Formula feeding tips

How do I know when my baby is hungry?
How do I know when my baby is full?
How do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?

How do I know when my baby is hungry?

Always feed your baby on demand. Don’t wait for your baby to start crying, as crying is a late sign of hunger.

Rapid eye movements
Sucking motions and sounds
Sucking on fingers or hands
Stretching and curling of arms and legs
Opening the mouth and moving head side-to-side as if searching for something (this is called rooting)

Keep growth spurts in mind: these normally occur at different intervals. Your baby may take more infant formula or breast milk during these periods. They can last from 48 hours up to a week. Growth spurts are not an indication to introduce solids to your baby’s diet.

How do I know when my baby is full?

Don’t force your baby to finish the feed. Your baby is learning to recognize feelings of hunger and being full, and is learning to eat accordingly.

Look for these signs of fullness:

Letting go of the nipple
Swallowing less
Looking sleepy or relaxed
Falling asleep
Stretching out arms and legs during feeding

Remember that your baby may be hungry at one meal and less hungry at another.

How do I know if my baby is getting enough to eat?

There are ways to tell that your baby is getting enough to eat simply by looking at how well your baby feeds, and even looking at your baby after he has finished. Does your baby look content? Satisfied?

Look for these signs that will tell you if your baby is getting enough to eat:

Gaining weight at a slow and steady rate
Producing lots of pale, odourless urine
Passing regular, soft bowel movements
Being alert and active when awake
Having bright eyes and moist mouth

During a 24-hour period, your baby may drink a little more or less than other babies. Remember it’s normal for babies to feed during the night. Let your baby decide how much to eat and how often.

In general, your baby may need to feed according to the following schedule:

Baby's age	Amount of infant formula in each bottle (1 oz. = 30 mL)	Number of bottles in 24 hours	Total infant formula in 24 hours
Birth to 7 days	Watch for cues of hunger and fullness. Expect baby to eat small amounts at a time. Baby will need to be fed often.
1 to 2 weeks	2 to 3 oz. (60 to 90 mL)	6 to 10 bottles	14 to 26 oz. (420 to 780 mL)
3 to 8 weeks	3 to 5 oz. (90 to 150 mL)	5 to 8 bottles	17 to 35 oz. (510 to 1050 mL)
2 to 5 months	4 to 6 oz. (120 to180 mL)	5 to 7 bottles	20 to 39 oz. (600 to 1170 mL)
At around 6 months, your baby will start to eat solid foods. Once baby begins to eat more solid foods, she will begin to drink less formula.
6 to 8 months	4 to 8 oz. (120 to 240 mL)	4 to 5 bottles	16 to 37 oz. (480 to 1110 mL)
9 to 12 months	When your baby is 9 to 12 months old, you can start replacing formula with pasteurized 3.25% (homogenized) milk as long as he’s eating iron-rich foods at most meals. (NOTE: Cow’s milk should never be given to a baby under 9 months old.) As your baby eats more solid foods, she will begin to drink less formula and/or 3.25% milk. By 12 months of age, your baby needs 16 oz. (500 mL) of 3.25% milk per day.
12 months and older	Formula isn’t needed for most healthy babies after 12 months. Offer 2 to 3 cups (500–750 mL) of 3.25% milk each day as part of meals and snacks.

The above table has been adapted from How Much Infant Formula to Prepare for Baby © 2019 Alberta Health Services ("AHS") with the permission of AHS. AHS is not responsible for any inaccuracies in content different from the content of the original English edition. All acts of copyright infringement including reproduction, translation, transmission, republication, and distribution of this material without written permission of Eastern Ontario Health Unit and AHS are prohibited.

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