Crying may be caused by belly cramps from overeating or swallowing too much air during feeding. Your baby will often spit up some of the feeding and may have loose stools.
Babies give cues during feeding that indicate how hungry they are. Pay attention to these cues to help determine when your baby has had enough to eat.
- A baby who is hungry will latch on to the breast or bottle and suck continuously.
- A baby who is getting full during a feeding will take longer pauses between sucking.
- A baby who is full will turn away from the breast or bottle and not want to suck.
The following table gives the number of ounces that a baby needs to take with each feeding according to his or her weight. Remember that this is only an average, and every baby is different.
| Weight in pounds | Ounces per feeding | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
6 to 8 pounds (2.5 to 3.5 kg) |
2 to 3 ounces (60 to 90 mL) |
||
|
8 to 10 pounds (3.5 to 4.5 kg) |
3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 mL) |
||
|
10 to 12 pounds (4.5 to 5 kg) |
4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 mL) |
||
|
12 to 16 pounds (5 to 7 kg) |
6 to 8 ounces (180 to 240 mL) |
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Terrina Vail |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics |
| Last Updated | July 12, 2007 |
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