If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard,
“How often should my baby be eating?”
I’d be typing this from a private island with endless oat milk lattes.
Because honestly — this question comes up every single day.
Here’s the truth: there’s no timer, app, or schedule that knows your baby better than… your baby.
The Short Answer: Early On, It’s A Lot
In the newborn stage (especially the first 4–6 weeks), expect to feed your baby 8–12 times per 24 hours. That means about every 2–3 hours around the clock.
Yes, that includes nights.
Yes, it’s exhausting.
And no, your baby isn’t “using you as a pacifier.” They’re using you as nature intended — to feed, comfort, and regulate.
Frequent feeding is what builds your supply and tells your body, “Keep this milk bar open.”
💡 IBCLC tip: Cluster feeding — when baby wants to nurse constantly for a few hours — is normal. It’s their way of putting in a “supply order.”
Follow the Baby, Not the Clock
Forget the rigid 3-hour rules or “wake-to-feed” debates on social media. The healthiest rhythm is responsive feeding — nursing when your baby asks for it.
That means watching your baby’s cues, not the clock:
👀 Stirring, stretching, rooting, or sucking on hands = feed me soon
🗣️ Crying = feed me yesterday
The earlier you respond to those subtle cues, the smoother your feeds (and your nerves) will be.
And while you might hear, “Don’t spoil your baby!” — science says otherwise. Babies who are fed responsively actually tend to regulate better, gain weight appropriately, and cry less.
But What About Pumping or Bottle-Feeding?
If you’re exclusively pumping or doing a mix of breast and bottle, aim to mimic your baby’s natural rhythm. That’s still roughly every 2–3 hours during the day, with a slightly longer stretch (if you’re lucky) at night.
Your body makes milk on demand — so skipping sessions or stretching them too far apart can tell your breasts, “We don’t need this much anymore.”
Consistency = communication.
Growth Spurts, Leaps, and Reality Checks
Babies don’t read the textbooks. Some days they’ll snack every 45 minutes; other days, they’ll nap for hours between feeds.
Around 2–3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months, expect growth spurts — meaning your baby will nurse more often for a few days to increase supply.
Don’t panic; don’t pump extra. Just ride the wave.
Think of it like your baby sending a “refill request” to the milk bar.
The Sleep Training Dilemma
I know it’s tempting to stretch night feeds for a little more sleep (trust me, I’ve been there). But in the early months, night nursing isn’t a bad habit — it’s biology.
Prolactin, your milk-making hormone, peaks overnight. Those feeds are the quiet engine behind your supply.
When they’re cut too soon, your body misses the message.
So if you’re thinking about sleep training, remember:
Feed for regulation first, sleep for recovery later.
The Milk Drunk Truth
There’s no perfect number of feeds per day — just the perfect communication between you and your baby.
Feed when they ask. Rest when you can. Trust that your body and your baby are constantly syncing up, one feed at a time.
And when in doubt, remember:
You’re not feeding “too much.” You’re feeding just right.
