In the first 12 weeks at home with a newborn, so much is happening for new parents. We’re recovering from delivery, learning when and how to feed our baby, and trying to function on little sleep. It’s an exciting time, but it can also feel overwhelming. Naturally, you might crave some structure to make the day feel more manageable.
However, newborns come with their own rhythms—they’re born a little nocturnal, often wanting to sleep during the day and stay up at night. They’re cluster feeding to boost your milk supply and have many needs, from frequent feeds and diaper changes to all the cuddle time they can get.
So, instead of aiming for a strict schedule, we help families focus on a flexible routine. Think of it as following gentle windows rather than rigid rules. We’ll teach you to tune into feeding cues, watch for awake windows, and get familiar with sleep cycles to help you and your newborn find a groove.
Let’s walk through the basics from those early days up to about three months, with some straightforward tips to ease you and your baby into a comfortable routine.
That First Week…
In the first week of life, a newborn’s stomach is very small, meaning they take in small amounts and need frequent feedings. Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, expect to feed your baby every 2–3 hours during the day and every 3–4 hours at night.
For breastfeeding moms, this first week is about helping your baby latch deeply as your body transitions from producing colostrum to mature milk. By the end of the first week, a newborn’s stomach grows from the size of a marble to about a ping-pong ball, and feed amounts will gradually increase to around 1–2 ounces per feeding. This is a great time to seek lactation support to make sure you have a feeding plan that works well for you and your family.
A Few Weeks Out: Finding Your Routine
As your newborn reaches the one-month mark, their stomach capacity and feeding patterns begin to change. Many babies will start spacing their feeds slightly and taking in more volume (though this can vary, as every baby is different!). A breastfed baby takes about 1–1.5 oz per hour on average, so if you’re wondering how much your baby is eating at any given time from 1 month and onwards, ask yourself: How often are they eating? If they are eating every 3 hours, they are probably taking somewhere between 3 to 4.5 ounces.
Here are some key things to focus on as you settle into a feeding routine:
- Daytime feeds: Aim for every 2–3 hours, typically between 6–7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Newborns, especially in the first few weeks, may cluster feed. Cluster feeding is when they are frequently at the breast, every hour or two hours, which helps early on as they are driving in your milk supply. Feeding on demand is okay!
- Night feeds: After your baby regains their birth weight (usually within the first two weeks), most pediatricians support letting your baby wake naturally for feeds overnight while prioritizing calories during the day.
- Awake windows: Keep your baby’s awake time around 60–90 minutes, which includes the feeding time, before starting to soothe them to sleep.
- Nap lengths: Newborn naps can vary, usually lasting from 20–30 minutes up to 1–2 hours.
How Do I Know When My Baby Is Hungry?
Every baby will be different. Some will give you those early cues to let you know they are waking up hungry and getting ready to feed, while others will jump from zero to “hangry” right away. Those early cues you are looking for include stirring and stretching. Then they may start opening their mouth, turning their head, and looking for that feed. Some babies put their hands in their mouths, while others start rooting.
Rooting is that involuntary reflex you see where they not only turn their head but also open their mouth and sort of look like they are bobbing about looking for the breast. Those later hunger signs include crying or frantically shaking the head side to side. A common thing we hear from our moms is that they go to breastfeed their baby, and the baby is crying at the breast and shaking their head. This looks like they are saying “no” or that they might not want your breast. However, it really is just that late hunger sign, meaning that we need to work on getting that baby to the breast sooner for feeds.
Pro tip for the “hangry” babies or those showing late signs: Feed your baby when they are coming out of a light sleep. You will know they are in that light sleep and about to wake up because you will see their eyes moving under their eyelids. When you see this, pick that baby up in that light sleep and bring them to the breast or for their feeding session. It’s okay to skip the diaper change along the way and do it after the feed if that is going to get your baby into the late cue place.
