How to establish a newborn feeding routine

After months of pregnancy and anticipation, your baby is finally here and is probably pretty hungry. The first days and weeks of their life can feel like a whirlwind of feeding, burping, and endless nappy changes. You’re probably wondering when your baby will settle into a newborn feeding routine.

But newborns don’t keep a diary. “There’s often an expectation around getting babies into a routine, but there isn't necessarily a newborn feeding routine guide,” says paediatric dietitian Kat O’Brien. “It's about following your baby’s lead and learning to read their hunger cues.” Here is Kat’s advice for newborn feeding success.

When to start feeding

If you’re breastfeeding, the ideal time to start is within an hour of giving birth. Initiating breastfeeding early is great for bonding. “It provides important colostrum (the first form of nutrient-dense breastmilk before your milk supply comes in after birth) to a newborn as well, which helps prevent infection and promotes better health outcomes for both baby and mum,” says Kat.

If you’re formula feeding, you can start feeding whenever your baby seems hungry.

If you can’t breastfeed in the first hour, just start as soon as you can, advises Kat. “You could discuss expressing colostrum before the birth with your care team, as well. So, if you’re not able to be with your baby straight after the birth, you’ll have that stash of liquid gold ready to go. Even a few millilitres can make a difference.”

If you need help with feeding, speak to a midwife in hospital, a child health nurse or call the Australian Breastfeeding Association helpline on 1800 686 268.

How to tell if your baby is hungry

Babies are smart, even if they’ve only been earth-side for mere hours. Your newborn will tell you when they’re hungry, says Kat. These are some of the cues:

• Turning their head from side to side
• Displaying the ‘rooting reflex ’, which is when newborns open their mouth and look for a nipple or bottle teat to latch onto and feed
• Sucking on their lips or hands
• Becoming more restless, starting to make cooing and sighing sounds
• Crying which is a late feeding cue.

Is there a typical newborn feeding schedule?

Unfortunately not. Kat encourages feeding on demand in the first few weeks, which may be hard for first-time parents who love routine and structure. “In those early weeks, we can't expect a baby to adhere to a schedule,” she says..

“We could say, ‘feed every two to three hours’, but some babies will need to be fed more frequently, even cluster feeding (when your baby wants lots of short feeds over a few hours) in that ‘witching hour’ in the afternoon to evening. This actually helps establish milk supply, if your baby is breastfed.”

Kat recommends feeding on demand if you’re mixed-feeding or formula feeding, too. “As a baby gets older, especially with a formula-fed baby, they’ll probably fall into a routine and feed less frequently than a breastfed baby. You may find yourself thinking, ‘Oh, it's 9.30, when my baby usually wants to feed,’ and you'll get the bottle ready,” assures Kat.

How often do newborns feed?

In the first few weeks, exclusively breastfed babies will likely feed every two to three hours, which is eight to 12 times in a 24-hour period. “If your baby is growing well and has regular wet nappies, you can trust that they're getting plenty of milk,” says Kat.

As for how long to breastfeed for, there’s no ‘right’ answer: it could be 10 to 30 minutes or even more. “You can feed for as long and often as you want,” adds Kat

Ditto for formula-fed babies: you don’t have to religiously follow the newborn formula feeding guide on the label. “Sometimes, parents go off the tin and their baby will be crying, clearly showing signs that they're hungry, but mum or dad are worried about overfeeding,” says Kat. “Meanwhile, some stressed parents try to force more formula into their baby because they’re not consuming what's recommended on the tin.” It’s important to be responsive to your baby and follow their lead, she adds.

Sign that the baby is full

Your baby will typically come off the breast or bottle when they’re full. “Your baby will tell you when they’re hungry, and when they’ve had enough,” says Kat. “We don't want to force a baby onto the breast because someone said it ‘should’ be 20 minutes per feed.”

Is nighttime feeding different to daytime feeding?

Ideally newborns shouldn't go more than four to five hours without a feed, including at night, says Kat. This is very general advice, however, and there’s no ‘one size fits all’ for babies. “I've seen formula-fed babies who sleep through the night as newborns. Because they’re gaining a lot of weight, they're getting all their calories during the day and don't need nighttime feeds.”

On the flipside, newborns who struggle to gain weight or are jaundiced – which can make them sleepy – may need to be woken for feeds, says Kat.

“At the start of their life, babies don’t know the difference between night and day,” says Kat. “But sleep patterns mature and things will change. You will get longer stretches of sleep.” Phew.

To help them settle after a night feed, keep your baby’s environment calm, quiet, dark and unstimulating. You don’t need to change their nappy through the night unless they’ve done a poo or seem uncomfortable.

What if my baby doesn’t settle into a feeding routine?

Seek help and advice

If you’re struggling with breastfeeding, Kat suggests seeking one-on-one support. Chat to your child and family health nurse, a qualified lactation consultant or a paediatric dietitian.

Try the feed/play/sleep routine

Rather than fixating on the clock, Kat loves and recommends the daytime feed/play/sleep routine. “When your newborn wakes up, give them a feed, play with them and then put them back to sleep,” she says. “That very loose structure works well for many parents.”

The Final Word

Trust your baby's cues and your instincts - they know when they're hungry and when they've had enough. Feeding routines will develop naturally over time, so focus on responding to your baby's needs rather than watching the clock.