The number of feedings per day depends on whether the mother feeds the baby: breastfeeding or an adapted formula, because this can affect the length of the period between feedings.
With the birth of a baby, newly-born mothers change a lot: joy can be overshadowed by various experiences, including those associated with feeding the baby. Many mothers are not sure of the correctness of their actions and the number of feedings per day. So how many times a day should a baby eat?
Breastfeeding
I must say right away that there are differences in feeding with mother's milk and adapted formulas. It is difficult for mothers who breastfeed their babies to navigate in the number of feedings per day, since the baby may ask for breast not because he is hungry, but because he is scared and lonely, and he wants to feel the warmth and care of his mother. Therefore, these mothers can be encouraged to allow the baby to be at her breast as much as he wants. As for the meal itself, as a rule, babies from birth to 3 months are fed every two to three hours, including at night.
Formula feeding
Formula is processed by the baby's stomach longer than breast milk. Therefore, a bottle-fed baby from birth to 3 months needs to be fed a little less often - every 3 hours, trying to gradually increase the break for night sleep. In general, it is worthwhile to calm down too anxious mothers and say that the child will set the feeding time himself. If he is crying, then it means hungry or wet. If it is dry, then we can unequivocally say that he wants to eat, of course, provided that the child is absolutely healthy and does not bother him.
If a young mother continues to worry about how many times a day the baby should eat, she should focus on the weight gain of her baby. If the baby gains about 500 grams per month, then the mother has nothing to worry about - she does everything right. When a child is malnourished, he becomes moody, irritable, rubs the nipple like a pacifier and may even bite with frustration. A baby who receives breast milk in the amount necessary for its growth and development, urinates up to 12 times a day and “walks in a big way” up to 3-5 times a day. He is cheerful and calm.
Mothers who feed their baby with a formula should focus on its volume consumed at one time. To do this, the number of days from the birth of the child must be multiplied by 10. Thus, a 10-day-old baby should eat 100 ml of the mixture in one feeding. If you get about the same consumption, then there will be no reason to worry about how many times a day a baby should eat.
