Newborn baby feeding schedule can seem a very complicated process, especially for new parents. If this is your first born child, you might find yourself confused and even stressed out about the schedules and routines you should follow. You may be troubled with questions like «What is the appropriate diet my infant should follow? » or «what time should I feed my newborn? », but you should not worry. These are all very common issues lots of parents come across.
First of all, you should choose a newborn feeding schedule based on your baby’s needs and newborn sleeping schedule. For the first months of its life (especially the first three), your baby is mostly going to nap. It is probably going to sleep for 30-45 minutes or 3-4 hours at a time. Between those naps, it is going to be needing food. One thing you should keep in mind is that at these early stages of its life your baby is going to need lots of feedings during the day. That’s completely normal since its stomach is so small that it can only hold a tiny amount of food.
Another thing you should know is that formula fed babies tend to get hungry less frequently than breastfed ones. That’s understandable since breastmilk is easier digested than formulas and that’s why your baby asks for more, very often.
How much breastmilk or formula does my baby need?
That’s an excellent question! To calculate how much formula your child needs, multiply your baby’s weight by 2.5.For example, if your child weighs 9 pounds it is going to need 22.5 ounces of formula per 24 hours.
To calculate how much breastmilk your baby needs, just keep in mind that the appropriate amount for these early stages is 20-30 ounces per day. Once your baby passes the newborn stage, it will need about 25-35 ounces per day.
Another thing you should expect and be prepared to welcome is growth spurts. They are going to happen, and your baby is suddenly going to grow, its little body is going to develop. Those growth spurts are most likely going to happen during: 
• 7-10 days
• 2-3 weeks
• 4-6 weeks
• Three months
of age.
While these growth spurts are happening, your baby is feeding unstoppably between naps. That’s normal; you should feed your baby as much as it needs. This extra nourishment is vital during the growth spurts.
Newborn Breastfeeding:
What to expect:
• For the first few weeks, you should expect to breastfeed every 1.5 -2 hours. Breastmilk is digested quickly by your baby’s system, and that’s why it is going to need to be fed 8 -12 times per day.
• Crying is a common indicator that your baby is hungry and needs to be fed. However, you should not wait up to that point to breastfeed. You should try newborn breastfeeding your baby every two hours to avoid your baby’s distress. It is much preferred according to scientists, to newborn breastfeed your baby before it’s too late and it starts complaining.
• Other signs you should look for include your baby opening its mouth as if to breastfeed, putting its fist into its mouth or making sucking motions. All these reactions could indicate that your newborn is hungry.
Newborn Baby Feeding Schedule
The following schedule is suggested based on averages; not all newborns have the same needs. Every baby is different.
2-8 weeks old baby breastfeeding schedule
Note: this schedule is ideal for babies who need an average amount of breastmilk and for mothers who produce an average amount respectively. It is not recommended for children who need significantly smaller or larger amounts of breastmilk or mothers who produce a lot more or a lot less milk. You can contact your doctor for more advice on the issue.
So here is an indicative newborn breastfeeding schedule: 
• 9:00 AM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 10:00 AM – Nap (for about 30-60 minutes)
• 11:00 AM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 12:30 PM – Nap (for about 30-60 minutes)
• 1:30 PM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 3:30 PM – Nap (for about 30 – 60 minutes)
• 4:30 PM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 6:00 PM – Nap (for about 30 – 60 minutes)
• 6:30 PM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 7:30 PM – Catnap (for about 20 – 30 minutes)
• 8:00 PM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 9:30 PM – Catnap (for about 20 – 30 minutes)
• 10:00 PM–Wake up and Feed your baby
• 11:30 PM –Feed your baby and put it to bed
• 3:30 AM – Feed your baby and put it back to sleep
• 6:30 AM – Feed your baby and put it back to sleep
Here is an indicative newborn baby feeding schedule for infants who feed on formula:
• 9:00 AM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 10:00 AM – Nap (for about 60 – 90 minutes)
• 11:30 AM – Wake up
• 12:30 PM – Feed and Nap (for about 30 – 60 minutes)
• 1:30 PM – Wake up
• 3:00 PM – Feed and Nap (for about 60 – 90 minutes)
• 4:30 PM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 6:00 PM – Nap (for about 30 – 60 minutes)
• 6:30 PM – Wake up
• 7:30 PM – Feed and Nap (for about 30 – 60 minutes)
• 8:30 PM – Wake up
• 9:30 PM – Nap (for about 30 – 60 minutes)
• 10:00 PM – Wake up and Feed your baby
• 11:30 PM – Feed your baby and put it to bed
• 4:30 AM – Feed your baby and put it back to sleep
• 7:30 AM – Feed your baby and put it back to sleep
You may notice that in this newborn feeding schedule there is more napping and less feeding. That is because formula is not as easily digested as breastmilk. Thus, your newborn needs smaller amounts of it.
You can choose one of these newborn feeding schedules and modify it to your baby’s needs. Always consult your doctor before taking any decisions.
General Tips For newborn baby feeding
1) Choose between breastmilk and formula and stick with it. Breastfeed is usually recommended for newborn babies but in case that is not possible, you can choose using a formula.
2) You should feed your kid on demand and not wait for it to start crying. You should estimate the time it takes for it to digest and feed him on time.
3) You’d better talk to your doctor and consider giving your child supplements of vitamin D. Many babies need such supplements, especially those who breastfeed.
4) You should expect different eating patterns from your baby. You should be prepared for changing behavior, especially during the growth spurts.
5) Trust your judgment and your baby’s respectively. Babies know precisely how much food they need so you should not worry whether your baby eats too little or too much food. Some signs of a healthy baby are: steady weight gain, at least six wet diapers per day (after the fifth day of birth) and of course interest in feeding. If your baby doesn’t express one of those, you should contact your doctor.
Feeding your baby is a beautiful process that offers a unique bonding between the mother and the child. It is not just a matter of survival for your little angel; it is a way of understanding and feeling its mother. It’s a way to learn to recognize the woman that gave birth to it. This special bond is not something that should be overlooked or underestimated. It’s mother nature’s way of ensuring that every newborn little creature is going to get everything it needs to survive along with its tender mother’s love and protection.
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