How much should a newborn eat?

This article is also available in Italian.

As a mom, I have also asked the same question, however, the following should be considered in an approximate way because, growing up, children learn to eat better and faster.
Moreover, every child is different, some eat faster, and in 10 minutes have already eaten what they need.

It’s amazing how a mother’s body adapts to the needs of the newborn. Think the breast milk changes its composition according to the nutritional needs of the child.

First comes human colostrum rich in sugars, proteins, antibodies and minerals.

Then there’s the transitional milk, which, compared with colostrum, has less protein and minerals and more lactose and lipids.

Finally, after 10-14 days after birth, there is mature milk with much less protein and minerals, but more lactose, other sugars, lipids, folic acid and vitamins B1 and B6.

What’s more, during feeding the various components are made available as needed and so that finally, there are mostly fats that induce a feeling of satiety and help to establish a mechanism of self-regulation of appetite. And this, the formula-fed babies did not have it, so he is more at risk of overweight, obesity and hypertension in adulthood.

What follows is a pattern for those children who at birth weigh no less than 2.700 kg.

The first 4 days of lactation:

Later, when you have started feeding with the mature milk:

• from 4 to 8 weeks: breastfeed up to 40 minutes (it is assumed from 60 to 150 g)
• from 8 to 12 weeks: breastfeed up to 30 minutes (from 120 to 180 g)
• from 3 to 6 months: breastfeed up to 20 minutes (150 to 240 g)

Keep in mind that children breastfed make more meals than bottle-fed, can also be 12 meals per day.

Advice

When breast-feed, especially at the beginning, listen as eating and swallowing, to see if he eats really, or is just sucking.

If you formula feed instead:

Obviously, compared to the breast, always maintains the same composition.

• from birth to 3 weeks: 90 g every 3 hours
• from 3 to 6 weeks: 120 g every 3 hours
• from 6 to 12 weeks: from 120 to 180 g every 4 hours
• 3 to 6 months: to 240 g every 4 hours

This is only a sketch, to further the argument, you read what says the midwife (Le poppate: che frequenza e quanto devono durare?)