1 - 2 month old baby feeding schedule: How much should a 1 - 2 month old eat?
Updated Oct 30, 2024
While a 1 - 2 month old baby is typically still considered a newborn, you are likely settling more into your new role as a parent and caregiver. Hopefully, this means feeding has become a bit easier and perhaps a bit more predictable. At this age, babies will continue to drink breast milk, formula or a combination of both on demand.
In this article, we’ll walk you through typical newborn feeding patterns, give you tips for feeding your little one, and answer frequently asked questions about night feeding and more.
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1 to 2 month old baby sample feeding schedule
For most babies, the American Academy of Pediatrics [] recommends following responsive feeding, or feeding on demand, at 1 - 2 months old. Watch for their hunger cues and feed accordingly rather than using scheduled feedings for your little one, unless recommended by their doctor. Below is a sample of what a day in the life of a newborn may look like at 1 - 2 months, as sleep and hunger are closely intertwined at this age.
How much to feed a 1 to 2 month old
At 1 - 2 months old, babies usually eat roughly every 2 - 4 hours. Breastfed babies typically eat more often than formula-fed babies since breast milk digests faster than formula []. Newborns at this age will eat about 3 - 4 ounces at each feeding with roughly 8 - 12 feedings in a 24-hour period.
If you’re looking to track your newborn’s feedings, can help! In the app you can log nursing sessions, bottle feeds, pumping sessions, and more!
3 tips for feeding your 1 to 2 month old baby
Tip #1: Focus on hunger and fullness cues
It may be tempting to put your baby on a feeding schedule based on the clock, but it’s best to continue following their hunger and fullness cues at this age. Responsive feeding [] ensures they eat the amount right for them and sets up good habits for the future. Hunger cues [] include licking lips, starting to suck, and fussiness. Fullness cues include turning their head away, closing their mouth, or falling asleep.
Tip #2: Fussiness doesn’t always mean hunger
While fussiness or crying sometimes becomes synonymous with thinking your baby is hungry, this isn’t always the case. Remember, babies use crying or fussiness as a way to communicate, so these behaviors may also signal things like they are tired, too cold or warm, overstimulated, want to be held, or need their diaper changed.
Tip #3: Breast milk or formula needs increase as babies grow
Just as babies start to be able to go longer between feedings as they grow, they start eating more at each feeding too. At 1 - 2 months, newborns will likely begin eating more, getting closer to 3 - 4 ounces each feeding. Nursing babies will gradually make this change on their own. However, bottle-fed babies will need to be served more, of course. A way to know It’s time to increase formula or breast milk is when they start finishing their bottles regularly and are still showing signs of hunger.
Night feedings at 1 to 2 months old
At 1 - 2 months old, babies still need night feedings, though they may be able to sleep for longer stretches at night. Feeding on demand, including overnight, is important to support the rapid growth and development that babies experience. At this age, hunger plays a big — babies wake up when they’re hungry!
Takeaway
At 1 - 2 months old, babies are still feeding many times during the day to support their rapid growth. Most babies at this age eat every 2 - 4 hours and will eat roughly 8 - 12 times during a 24-hour period.
Babies will start to go longer between feeds and eat more at each feed. By the end of the second month of life, many babies will be eating about 3 - 4 ounces at each feeding and may be able to go up to 4 hours between some feedings.
Feeding on demand is still recommended for most babies at this age. Continue to watch and learn your baby’s hunger and fullness cues. With time, you will find being in tune with their feeding needs becomes easier.
1 to 2 month old feeding schedule FAQ
Q: How often should a 1 - 2 month old eat?
A:
At 1 - 2 months old, babies usually eat every 2 - 4 hours. Parents should watch their baby for hunger cues to determine how often to feed. Some cues include putting their hands to their mouth, starting to suck, licking lips, or fussiness.
Q: How long between feeds can a 1 - 2 month old go?
A:
A baby at 1 - 2 months old can go roughly 2 - 4 hours between feeds. Formula-fed babies typically can go longer stretches between feeds than breastfed babies since breast milk digests more quickly than formula [2]. Additionally, during growth spurts babies will likely eat more often, sometimes as often as every 30 minutes [5].
Q: Can you drop night feeds at 1 - 2 months?
A:
Typically, no, you cannot drop night feeds at 1 - 2 months. At this age, babies still have small stomachs and can’t eat enough to last for long stretches, such as overnight. It’s expected that newborns will wake overnight for feedings and comfort.
Q: Why is my 1 - 2 month old eating less than usual?
A:
It’s normal for a newborn’s appetite to vary from day to day and week to week, especially at 1 - 2 months old. Your baby may be eating less than usual due to normal changes in appetite or growth or experiencing illness or discomfort while eating. Temporarily eating less than normal isn’t usually a cause for concern, however, if you notice that your newborn is producing fewer wet diapers than usual or you’re concerned, reach out to your child’s healthcare provider.
Q: What is a 1 - 2 month old nursing strike?
A:
At times, babies may stop nursing as usual and this is typically referred to as a nursing strike [6]. This is usually a temporary phase (lasting a couple of days) and is often related to an underlying factor such as illness, discomfort, stress, or distraction. If you are having trouble feeding your baby due to a 1 - 2 month old nursing strike, consult your baby’s pediatrician or a lactation consultant.
Q: Is 30oz too much for a 1 - 2 month old?
A:
A 1 - 2 month old baby typically consumes around 18 - 32 ounces of breast milk or formula in a 24-hour period. This means 30 ounces is not necessarily too much for a 1 - 2 month old baby, but it is at the high end of what babies at this age are likely to consume.
Q: Is 4 feeds a day enough for a 1 - 2 month old?
A:
Generally speaking, 4 feeds a day is not enough to meet the nutritional needs of a 1 - 2 month old baby. Newborns at this age typically need to eat every 3 - 4 hours. This means they will feed about 8 - 12 times per day.
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Note: The content on this site is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice from your doctor, pediatrician, or medical professional. If you have questions or concerns, you should contact a medical professional.
