How many feedings do I give my 5 week old baby during the day and night?

Question

Do I feed more frequent during the daytime compare to night time? I am feeding him 4 ounces each feed now and he wakes every 3-3half hours for milk.

I am 25yrs old and it's my 1st baby. Have not read any book so far, only visited pregnancy websites online.

Answer 1

Girl, it's your baby, and NO ONE knows him like you do. If you want to try and get him to sleep longer stretches at night, you might try giving him a pacifier instead of sticking a bottle in his mouth. Sometimes that's all my 8wk. old wants is to have something to suck on and he'll go back to sleep. If that's not what he wants, he'll let you know by continuing to fuss. You don't have to wake him either if he's asleep. Don't feel bad about what some of these people are saying, they don't know your baby! I'm finally getting my 8wk old to sleep longer by using the pacifier, or giving gas drops to settle him down. I DON'T feel bad about trying these tricks either because he's 8wks and weighs 14 lbs! (more than double his birth weight) so I'm obviously NOT starving him. Whatever works for YOU and your baby. I've learned that mine isn't always hungry every time he fusses. Sometimes it's just gas, or needing to be held/cuddled. Good luck to you!! Sounds like your on track!

Answer 2

Wow. Its amazing reading some of the answers. Some say never to wake a baby at night to feed. Thats so incorrect! Right now your baby should eat on demand and will eat until full. There is no day and night to your baby right now. Make sure you don't allow baby to sleep more than 4 hours (some Dr.'s say 2) without eating. BUT at night keep lights dim/ try not to make eye contact/ if you do talk keep voices low/soft. You want to start teaching her the diffrence between day and night. No playing at night! He'll eventually sleep through the night but just wake to eat. My son wakes twixe to eat and is back to sleep within 10 minutes. (he's 4 1/2 months old) When you get a chance read some books/ magazines/ go online. I'm 24 with my 1st child but I nannied for 6 years (all infants). Good Luck!!! AND keep the questions coming! It's better to ask then guess.

Answer 3

Congratulations!!! Feed the baby when he is hungry, you don't want to gorge him during the day. He sounds about right as far as feedings. You just have to remember your baby is unique and is not going to be like any other baby. You can't go by all the stuff you read in those books. My nephew is 6 weeks and he is drinking 4oz. each feeding and waking up about every 4 hours so your little angel is just fine with what you are doing. You will learn to read your babies ques, he will let you know when he is hungry, and when he hasn't had enough. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Demand feeding is usually the best method to follow. This is the system where you feed your baby every 3 to 4 hours regardless of day or night. Are you sure that the baby is satisfied after feeding? Maybe you need some outside help and I'm sure there are baby health clinics or some such where you live.
First time mums are not supposed to go it alone. Where is your support? Do you not have family members that you can ask such questions?

Answer 5

Feeding should come every 3-4 hours around the clock. Maybe try increasing the amount of formula each feeding. If the baby is easly finishing 4 ounces then maybe the baby could use to eat more with each feeding.

Answer 6

Well what I did I fed my son on a schedule every 3 hours too but then after a while you come to realize that if he is hungry he will let u know. I did although feed him a little more at his last feeding before bed and he slept a little longer instead of 4 oz I'd give like 5 oz it works and u get some sleep too!

Answer 7

I have two children and I was told to feed them every 2-3 hours during the day and then every 4-5 hours at night. Your baby will let you know when its hungry, go by your baby. But I wouldn't allow no more than 3 1/2 hours to go by during the day and no more than 5 at night.
Good luck and enjoy your child!

Answer 8

There is no rule as to how much you should be feeding your baby...It could be every 2-4 hours. My son was sleeping through the night at 2-1/2 weeks., so he ate more frequently diring the day...you can get some good books to read to help you out

Answer 9

when i was in the hospital i was told to feed my son every 3-4 hours. i dont remember if they said an amount, i just let him eat as much as he wanted.
as far as feeding during the night, some people are really against this or for this, needing to be feed or he would wake up when he was hungry, let him sleep thru the night. i started waking up to feed my son, but then at about 6-8 weeks i let him wake me up. if he is waking up on his own, just feed him when he wakes up. try feeding him more before putting him to bed for the night. everyone told me to put rice cereal in my sons bottle (with an enlarged nipple) i tried it a few times, but it seemed to make him wake up more. so i just tried to let him eat more before bed...try feeding like an hour or two before, and then again right before he goes to sleep.

i feel like this was kinda rambly.. sorry. hope you get the idea.

ps i would also recommed the book 'what to expect the first year' you will have lots of questions and this book will help answer some of them, i used it alot.

Answer 10

I would wake my kids every 3 hours during the day for feedings and let them wake me up at night to eat. This helped them get used to sleeping more at night and less during the day.

My sister has a 2 month old, he was a preemie, so for the first month she *had* to wake him for his feedings at night, once he had doubled his birth weight, she was able to do the same thing.