How Many Feedings in 24 Hours? A Guide for Parents

January 9, 2026 •

4 min read

A newborn can feed 10 to 12 times in 24 hours, with this frequency naturally decreasing as they grow and their stomach capacity increases. Understanding how many feedings in 24 hours is typical for your child's age is essential for healthy development and managing parental expectations.

Quick Summary

Infant feeding frequency changes with age and feeding type (breast milk vs. formula). Parents should watch for hunger cues for responsive feeding, as schedules are flexible and evolve over time.

Key Points

Responsive Feeding: Follow your baby's hunger cues rather than a rigid schedule, especially in the early months.
Newborns Eat Frequently: Expect 8 to 12 feedings in 24 hours for newborns, with breastfed babies often feeding more often due to quicker digestion.
Frequency Decreases with Age: As your baby grows and their stomach capacity increases, the number of daily feedings will naturally decrease.
Feeding Patterns Change: Be prepared for shifts in feeding frequency during growth spurts or when your baby starts solids around six months.
Look for Hunger Cues: Signs like rooting, sucking motions, and moving hands to their mouth are earlier indicators of hunger than crying.
Toddlers Need Meals and Snacks: For toddlers over one year, a schedule of three meals and two to three snacks is standard, supplementing with milk or water.

Understanding the nutritional needs of a baby can be one of the most rewarding yet challenging aspects of new parenthood. The number of feedings a child requires in a 24-hour period is not a static number but changes with age, type of milk, and individual needs. Adopting a responsive, on-demand feeding approach, especially in the early months, is often recommended by health professionals. This means paying close attention to your baby's hunger cues rather than adhering to a rigid schedule.

How Many Feedings for a Newborn (0-1 Month)

Newborns have tiny stomachs and digest milk quickly, which is why they feed so often. Feeding frequently in the first few weeks also helps establish a mother's milk supply.

Breastfed Newborns

Frequency: Expect 8 to 12 feedings in 24 hours during the first month. This may be every 1.5 to 3 hours. Breast milk is easily digested, leading to more frequent feeding sessions.
On-Demand: Responsive feeding is key. A newborn's feeding will vary day by day, and sometimes hour by hour.
Cluster Feeding: Some breastfed newborns may go through periods of cluster feeding, where they feed very frequently over a few hours, often in the evening.
Hunger Cues: Look for signs like rooting, making sucking motions, and putting hands to their mouth before they start crying, which is a late hunger cue.

Formula-Fed Newborns

Frequency: Formula-fed newborns typically eat every 2 to 3 hours, averaging about 6 to 10 feedings in 24 hours. Formula is digested more slowly than breast milk, so the gap between feedings is often a little longer.
Volume: Initially, they may only take 0.5 to 1 ounce per feeding, increasing to 2 to 4 ounces by the end of the first month.
Paced Feeding: Paced bottle feeding can prevent overfeeding by allowing the baby to control the flow and volume of milk they consume.

Infant Feeding Frequencies (1-12 Months)

As your baby grows, their stomach capacity increases, allowing for longer intervals between feedings. Around six months, solid foods are introduced, which further changes their eating pattern.

1-3 Months: Breastfed babies may feed 7-9 times in 24 hours, while formula-fed infants might eat 5-8 times.
3-6 Months: The frequency for both breastfed and formula-fed babies decreases, with average ranges around 6-8 and 5-7 feedings in 24 hours, respectively.
6-9 Months: By this stage, with solid foods starting, milk feedings may drop to 5-6 times a day.
10-12 Months: The feeding schedule becomes more predictable. Babies may have 3-4 milk feeds, plus 3 meals and snacks.

Toddler Feeding Schedule (1+ Year)

After their first birthday, milk and formula transition from being the primary source of nutrition to a supplement. Solid foods, including healthy meals and snacks, become the main focus.

Frequency: A typical toddler feeding schedule includes three meals and two to three healthy snacks a day, spaced a few hours apart.
Respectful Feeding: It is important to continue to respect your toddler's hunger and fullness cues. Some days they may eat a lot, and others very little.
Fluid Intake: Offer water throughout the day. Continue breastfeeding or offering milk as needed, but solids provide the bulk of their nutrition.

Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding: Frequency Comparison


Age Range	Breastfed Frequency (per 24 hours)	Formula-Fed Frequency (per 24 hours)
Newborn (0-1 Month)	8-12 times	6-10 times
1-3 Months	7-9 times	5-8 times
3-6 Months	6-8 times	5-7 times
6+ Months	4-6 times (with solids)	4-6 times (with solids)

Factors Affecting Feeding Frequency

Several factors can influence a baby's feeding schedule and the total number of feedings in 24 hours:

Growth Spurts: Babies often feed more frequently during growth spurts, which commonly occur around 7-14 days, 3-6 weeks, and at 4 and 6 months.
Sickness: A baby who is not feeling well may want to feed more for comfort or less due to illness.
Developmental Changes: As babies become more mobile and active, their feeding patterns can shift.
Sleep Patterns: Longer stretches of sleep at night will naturally lead to fewer overnight feedings, though they may compensate with more daytime feeds.

Conclusion

While knowing the average number of feedings can be a helpful guide, it is crucial to remember that every child is an individual. The most important thing is to follow your baby's lead by responding to their hunger and fullness cues. A healthy baby who is gaining weight appropriately and has enough wet and dirty diapers is typically getting what they need, regardless of whether their feeding frequency matches a chart exactly. For more information, consult resources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on infant nutrition, available at www.cdc.gov.

If you have concerns about your baby's growth or feeding habits, always consult with your pediatrician. They can provide personalized guidance and ensure your baby is on track for healthy development.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can tell if your baby is getting enough food by monitoring their weight gain, general contentment after feedings, and the number of wet and dirty diapers. A satisfied baby who is gaining weight and having regular diaper changes is likely receiving adequate nutrition.

Early hunger cues include stirring, rooting, bringing hands to the mouth, and making sucking sounds. Crying is a late-stage hunger cue. Responding to the earlier signs can make feedings easier.

Cluster feeding is when a baby, especially a breastfed newborn, feeds very frequently over a short period, often in the evening. It's a normal behavior and can happen during growth spurts.

Newborns should not typically go longer than about 4 hours without feeding, even overnight, at least until breastfeeding is well-established and they are gaining weight appropriately.

While it's not possible to overfeed an exclusively breastfed baby, it is possible with bottle-fed babies, particularly if the bottle is used for comfort. Look for signs of fullness like turning away from the bottle or unlatching.

Around six months, as your baby begins solid foods, the number of milk feedings per day typically decreases. At this stage, they get their nutrition from a combination of milk and solid foods.

Every baby's feeding pattern is unique. The numbers are general guidelines, and it's most important to respond to your baby's individual hunger and fullness cues. If your baby is healthy, gaining weight, and seems content, there is no need to worry about sticking to a rigid schedule.