From the Guidelines
Newborn infants should be fed 2-4 ounces (60-120 ml) of breast milk or formula per feeding, with the amount increasing by approximately 1 oz per month, and should feed 8-12 times every 24 hours, or roughly every 2-3 hours, as recommended by the most recent pediatric health guidelines 1. The feeding schedule for newborns is crucial for their growth and development. According to the guidelines, newborns feed about every 2–3 h, or 8–12 times every 24 h, with the amount eaten per feeding increasing by approximately 1 oz per month, and plateauing at ~7–8 oz per feed 1. Key points to consider when feeding newborn infants include:
- Feeding frequency: 8-12 times every 24 hours, or roughly every 2-3 hours
- Feeding amount: 2-4 ounces (60-120 ml) per feeding, increasing by approximately 1 oz per month
- Monitoring intake: watching for 6-8 wet diapers daily and consistent weight gain as signs of sufficient intake
- Importance of breast milk or formula: sustained breastfeeding and, if bottle fed, avoiding bottle propping and only using breast milk or formula in bottles 1. It is essential to prioritize the health and well-being of newborn infants by following these guidelines and monitoring their growth and development closely.
From the Research
Recommended Amount of Breast Milk or Formula
The recommended amount of breast milk or formula for newborn infants is not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, the studies suggest that:
- Human milk is the optimal source of nutrition during the first 6 months of life 2, 3, 4, 5
- Preterm infants may require fortification of breast milk to meet their nutritional needs 2, 3, 5, 6
- Infant formulas are available to meet the nutritional needs of infants when mother's own milk or donor breast milk is not available or sufficient 2, 4, 5
Key Considerations
Some key considerations for feeding newborn infants include:
- The nutritional composition of breast milk may not always be sufficient to meet the needs of preterm infants 3, 5, 6
- The use of multi-nutrient breast milk fortifiers (BMF) is recommended for preterm infants, but international guidelines are inconsistent 6
- Local hospital guidelines for the use of BMF may vary, and individualized fortification is not commonly used 6
- The primary contraindication for the use of BMF is necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) 6
Feeding Guidelines
Some general guidelines for feeding newborn infants include:
- Early trophic feeding with colostrum and transitional milk improves immune protection and promotes gut maturation 5
- Mother's own milk is the preferred feed, but preterm formula is an appropriate option when there is an inadequate supply of mother's milk 5
- The use of BMF is commonly commenced when the infant is tolerating a feed volume of 150 mL kg-1 day-1, has a gestational age <34 weeks, or a birth weight <1500 g 6