On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo and Dr. Robert Bucknam, [published by Charleston Publishing Group, Inc., 2006] centers around a flexible infant feeding schedule that when combined with regular naps and wake time will enable your baby to sleep through the night from an early age. This baby sleep training advice has helped many parents through the years.
Birth to Two Week Infant Feeding Schedule
Focus these two weeks on making sure that your baby takes a full feeding each time you breastfeed, instead of developing an early habit of snacking. Feeding every 2.5 – 3 hours is a general guide, but “hunger cues and parental assessment, not the clock, determine feedings” (On Becoming Babywise p. 112). This requires parents to assess child hunger cues when determining newborn feeding schedules, not the clock.
Two to Four Week Infant Feeding Schedule
Baby should eat every 2.5- 3 hours during these weeks. The goal here, according to Mr. Ezzo and Dr. Bucknam, is to establish milk production in mom, and for baby to learn how to nurse well. For nursing advice, speak to your pediatrician or a lactation consultant. The goal is to average 8-10 feedings within a 24 hour period, starting with a first morning feeding that is at the same time (within ½ hour) every morning. This will enable the feedings to fall at about the same times each day and create a sense of routine and predictability for both mom and baby.
Five to Eight Week Infant Feeding Schedule
During weeks 5-8 baby should eat every 2.5-3.5 hours. During the late evening and any nighttime feedings, mom should feed baby and put her back to bed without any wake time. This will help baby learn that nighttime is for sleeping and daytime is for playing. During this time, baby may do well on 7 feedings, or she may require more. Mr. Ezzo and Dr. Bucknam remind parents to watch for growth spurts that cause baby to nurse frequently, called cluster feeding.
Nine to Fifteen Week Infant Feeding Schedule
Newborn baby sleep during these weeks should extend to 9-10 hours at a stretch and baby can often do well with between 5-7 feedings a day by the end of week 13. (On Becoming Babywise p. 121). The regular baby feeding schedule that you have been establishing is helping regulate your baby's sleep patterns.
Sixteen to Twenty-four Week Infant Feeding Schedule
During this time frame, many parents begin introducing solid foods. Continue to feed your infant milk (breast or formula) 4-6 times a day. By the end of this period of time, baby feeding schedule should match up fairly close to mealtimes for the rest of the family. Nighttime sleep should average 10-11 hours at a stretch.
Sample Infant Feeding Schedule
Each cycle should start with a feeding and include both wake time, and nap time.
- Early morning feeding
- Midmorning feeding
- Afternoon feeding
- Midafternoon feeding
- Late afternoon feeding
- Early evening feeding
- Late evening feeding
- (possibly) middle of the night feeding
As baby stretches the time she can go between feedings, the schedule with adjust accordingly, and nighttime sleep should extend naturally as the eat, wake, sleep schedule are followed. Find problem solving tips and suggestions on the babywise philosophy.
More information on On Becoming Babywise naptime schedule, and on getting your baby to sleep through the night.
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