Feeding Guidelines for the First 6 Months

At Moms on Call, we believe in meeting parents where they are. So, whether you are nursing, exclusively bottle feeding (pumped milk or formula), or a combination of the two, we support you! Because we know a fed baby is a happy baby!

Today we are discussing feeding guidelines for the first 6 months. We will share what feeding amounts may look like, the number of feedings a day by age, and the typical amount of time a feeding may take.

Babies up to 12 months of age need at least 24 ounces of breast milk or formula per day. The feeding guidelines discussed below are recommendations as a general guide for families who feel they need some direction. In addition, we recommend following along with the Moms on Call routines mapped out by age in the “Typical Days” section of the popular Moms on Call 0-6 Month Book and in the Moms on Call Scheduler App available on Apple and Android devices.

Feeding Guidelines for the First 6 Months

The First Two Weeks

• About 7-8 feedings per day
• Feedings should take no longer than 45 minutes
• 2-3 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 4-ounce feeding)

2-4 Weeks of Age

• We still have 7-8 feedings per day
• Feedings have shortened and should take no longer than 30 minutes
• 3-4 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 5-ounce feeding)

4-8 Weeks of Age

• Now we have 6-7 feedings per day
• Feedings are closer to 20-30 minutes each
• 4-5 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 6-ounce feeding)

2-4 Months of Age

• 5-7 feedings a day
• Feedings last about 15-20 minutes each
• 5-6 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 7-8 ounce feeding)

4-6 Months of Age

• 4-5 feedings per day
• Feedings are likely to last 12-15 minutes each (up to 20 minutes for breastfed babies)
• 6-8 ounces per feeding (may have an occasional 9-ounce feeding)
• Introduction of baby foods 1-3 times per day

For those first few weeks, the baby is fed every 2-3 hours. Once the baby is around 2 weeks of age, past their birth weight, and gaining weight of about an ounce a day for those first 6-8 weeks (see the book for more), then we can move up to on-demand feedings at night. 

How Many Night Feeds Can We Expect the First 12 Weeks?

• 2-4 weeks: 2 feeds most nights
• 4-8 weeks: 2 feeds most nights with an occasional night of one feed
• 8-10 weeks: 1 feed most nights with an occasional night of no feeds
• 10-12 weeks: Beginning to get more nights of no feeds
• Middle-of-night feedings are what we call “strictly business.”
  • See Moms on Call’s tips for getting baby (and parents) back to sleep after a middle-of-the-night feed.

Download the Moms on Call’s free Feeding Guideline below for a quick printable resource of the above info to have on hand for you and your caregivers. This is a great resource to print alongside the Mom’s on Call Typical Day Schedules and to add to your babysitter binder.