Newborn Feeding Schedule: Weeks 1-2
I can’t believe Hayden is already 2 weeks old! Why does it feel like my newborn is already a toddler? As a family of four now more than ever, schedules are everything for our family! Mike and I have followed the same schedules for both Hayden and Marlow and it's worked well for us. It’s not only helped get our babies on a schedule, but also gives us some level of predictability for Mike and I to plan our schedules around feeding times (work, date nights, etc.). Note: Your baby’s schedule and routine is totally personal, this is only sharing what has worked for our family, but we know each journey is so personal and everyone has a way that works for them. See below for our feeding schedule:
Week 1-2
9:00am - Feed (2oz)
12:00pm - Feed (2 oz)
3:00pm - Feed (2 oz)
6:00pm - Feed (2 oz)
8:00pm - Feed (2oz) Bedtime
10:00pm - Feed (2 oz) Dream Feed
2:00am - Feed (2oz)
6:00am - Feed (2oz)
If our baby is fussy, we will feed outside of the schedule. Baby is the boss during the newborn phase! However for both Marlow and Hayden this has kept them satisfied in their first two weeks of life. As baby grows, we increase the amount of ounces we feed them and let them lead on how much they can consume. If Hayden is still fussy after 2oz, we will move to 2.5 oz the next feed to see how he does.
Here is an amazing book to keep track of feeding schedules and make additional notes on how baby is feeling to use as a reference which we used for both Marlow and now Hayden: Newborn Baby Tracker
We feed our baby breast milk and I exclusively pump. This works for our family. Here’s a great article that I found helpful for exclusively pumping - Exclusive Pumping: The Scoop on Schedules, Milk Supply and Tips for Success
Team Work:
Divide and Conquer! Newborn life is hard… REALLY HARD and you need to be a team. How do you split up feedings? Who owns bath time? Work with your partner to figure out how you work together. I recommend having this conversation before baby and continue to revisit and adjust as needed when baby arrives as things are always changing!
Hope these tips can be helpful in your newborn journey. It's such a magical and dreamy time but can also be challenging. Be kind to yourself. If something isn't working for you it's ok to switch things up and remember not to compare yourself to others. Make sure you do what works for you and your family and enjoy every second. Remember your baby chose you to be their parent…. YOU GOT THIS!
xoxo,
Jordan