Why Do Newborns Eat So Frequently? Understanding Your Baby’s Hunger Cues
If you’ve recently welcomed a newborn into your family, you might be surprised by how often your baby seems hungry. It can feel like you’re constantly feeding! Newborns eat frequently and while it may seem overwhelming at times, there are important reasons why newborns eat so frequently. In this blog, we’ll explore why newborns eat every few hours, how it supports their development, what you can do to make frequent feedings easier for both you and your baby, and how you can get support from a lactation consultant to make these early weeks easier.
Feeling overwhelmed by your baby's constant hunger? As a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, I offer personalized lactation support to help parents understand their baby's feeding needs and navigate breastfeeding with confidence. My lactation support services are designed to help parents navigate these early weeks with confidence and ease. You can book a free consultation here.
1. Tiny Tummies, Quick Digestion
One of the main reasons newborns feed so often is because of their tiny stomachs. A newborn’s stomach is very small—about the size of a cherry on the first day of life—and can only hold a small amount of breast milk or formula. This means they need to eat more frequently to stay full. By day three their stomach is still only the size of a walnut!
Breast milk is also digested quickly, which means most newborns will need to nurse every 1.5 to 3 hours. Formula-fed babies might go a bit longer between feedings, but their tiny tummies still need frequent refueling.
Worried that your baby isn’t getting enough to eat? My lactation consultation services can help you understand your baby’s feeding needs and make sure they’re growing and thriving.
2. Rapid Growth and Development
Newborns experience rapid growth in their first few months, and this requires a lot of energy! Frequent feedings provide the calories, proteins, and nutrients they need to fuel this development.
In fact, most babies will double their birth weight by 4 to 6 months, and frequent breastfeeding or bottle-feeding is essential to support this growth.
If you’re noticing slow weight gain or having trouble keeping up with your baby’s hunger, I can offer breastfeeding support to address common feeding challenges like latch issues, low supply, or slow milk flow.
3. Building and Maintaining Milk Supply
For breastfeeding moms, frequent nursing sessions help build and maintain your milk supply. Breastfeeding operates on a supply-and-demand system, so the more often your baby nurses, the more milk your body will produce. In the first few days to weeks after birth every time your newborn nurses your body learns to make more receptor sites to enable lactation throughout your breastfeeding journey. Frequent nursing is vital to a healthy long-term breastfeeding relationship. It typically does not mean your baby is starving.
In addition to the early days of nursing, growth spurts typically happen around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months, often lead to cluster feeding, where your baby nurses more often to signal your body to make more milk. This is completely normal but can be tiring!
4. Comfort and Bonding
Newborns don’t just eat because they’re hungry—they also nurse for comfort and security. Feeding provides warmth, soothing, and closeness to their caregiver. For breastfed babies, suckling can be very calming, which explains why they may want to nurse frequently during fussy periods.
Frequent feeding also supports bonding between you and your baby, which is vital for their emotional well-being.
5. Digestive Health and Immature Digestive Systems
Newborns have immature digestive systems, which is why frequent feedings can support healthy digestion. The act of feeding stimulates the release of digestive enzymes and hormones that help your baby process their food.
Breast milk is packed with beneficial prebiotics and probiotics that promote gut health, helping to prevent issues like colic, constipation, and reflux.
6. Responding to Hunger Cues
Newborns give early signs of hunger, like sucking on their hands or turning their heads toward the breast or bottle (rooting). Feeding your baby when they show these cues helps them feel full and satisfied before they become too hungry and fussy.
Waiting too long between feedings may lead to a very hungry, fussy baby, making it harder for them to feed effectively.
Struggling to read your baby’s hunger cues? My lactation support services can help you decode your baby’s needs and create a feeding routine that works for your family.
How to Make Frequent Feedings Easier
While frequent feedings are normal, they can sometimes feel exhausting. Here are a few tips to make the process more manageable:
• Create a comfortable feeding space: Set up a cozy area with pillows and blankets where you can comfortably nurse or bottle-feed your baby.
• Stay hydrated and nourished: If you’re breastfeeding, make sure to drink plenty of water and have healthy snacks nearby to stay energized.
• Share feedings when possible: If you’re bottle-feeding, share the feeding responsibilities with a partner to give yourself a break.
• Use baby-wearing: Wearing your baby in a carrier between feedings allows you to keep them close while freeing up your hands.
• Reach out for support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help from family, friends, or a lactation consultant to ensure both you and your baby are thriving.
Conclusion
Frequent feedings are a normal and essential part of a newborn’s development. Your baby’s small stomach size, rapid growth, and need for comfort all contribute to their frequent feeding schedule. Responding to your baby’s hunger cues and feeding on demand ensures they’re getting the nourishment, comfort, and security they need in these early months.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by frequent feedings or have concerns about breastfeeding, I’m here to help. As a certified breastfeeding specialist and Occupational Therapist, I offer in-home or virtual lactation consults to help you navigate feeding challenges and ensure your baby is fed, growing, and happy. Book your consultation today!
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