2 - 3 week old baby feeding schedule: How much should they eat?

At 2 - 3 weeks old, your baby is still a newborn and everything is, you guessed it, new! While this is exciting, it can also be exhausting and fraught with worry. But have no fear — we’ve got you covered when it comes to feeding your 2 - 3 week old baby. In this article, we’ll let you know how much your little one may eat at this age, give you tips for feeding your newborn, and answer frequently asked questions about 2 - 3 week old eating expectations. 

2 to 3 week old baby sample feeding schedule

At 2 - 3 weeks old, the American Academy of Pediatrics [] recommends babies are fed “on demand,” meaning parents should watch their baby for hunger cues, rather than feed solely by the clock. Most babies will look to feed about every 2 - 3 hours, which equates to around  8 - 12 times in a 24-hour period. Remember every baby is different and it’s normal if your little one’s eating times vary. Their sleep times will differ too! At this age, sleep and feeding are very intertwined — it’s common for babies to wake because they’re hungry. 

How much to feed a 2 to 3 week old

Newborn babies will eat roughly every 2 - 3 hours. Within this range, formula-fed babies can typically go longer between feedings than breastfed babies. This is simply because breast milk typically digests faster than formula. At this age, babies will typically drink 1 - 3 ounces per feeding with about 8 - 12 feedings over 24 hours. 

5 tips for feeding your 2 to 3 week old baby

Tip #1: Stick to breast milk or formula

Breast milk, formula or a combination of both provides your baby with all the nutrition they need for the first several months of life. The World Health Organization [] recommends introducing additional food or water at around 6 months of age. 

Tip #2: Follow baby’s hunger cues

The most reliable way to build a at 2 - 3 weeks old is to follow your baby’s hunger cues. Signs of hunger include:

• Baby licking lips

• Putting their hand to their mouth

• Opening their mouth, sticking their tongue out 

• Attempting to suck on anything nearby 

Crying is a late signal of hunger and may make it hard to settle down and eat, so watch for those clues early on! 

Tip #3: Watch diapers to assess intake 

Many parents wonder if their newborn is eating enough, especially if they are nursing. The best way to determine if your baby is eating enough is to watch their diapers. A 2 - 3 week old baby who is drinking enough should have at least 6 wet diapers in a 24-hour period. Check with your child’s pediatrician if you’re seeing fewer wet diapers or have concerns about how much your newborn is eating.

Tip #4: Consider vitamin D supplements

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics [], all babies less than 12 months old should receive 400 IU of vitamin D each day (unless formula-fed babies consume 32 ounces of infant formula per day).

Tip #5: Know schedules may vary

Wouldn’t it be nice if babies were a bit more predictable?! Since they typically aren’t, it’s best to set your expectations accordingly. Keep in mind that a 2 - 3 week olds’ feeding schedule will probably fluctuate from time to time. Many babies eat more and more frequently during . Some may also go through periods of cluster feeding where they eat more frequent, yet potentially smaller meals for part of the day. 

With the free , you can track your newborn’s feedings and sleep, which may help you identify patterns and more easily navigate this period of unpredictability.  

Night feedings at 2 to 3 week olds

Night feedings for a 2 - 3 week old baby are essential. Babies at this age have tiny tummies — roughly the size of an egg — so they can’t hold very much. Stomach size combined with how rapidly newborns grow means they need to be fed around the clock to stay hydrated and keep their energy levels up. It’s expected that newborns will wake frequently overnight to eat and for comfort, as their , and they typically sleep in short cycles of 2 - 4 hours between feeds at night.

Takeaway

• Feeding takes up a lot of time when you have a 2 - 3 week old baby. And for good reason: They need to eat frequently to grow and develop, which are a baby’s most important jobs! 

• One of the best things you can do at this age is get to know your baby and their hunger cues. Feed on demand, keep an eye on wet diapers in a 24-hour period, and do your best to enjoy the sweet bonding time that feeding can bring.

• Expect that your baby’s feeding schedule will ebb and flow during this time. Changes in appetite, illness, discomfort or distraction may all impact how your baby feeds. Remember, it’s all a normal part of the learning process!