Feeding Frequency and Hunger Cues

Aim to feed your baby at least 8–12 times in a 24-hour period. Frequent feeding supports your baby’s nutritional needs and helps establish and maintain a healthy milk supply.

You may hear the general recommendation to “feed every 2–3 hours.” This isn’t because you might overfeed your baby—it’s to help ensure your baby isn’t underfed, especially in the early weeks when they’re still learning to cue clearly and your supply is being established.

That said, feeding doesn't always follow a perfect schedule. Like the image with the cheerios versus the blueberries, your baby’s feeding pattern may be a little irregular at times. That’s normal. Rather than watching the clock, try to follow your baby’s cues—such as stirring, rooting, bringing hands to mouth, or becoming more alert—responding when they show signs of readiness to feed, even if it hasn't been a full 2–3 hours since the last feeding.

In the early days (until your baby has regained their birth weight and is showing consistent weight gain), it’s important to ensure they feed at least 8 times per day—even if that means waking them, including overnight.