Out of all the baby’s daily activities mothers get worried about, feeding remains the biggest source of concern for many mothers.

Am I feeding my baby enough? When should my baby eat again? When can I feed my baby solid foods? 

Hundreds and hundreds of questions are going through your mind all the time, and the crying baby on your arm is probably not of much help.

Well, we’re here to tell you how to get baby on feeding schedule hassle-free. Follow the article to learn everything you need to know.

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Although most parents fuss about feeding schedules a lot, babies decide these schedules for themselves. In the end, the baby has a body that works on its own accord. If it’s not ready for your feeding habits, the baby simply won’t eat. 

So, you shouldn’t worry much about creating a feeding schedule. Rather, you need to pay attention to the baby’s cues for hunger because it’ll tell you when he should eat.

The most common cues are trying to put their whole fists into their mouths and licking their lips constantly. Some babies also keep moving around your chest, opening their mouths, and looking for a nipple to suck on. 

Once the baby starts showing these cues, he’ll start getting fussier by the minute if you don’t feed him.

When the baby is around 4–6 months, you may start feeding him to your accord. To give you an example, if your baby is used to eating every five hours, and you feed him at 8 PM, he’ll wake up at 1 AM looking for food. 

However, if you wake him up at 10 PM to feed him before you go to bed, he’ll likely eat, and he won’t need to get fed again until 5 AM, giving you some decent hours to sleep.

How to Get Baby on Feeding Schedule

Do you eat at the same exact time as your partner? Probably not, because each human has a different appetite, and babies are no exception. Just because your first baby used to eat every couple of hours, that doesn’t mean your second baby will do the same. 

Here, we’ll list the average eating times of bottle-fed and breastfed babies but bear in mind that your baby may be different from average, and that’s totally normal.

All breastfeeding mothers know babies take a lot of milk at the start of their lives. Starting from the first hour of birth and until the baby starts eating solids, you’re required to feed him around 4–9 times daily.

Most babies don’t go for more than four hours without feeding, but as they grow older, they eat less. That’s not because they need less milk, but it’s because they can take a larger amount at once, so they don’t need to repeat.

Here are the average eating times of babies at different ages:

If you start introducing solid foods when the baby is around six months old, his eating pattern will change significantly because he’ll need less milk.

Bottle-fed babies likely have longer gaps without eating than breastfed babies because the formula takes more time to digest. Here’s the average feeding schedule of bottle-fed babies:

How Often Should Babies Eat at First?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there’s an average feeding schedule for every age with specific amounts. Here’s a shortlist of it:

4–6 months: 4–8 ounces a day with introducing solid foods if the baby weighs more than 13 pounds

6–12 months: 8 ounces a day with starting soft foods

Average Feeding Schedules According to Age

Solid foods should only be introduced to babies older than four months old. Plus, there are a couple of cues that'll tell you the baby is ready. If you don’t see them, it’s better to wait. 

The most vital cue is good head control. If your baby can support his head on his own, it means he can start eating solids. 

You may also notice your baby reaching out for your own food. It means he finds it tempting to try. 

Lastly, the baby should be at least 13 pounds. If your baby fulfills all that, it means he’s ready for solid foods.

When Should You Start Introducing Solid Foods?

For both breastfed and bottle-fed babies, there are general guidelines that you should abide by. Here’s a shortlist of the essential ones.

Don’t feed the baby cereal in a bottle. It poses a choking hazard, and it can lead to overfeeding the baby. Not to mention, most babies have digestive systems that aren’t mature enough to handle cereal. They need to be at least four months old.

Don’t feed your baby liquids, except for milk, when he’s not one year old yet. That goes for healthy liquids as well, such as regular milk and fruit juices. They’ll upset the baby’s stomach, and they don’t present a nutritional value. Even water should wait until the baby is six months old.

Honey is a no-no for babies under one-year-old. It’s a primary cause of a rare condition called infant botulism, and its complications are fatal.

Premature babies will have different feeding patterns because their bodies work according to their maturity. If your baby is showing reflux when presenting solid foods, it’s better to consult a doctor to know what the baby should eat and how frequently.

Tips for Getting Your Baby on a Feeding Schedule

Worrying too much about feeding schedules will unnecessarily stress you out. The baby will show hunger, so you’ll know when to feed him. Once he’s four or more months older, you can start adjusting his feeding schedule to your lifestyle. This way, you can feed him without compromising your sleep.

How to Get Baby on Feeding Schedule

How to Get Baby on Feeding Schedule

How Often Should Babies Eat at First?

Average Feeding Schedules According to Age

When Should You Start Introducing Solid Foods?

Tips for Getting Your Baby on a Feeding Schedule

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