to actually ingest or swallow much. The goal is to get them used to new sensations. Milk feedings should still make up the entirety of their nutrition at this age.
FAQs about feeding a 2 month old
How many ounces should a 2 month old eat?
A 2 month old typically eats around 2-4 ounces per bottle feeding. Total daily intake from both breastmilk and formula combined is generally 19-30 ounces per day on average.
How long should I breastfeed a 2 month old?
Let your 2 month old breastfeed as long as they want at each session. Aim for at least 10-15 minutes per breast to ensure they get ample hindmilk. However, don’t limit a feeding if your baby seems eager to continue nursing beyond that timeframe.
Why does my 2 month old eat constantly?
Frequent feeding or cluster feeding in a 2 month old is often due to growth spurts and their need to boost your milk supply. These phases are normal and will pass as long as your baby seems satisfied after feedings. Offer both breasts at each session.
Is my 2 month old eating enough?
If your baby is having at least 6-8 wet diapers and 3-4 dirty diapers daily, producing sufficient urine, and seems content after feedings, they are likely eating enough. Track diapers and monitor weight gain to be sure.
Can I overfeed my 2 month old?
It’s unlikely you will overfeed a breastfed 2 month old since they naturally take only what they need at the breast. With bottle feeding, pace the feeds and stop when your baby loses interest. As long as they don’t seem distressed and are maintaining a healthy weight, they are probably not overeating.
Why does my baby eat less sometimes?
Periodic decreases in intake are normal and often coincide with sleepy periods or developmental leaps. As long as your baby eats more again soon after and is gaining weight steadily, a occasional day of lower intake is not concerning.
Conclusion
Feeding a 2 month old on demand while paying attention to their hunger cues is key. While amounts and timing may vary, a typical baby this age will breastfeed 8-12 times or take around 19-30 ounces per day of formula. Focus on your baby’s satisfaction, diaper output, and weight gain rather than sticking to a rigid schedule. With both breastmilk and formula, letting your baby determine intake based on their needs is healthiest in these early months. Your pediatrician can provide reassurance if you are ever concerned your baby is not eating enough.
