Feeding Chart for Newborn Babies
Signs of Your Baby’s Hunger:
Initial Symptoms:
- Smacking or licking the lips
- Opening and closing the mouth
- Sucking lips, tongue, hands, fingers, toes, toys, or clothes
Active Diet
- Rising up around the chest of whoever is carrying him
- Attempting to nurse, either by lying on your back or pulling on your clothes
- Running or moving around a lot
- Repeated blows to the arm or chest
- Running or breathing quickly
Signs of Delayed Feeding (calm before the baby eats)
- Shaking the head from side to side
- Crying
“My newborn wants to sleep all the time! Shall I wake him up to nurse?”
Yes, if he doesn’t wake up on his own. Most newborns sleep a lot in the first days or weeks and may not show signs of hunger as often as they need to eat.
Newborn babies should be breastfed whenever they feel hungrybut at least every two hours during the day (ideally for a baby to breastfeed 8-12 times in a 24 hour period).
Once your baby has established a healthy weight gain pattern (4 ounces per week, for babies under 4 months), you can stop waking your baby to feed and let him feed on his own.
“My son started sleeping longer at night. Should I wake him up to nurse?”
If your baby is younger than four weeks, then it is best to wake him up every 4-5 hours during the night to nurse him if he does not wake up on his own. If your baby is older than 4 weeks, you can let the baby sleep as long as he wants at night as long as he is urinating, pooping, and gaining weight normally.
“My son often sucks from his hands.
After the newborn period, hand sucking is not reliable as a sign of hunger. From about 6-8 weeks, the baby starts to control his hands and soon he will start to explore his hands and other things using his mouth. It is also common for babies to suck on their hands as their gums soften in preparation for teething. Teething symptoms can occur weeks or even months after the first tooth erupts.
We Can Help You
Call +1 (212) 749-6613 or Email Ruth@DoulaCare.com
Let our Postpartum Doulas help you if your baby isn’t feeding regularly, is having problems, or you just don’t understand what your baby needs.
A Doula Care Postpartum Doula is fully trained and certified to help you with all the basics of breastfeeding, as well as your newborn needs. Trained to determine if further referral is needed to an IBCLC or lactation consultant.