To sum it up:
- Early signs: yawning, stirring, stretching, coming out of a light sleep
- More active signs: opening their mouth, putting their hand to their mouth
- Later cues: crying, shaking their head frantically, turning red from crying and frustration
Why Sleep Matters in Your Feeding Routine
I know this is about newborn feeding routines, but let’s talk about sleep for a minute because it’s all connected. Why are sleep and awake windows so important? Sleep begets sleep, so getting quality sleep during the day can help your baby sleep better at night.
Ever heard the phrase “Never wake a sleeping baby”? It doesn’t apply to newborns! If a baby sleeps too much during the day, they may miss out on calories, which means they’ll look for those calories later—usually in the middle of the night. If it’s been about three hours since the last feed, go ahead and wake them to feed.
What If My Baby Is Still Hungry After the Feeding Session?
Now that you know your baby’s awake windows and sleep patterns, this is helpful in understanding how to determine what to do if you think your baby is still hungry after a feeding session. If you had a good feeding session where you heard active swallowing and your baby’s tone was relaxed after the feed, and you are now in the 60–90 minutes zone of being awake and they start fussing, they are likely going to be tired.
This is a time when parents start to wonder if their baby got enough at the feed because they are crying, and many babies did eat well; they are now just crying because they are tired. If you work through your soothing techniques to help your baby fall asleep, like swaddling, swinging, or bouncing your baby, “SHHing” them, and offering a pacifier, and they aren’t falling asleep and are still crying or rooting, then we assume they are still hungry, and you can put them back to the breast or offer more in the bottle.
Key Things to Remember About Feeding Patterns
Every baby is different, but here are a few patterns you might notice with your newborn:
- Breastfed babies sometimes feed from only one side in a session and may be too milk-drunk to take the second side.
- Other babies may take both sides during a feed.
- Some babies take a break between sides of up to 30 minutes—this is normal!
- Bottle-fed babies may sometimes fully finish a bottle, while other times they might fall asleep with a little left.
Staying flexible and watching your baby’s hunger cues will help you get to know their feeding preferences and patterns.
How Do I Know My Baby Is Getting Enough?
This is always the biggest question for our breastfeeding moms. With a bottle, it feels more objective because you can measure the ounces, and you know exactly what they took at any given feed. Breastfeeding doesn’t feel objective like this; however, there are other things you can consider to reassure yourself that your baby is getting enough at the breast. Here are the things I want you to ask yourself while breastfeeding to help reassure yourself that your baby is getting enough, and this will translate into you feeling more confident and comfortable in time, knowing that breastfeeding is working:
- Before and after breastfeeding, does your breast feel softer?
- Do you hear swallowing sounds during feeding?
- After feeding, does your baby seem content, with a relaxed and soft body tone?
- Is your baby making wet diapers? Are they pooping?
- Are they gaining weight at every checkup with the pediatrician?
- Do they have periods of contented wakefulness and good sleep?
For extensive reading on the, you can read our previous blog How to Know if Newborn is Getting Enough Breast Milk.
A Realistic Newborn Feeding Routine
There is a lot that goes into your newborn feeding routine, which I’m sure you’re realizing if you’ve read this far along! Let's sum up the most important takeaways from this blog so you can leave feeling confident and prepared.
- First two weeks: Feed every 2–3 hours during the day and every 3–4 hours at night until your newborn regains their birth weight.
- After regaining birth weight: Feed on demand overnight, but continue regular daytime feeds every 2–3 hours. Remember to wake your baby for daytime feeds!
- Awake time: Keep wake periods around 60–90 minutes before naps to avoid an overtired baby.
Seek support: Talk to a Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner who is also an IBCLC for any questions, troubleshooting, or creating a feeding plan tailored to you. Many of these services are covered by major insurance providers.
By focusing on these guidelines rather than a strict schedule, you can stay responsive to your newborn’s needs and gently establish a routine that works for both of you. Every baby is unique, and with a bit of flexibility, you’ll create a rhythm that keeps both you and your newborn comfortable and thriving.
