is it true you have to feed a newborn baby every 2 hours?

Question

and what age to they stop being newborns I have heard 2 weeks to as long a month and by the way i'm bottle feeding.

Answer 1

no, you have to feed them when theyre hungry, which yes, is usually every 2 hours.

*ahem*, feeding on demand is anything but a bad habit, just so ya know!
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And why are you bottle feeding???
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Answer 2

My son ate about every 2 1/2 hrs. It depends on the baby. Their stomachs are small so they can't hold a lot of food. So you have to feed them more often until their stomach gets bigger and then will be able to hold more food and last longer between meals. A baby is no longer a newborn after 3months. And I think demand feeding is what a newborn baby needs to be healthy. You can't spoil a newborn baby too much. All they need is food, sleep, and plenty of love. Breast feeding is best, but bottle feeding is just fine too if that is what you chose or had to do. Don't ever feel guilty about it!

Answer 3

Well it was certainly true for my son who is now 8 weeks old. I think the first 2 weeks we were feeding him every 2 hours round the clock (very tiring) and then it went up to 3 hours and now he is feeding every 4 hours in the day and goes 7-8 hours at night. It really starts to settle down and stop being so crazy when they get to 6 weeks. I think they are not considered newborns anymore when they get into their second month - not sure though.

Answer 4

You feed on demand for the first 2-3 months. It tends to be every 2-4 hours depending on the baby.

A newborn is no longer a newborn after 3 months.

Answer 5

It varies from 2-4 hours. I started out breastfeeding and did so the first 6 weeks (after that, my milk supply was very, very low). While I was breastfeeding those first 6 weeks, my son ate every 2-2 1/2 hours. After we went to formula, it was closer to 3 1/2-4 hours between feedings. I think after 3-4 months, they are no longer considered a 'newborn'.

Answer 6

If your bottle feeding its usually every1-4 hrs. Although some maybe every 2 hrs. It just depends on your baby. Its not to good to have a rigid schedule but to watch for hunger cues and feed baby when he or she needs to be fed. I considered my DD a newborn till she was 1 month but I know people who consider their baby a newborn till around 3 months. If you want the actual definition its the first 4 weeks of life of a infant.

The links below are some guidelines to bottle feeding your new baby and info on formula. Congratulations on your bundle of joy!

Answer 7

I think every baby is different. I breastfed my baby for the first 3 months every 2 hours. Then have been bottle feeding every 3 hours since then (my baby is over 6 months old). He sleeps through the night now. They say I'm supposed to be feeding him every 4 or 5 hours by now but he is only small so I just go by when he is hungry, he has also started solids. Your baby will let you know when they are hungry & it will be second nature to know when to feed them. Good luck.

Answer 8

Hi!
If you're feeding your baby every 2 hours your baby is normal and just fine. Newborns, (usually birth to 3 months), need to eat frequently, especially during growth spurts. Having a rigid feeding schedule for a newborn can be dangerous. I'd say hold off on trying to establish a routine for a few more months, if that's what the case is.

Expert Answers
Karen and Gale Pryor, authors of Nursing Your Baby
Feeding on demand simply means feeding your baby whenever he signals that he's hungry — usually by crying or sucking on his hands — rather than according to a set schedule. The terms "on cue" or "ad lib" are a better way to describe feeding according to your baby's needs than "demand" feeding. The latter can mislead people into thinking that feeding a baby whenever he's hungry will turn him into a demanding little tyrant!

During the early weeks of breastfeeding, you may feel as though you're nursing your baby constantly, and wonder if your baby really needs all that nursing. Keep in mind that young babies have tiny stomachs — about the size of a walnut. Easily digested breast milk quickly fills their little stomach and is absorbed, so it's no wonder they need to eat again relatively soon.

If your baby seems hungry soon after eating (fussy, sucking on his fist, or rooting at your breast), go ahead and feed him again. Keep in mind, too, that babies are just hungrier on some days than on other days and will want to eat more than usual. These days are called "frequency days" and are thought to precede growth spurts.

While being aware and responsive to your baby's cues to feed, also be aware that some very young babies don't yet have the strength to wake up and demand to be fed. Sometimes a premature, jaundiced, or sick baby is too small and sleepy to cry, conserving energy for growth and recovery instead. If your baby's hunger cues are slight or nonexistent, be sure to wake him at least every three hours and encourage him to nurse. A newborn who regularly sleeps longer than three to four hours needs close monitoring to make sure he gains enough weight.

Answer 9

Everything truly depends on your babies needs and what your doctor has recommend. For the first few months you will be feeding on demand until they get a few months older and start developing a routine.

They may need to eat anywhere between every 2 to 4 hours for now but as they get older they will start going longer stretches and taking more at a time. You will start to pick up on a pattern which will help you plan things and be prepared.

Answer 10

Your child will set it's own schedule pretty much when it comes to how often and how much. They will sure let you know if they are hungry. You will also know if you are over feeding them. They have a nice messy way of showing it by throwing up on you. I think a newborn is a baby up to about 2 months old or so. It's all at how you look at babies. We have two new nieces right now. They are beautiful!!!!!

Answer 11

I don't care what they say...my son was breastfed and up until about 1 month old he fed every 1 hour on the dot! He was upping my milk supply. He still likes to feed every 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. It just depends on how hungry he is that day. He's 4 months old.