How much should my 3 week old be eating?

Vanessa - posted on 03/31/2011

I have an almost 3 week old baby boy and he is eating 4 oz every 3 hours pretty much around the clock! his pediatrician said that young babies do this thing called cluster feeding where they will want to eat every hour or so for a few hours of the day-usually occurs between 11pm and 4 am for some reason! my little one does the same thing from about 11pm til 2 am! the dr said to try comforting him first but if that doesn't help then offer him an oz or so. I know that what they eat depends on what the baby weighs-they should eat 1/2 in ounces of what they weigh each feeding every 3-4 hours! so if your baby is 8 lbs then 4 ounces is exactly right. I completely agree that newborns don't have that mechanism in their brains to eat when they aren't hungry-so feed him what he wants and he will simply spit up whatever is too much! good luck!

Sam - posted on 05/19/2010

thanks guys you all have been very helpful for me in determine how much my 3 week old should be eating :)

Kate CP - posted on 05/18/2010

A 3 week old baby cannot over eat unless YOU force it to over eat. A new born baby is CONSTANTLY growing which is why they eat and sleep so much. Feed the baby when he's hungry, feed him 'til he's full, and DO NOT introduce solids until he is 5-6 months of age UNLESS told otherwise by your licensed and experience pediatrician.

Nikki - posted on 05/18/2010

Wow Dana you took the words right out of my mouth, i didnt see your post til now

Nikki - posted on 05/18/2010

Dianne I agree that once they start eating solid foods that it`s up to you to make sure they eat healthy and you can monitor what they eat. But there is a huge difference from a 3 week old to a 1 year old.

Chatty - posted on 05/18/2010

A 3 week old baby is different than a toddler, Dianne......once they start eating solids or if solids are introduced too early or encouraged despite the child refusing THEN, yes, they possible may become overweight. A lot of babies are chubby and technically overweight but as they get older and start to be more active they'll grow out of it! Parents have to do their part also......as they get older you have to offer them healthy choices and keep the snacks healthy and to a minimum but you shouldn't deprive them too early on!



A 3 week old baby WILL stop when it's full! Maybe a toddler won't but that's a learned behaviour that's been developed unfortunately much too early on in their short life!

Dianne M. - posted on 05/18/2010

I must respectfully disagree with some who feel you cannot over-feed a baby. At the church I attend, there is a woman who has a beautiful baby boy who is so overweight that he looks like a miniature Buddha - round belly, round face and all. The poor little guy is at the age (12 - 15 months) where he might be attempting to walk, but he is so overweight that his feet and legs won't hold him. Her other children are overweight as well, and having fought my weight for most of my childhood, teen years and my adult life, I would hate to see anyone put a child in that situation.

I strongly suggest staying in touch with your doctor while not depriving the child - but overfeeding a baby certainly is possible and setting your child up to fight their weight for years to come is not doing them any good.

Kristin - posted on 05/18/2010

It's a growth spurt, just go with it. Feed him until he stops and do not coax him to eat more. He knows when he's done.

Jessica - posted on 05/18/2010

Babies eat because they are growing

Megan - posted on 05/18/2010

How much should my 3 week old be eating?



My son is almost 3 weeks old and is already eating 4 oz and he normally eat every 2-3 hours during the day and 3-4 hours at night but now hes eating the 4 oz and now hes eating like every hour how can he be hungry every single hour?!?!? Help me please!

Catherine - posted on 05/18/2010

I found my my boy, that yes he would eat until full, eating very often and large amounts, or not often and not a great deal...dont force them to eat...and if they are hungry feed them...but i have found with my little one, that he tends to want to feed more when he has a) had too much, and b) when he has a tummy ache...of course it wont help feeding him more and more because he is taking it, and seems hungry, he just gets more of a tummy ache...so that was a viscious cycle for us...but we fed him what and when he wanted, and dealt with the fact that he may have wind or tummy ache after...

Nikki - posted on 05/18/2010

Im sorry but you can`t overfeed a baby!!! A 3 week old baby needs to eat and anyone who thinks depriving a baby of what they need for fear of them being overweight is ridiculous. Your baby is hungry and its perfectly NORMAL. ALSO a babies digestive system is not fully capable of handling solid food, it can be very damaging to them to start them early. It is recommended to wait til 6 months to intro food and by a sppon not in a bottle. Some babies are different and need food a lil earlier but nothing before 4 months. Your baby is more then likely going through a growth spurt and needs more food, or is just a big eater , and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, feed him what he needs!!!

Nikki - posted on 05/18/2010

There is nothing wrong, a baby eats exactly how much they need, you can`t overfeed a baby, they stop when they are full. Babies go through growth spurts also and will eat eat eat all day and night for a few days during the spurt. My son was eating 4 ounces ever 2 hours the day we left the hospital and the doctor told me he`s gonna be a big boy. By 4 months he was eating 12 ounces every 2 hours so just before 5 months we started him on veggies and fruit. He`s a super healthy boy he`s 25lbs and 34 inches tall. Listen to your son`s cues they will let you know exactly how much they need and give them exactly that!!!

Dianne M. - posted on 05/18/2010

Hi Sam,

Have you talked to your pediatrician? You should call the office and ask how much your 3 week old baby should eat and if this is normal - from what I remember of my babies, their food intake fluctuates and they will go from times when they seem to be eating everything in sight to times when they won't want to eat much at all.



As long as your doctor doesn't raise a red flag about the baby's weight (you don't want to feed your little one so much that they get over-fat), then help him stay on schedule and feed him. I remember when my son was about a month old, he was eating every hour or so, and I ended up starting him on cereal (very thin) so it would stay with him longer. He's always been a big eater and while he's grown up now, he did not become overweight.

Kate CP - posted on 05/18/2010

Feed until he's full. He won't over-eat.

Sam - posted on 05/19/2010

thanks guys you all have been very helpful for me in determine how much my 3 week old should be eating :)

Megan - posted on 05/18/2010

How much should my 3 week old be eating?



My son is almost 3 weeks old and is already eating 4 oz and he normally eat every 2-3 hours during the day and 3-4 hours at night but now hes eating the 4 oz and now hes eating like every hour how can he be hungry every single hour?!?!? Help me please!

Nikki - posted on 05/18/2010

Im sorry but you can`t overfeed a baby!!! A 3 week old baby needs to eat and anyone who thinks depriving a baby of what they need for fear of them being overweight is ridiculous. Your baby is hungry and its perfectly NORMAL. ALSO a babies digestive system is not fully capable of handling solid food, it can be very damaging to them to start them early. It is recommended to wait til 6 months to intro food and by a sppon not in a bottle. Some babies are different and need food a lil earlier but nothing before 4 months. Your baby is more then likely going through a growth spurt and needs more food, or is just a big eater , and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, feed him what he needs!!!

Dianne M. - posted on 05/18/2010

Hi Sam,

Have you talked to your pediatrician? You should call the office and ask how much your 3 week old baby should eat and if this is normal - from what I remember of my babies, their food intake fluctuates and they will go from times when they seem to be eating everything in sight to times when they won't want to eat much at all.



As long as your doctor doesn't raise a red flag about the baby's weight (you don't want to feed your little one so much that they get over-fat), then help him stay on schedule and feed him. I remember when my son was about a month old, he was eating every hour or so, and I ended up starting him on cereal (very thin) so it would stay with him longer. He's always been a big eater and while he's grown up now, he did not become overweight.