How long can a newborn go without eating?

Newborn eating habits

It should come as no surprise that newborns eat often. Since their stomachs are very small, they can only hold so much milk at once. But since they are growing and developing quickly, it’s important for them to get enough breast milk or formula.

The best way to know whether your baby is getting enough milk in the first few weeks is to count wet diapers. On day 1 (the day after your baby is born), they may only make 1 to 2 wet diapers. The next two days, they should make 2 to 4 wet diapers daily. By day 5 and beyond, well-hydrated babies will make 6 or more wet diapers everyday.

How often do newborns eat?

During the newborn period, which lasts until your baby is 3-4 months old, their eating habits change. Most newborns will eat every 1-3 hours the first week after birth. Your baby’s hunger cues — like rooting, sucking on their firsts, and opening and closing their mouth — can help you figure out if your baby is hungry before they get too upset to eat well.

Will my baby eat more during growth spurts?

During a growth spurt, your baby may be even hungrier than usual, and may drink more milk as a result. Breastfed babies may cluster feed. When your baby is cluster feeding, they will want to eat more often — even as often as every 30 minutes. Cluster feeding can be taxing on parents, but it’s a normal sign of growth and development. Babies cluster feed to load up on nutrients, which is why they often cluster feed during a growth spurt. 

How do I know when my baby is hungry?

Babies may cry when they’re hungry, but crying is a late sign of hunger. Looking out for earlier hunger cues will help you get ahead of your baby’s hunger. When your baby is hungry, you may notice your baby:

• Rooting (an involuntary motion babies make that helps them find a nipple)
• Moving their fists to their mouth
• Sucking on their hands
• Opening and closing their mouth

Should I wake my baby to feed them?

In addition to eating a lot, newborns also sleep a lot. Again, this is because sleep is important to their growth and development. In a 24-hour period, most newborns sleep at least 16-17 hours. Because babies at this age need a lot of sleep and nutrients, you may find these needs conflict sometimes.

Newborns need to eat at least every 2-3 hours, though some may want to eat more often. Even though babies’ sleep is important, their nutrition is more important. 

Most pediatricians recommend allowing a newborn to sleep no longer than 4 to 5 hours before waking them up to feed. The specific recommendation will depend on your baby’s weight and health status.

When can I stop waking my baby to feed them?

A baby may be ready to sleep longer stretches when your baby:

• Is gaining weight: Once your baby weighs enough, their desire for sleep can overcome their need for nutrients. Babies born prematurely, with low birth weight, or who gain weight more slowly might need to be woken up at night to feed longer than a baby who gains weight more quickly. 
• Reaches a certain age: Most full-term babies under 6 weeks old are not ready to sleep longer than 4-5 hours at a time. Preterm babies may need to be older before being considered ready to sleep longer stretches without feeding.

Tips for waking a sleeping baby to feed 

Your newborn may be so tired that it can be hard for them to wake enough to feed. It can be tempting to just let your newborn sleep, but during the newborn period, nutrients are more important than sleep. 

If you find your baby is hard to wake, try these tips:

• Turn on a few lights, or a soft light
• Unswaddle your baby if they are swaddled
• Change your baby’s diaper
• Take breaks during feeding to help your baby avoid falling asleep
• Place a damp cloth on their face or hands
• Give gentle back or foot rubs
• Talk to or sing to your baby

Newborn feeding tips

Newborns should only consume breast milk or formula. Older babies can start solid foods between 4 and 6 months.

Breastfeeding

If you breastfeed, you’ll produce milk in three phases: colostrum first, a mix of colostrum and mature milk around day five, and mature milk within about two weeks. The colostrum your body makes initially provides rich nutrients to your newborn before your mature breast milk comes in.

There's no strict rule requiring you to breastfeed your newborn at a certain time around the clock, unless your pediatrician or lactation consultant advises otherwise. Instead, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding “on demand,” when your baby is hungry.

Due to their small stomachs, newborns typically need to eat every 1-3 hours during the first week. Pay close attention to your baby's signs of hunger to ensure they're fed when needed.

Breastfed babies should be allowed to nurse as long as they want to. Your baby will usually unlatch on their own when they are full.

Formula feeding

Formulas today closely mimic breast milk. Although none are an exact match, you may need or want to give your baby infant formula for many reasons. That’s okay. Many parents find a mix of breastfeeding and formula feeding works best for their family.

Just like breastfed babies, formula fed babies should be fed on demand. When they are first born 1 to 2 ounces every few hours may be enough. This amount will gradually increase as their stomachs get larger and they can hold onto more milk. A pediatrician can help you figure out exactly how much formula to give your baby.

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You can always text a Summer Health pediatrician or lactation consultant for support and advice for your family.

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