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A baby feeding schedule is one of the first things new parents search for. It promises certainty: a time, an amount, a plan. The trouble is that babies have not read the plan.
There is no single correct schedule. Breastfed and bottle-fed babies feed different amounts at different rates. A baby who feeds every two hours at three weeks may stretch to three or four hours by three months, then start waking more again during a growth spurt. That is normal.
What you can build is a flexible rhythm: a predictable sequence of feeds, awake time and sleep, with enough give to follow your baby's cues.
How often do babies feed?#
These are common patterns, not rules. Your baby may feed more or less often and still be perfectly healthy.
| Age | Common feeding pattern | What else is happening |
|---|---|---|
| 0–6 weeks | 8–12 breastfeeds or 6–8 bottle feeds in 24 hours; often every 2–3 hours | Short awake windows, frequent night feeds, cluster feeding in the evening |
| 6–12 weeks | Feeds gradually space out; some babies manage a longer stretch at night | More alert play, still unpredictable |
| 3–6 months | Often 6–8 milk feeds in 24 hours, but wide variation | Longer awake windows, more efficient feeding |
| 6–12 months | Milk feeds continue, often 3–4 times a day, alongside solids | Solids start around six months; milk is still the main source of nutrition |
| 12 months | Around three meals and two snacks, plus milk and water | Most babies can move to cow's milk as a main drink and off bottles |
Breastfed babies commonly feed 8–12 times in 24 hours in the early weeks. That can include cluster feeding, when a baby feeds several times in a short period, often in the evening. Bottle-fed newborns commonly feed 6–8 times in 24 hours, but there is no set amount every baby must take. The tin is a guide, not a target.
Hunger cues: feed before the crying#
Crying is a late hunger cue. A baby who is crying is already stressed and may latch or feed poorly. Look for earlier signs:
- turning the head and opening the mouth (rooting)
- sucking on fists, fingers or a dummy
- smacking or licking lips
- opening the mouth when the cheek or mouth is touched
- becoming restless or starting to fuss
- moving the head from side to side
A baby who is awake and content may simply want a cuddle or a change of scene. A baby who is rooting, sucking and fussing is usually hungry.
Responsive feeding, not clock-watching#
Responsive feeding means you offer the breast or bottle when your baby shows hunger cues, and you stop when they show fullness cues: turning away, closing the mouth, slowing down, or falling asleep. You do not have to make a baby finish a feed.
This matters for both breast and bottle feeding. With a bottle:
- hold your baby semi-upright and close
- keep the bottle roughly horizontal so the milk flows slowly
- let your baby pause and breathe
- do not prop the bottle or leave a baby to feed alone
- stop when your baby turns away or closes their mouth
With breastfeeding, feed on demand, offer both sides if your baby wants them, and get help early if feeding is painful or your baby is not latching well.
A flexible day at four to six months#
This is an example of a rhythm, not a schedule to follow exactly. At this age, many babies are still having three or four naps and several milk feeds.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7.00 am | Wake and milk feed |
| 7.45 am | Awake time, nappy change, floor play |
| 8.45 am | Wind-down and nap |
| 10.15 am | Wake and milk feed |
| 11.00 am | Awake time, perhaps a short outing |
| 12.15 pm | Nap |
| 1.45 pm | Wake and milk feed |
| 2.30 pm | Awake time |
| 3.45 pm | Short nap |
| 4.45 pm | Wake and milk feed |
| 5.30 pm | Quiet play, bath |
| 6.15 pm | Milk feed and wind-down |
| 7.00 pm | Bedtime |
At this age, solids may be starting around six months. When they do, offer solids after a milk feed or between feeds, not instead of milk. Milk remains the main source of nutrition until around 12 months.
Starting solids without derailing milk#
Around six months, your baby will start to show signs of readiness: good head control, sitting upright with support, reaching for food, and managing food without pushing it straight back out with their tongue. Our starting solids guide covers this in detail.
A practical approach:
- start with one small solid meal a day
- offer iron-rich foods first
- keep milk feeds on demand
- increase to two or three meals as your baby's appetite grows
- offer water in an open cup with meals from around six months
- do not replace milk feeds with solids before 12 months
If you are interested in self-feeding, our baby-led weaning guide explains how to do it safely and how it can sit alongside spoon-feeding.
Bottle-feeding practicalities#
If you are using formula:
- follow the instructions on the tin exactly
- use cooled, boiled water for preparation unless the manufacturer says otherwise
- sterilise bottles and teats if your baby is under 12 months
- discard unfinished formula after a feed
- do not add extra formula to make it stronger
- do not add cereal, sugar or salt
If you are expressing breastmilk, follow safe storage and warming guidelines. Do not microwave breastmilk or formula in a way that creates hot spots.
Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle. Milk or sweet liquid sitting on the teeth overnight causes decay. Our guide to brushing baby teeth explains the Australian toothpaste advice and the first dental visit.
Night feeds#
Night feeds are normal in the first year. Newborns need to feed overnight, and many babies continue to wake for a feed well past six months. A baby who is growing well may still wake out of habit, comfort or development, not just hunger.
If you are exhausted, it is reasonable to ask for help. Your partner can take one feed with expressed milk or formula if that works for your family. A child and family health nurse can help you decide whether a night feed is needed or whether you want to gradually reduce it.
Do not dilute formula, add extra water or withhold feeds to encourage sleeping. If you are unsure, get advice.
Common mistakes#
- Feeding by the clock instead of by cues. A hungry baby who is made to wait may become too distressed to feed well.
- Assuming a bottle should always be finished. Babies can stop when they are full. Forcing the last 30 ml teaches them to ignore fullness.
- Adding cereal to a bottle. It is a choking risk and does not help sleep.
- Starting solids too early. Around six months, not before four months, unless a health professional advises otherwise.
- Letting solids crowd out milk before 12 months. Milk is the main source of nutrition in the first year.
- Comparing your baby's intake to another baby's. Appetite varies. Growth and nappies matter more than the number on the bottle.
- Ignoring feeding pain. Nipple pain, clicking, poor latch or a baby who is not gaining weight needs assessment, not endurance.
When to get help#
Contact your midwife, child and family health nurse, GP or lactation consultant if:
- your baby is not gaining weight, is losing weight or is very difficult to wake for feeds
- your baby has fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth or sunken eyes
- feeding is painful, your baby is not latching, or you have recurring blocked ducts or mastitis
- your baby vomits forcefully or repeatedly, or has blood in their nappy
- your baby is under three months and has a fever — call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department
- your baby is between three and six months and has a fever — contact your GP promptly
- you are struggling with your mental health, sleep or feeding decisions
If your baby is floppy, unresponsive, has trouble breathing or has a seizure, call 000.
If your baby is bringing up feeds, arching during feeds or refusing feeds, our baby reflux guide explains the difference between normal posseting and GORD. If poos are hard, painful or pellet-like, see our guide to baby constipation.
The bottom line#
There is no perfect baby feeding schedule. Feed responsively, watch the early cues, and build a flexible rhythm around your baby's natural pattern. Breastfed babies commonly feed 8–12 times a day in the early weeks; bottle-fed babies commonly feed 6–8 times. Around six months, add solids while keeping milk central until 12 months. If growth, nappies or feeding comfort are a concern, get help early.
For the newborn stage, read our first 12 weeks guide. For the sleep side of the rhythm, see baby wake windows.
Frequently asked
How many times a day should a newborn feed?
Exclusively breastfed babies commonly feed 8–12 times in 24 hours in the early weeks, which often works out to every two to three hours. Bottle-fed newborns commonly feed 6–8 times in 24 hours, but there is no set amount or number that every baby must have. Follow hunger cues, nappy output and weight gain, and check with your midwife or child and family health nurse if you are unsure.
Should I wake my baby for a feed?
In the early weeks, many newborns need to feed frequently and may sleep through a feed if they are very tired. Follow the advice of your midwife or child and family health nurse, especially if your baby is small, jaundiced, premature or not gaining weight. Many families are advised not to let a newborn go more than about four hours between feeds overnight in the first weeks. Once your baby is growing well and your health professional is happy, you can usually let them sleep longer.
Can I put baby cereal in a bottle?
No. Adding cereal or other solids to a bottle can be a choking risk and can make feeding harder. It does not help a baby sleep through the night. Start solids around six months, from a spoon or as finger food, when your baby shows the developmental signs of readiness.
How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?
Signs include steady weight gain, plenty of wet nappies, alert periods, and a baby who seems satisfied after most feeds. Nappy output changes in the first week, so ask your midwife or child and family health nurse what to expect for your baby's age. A baby who is very sleepy, difficult to wake, feeding much less than usual, or not producing wet nappies needs prompt medical advice.
References
Sources and further reading
We use primary Australian guidance first. These links open in a new tab.
- Breastfeeding: how often and how longRaising Children Network
- Bottle-feeding babies: giving the bottleRaising Children Network
- Introducing solids: why, when, what and howRaising Children Network
- Infant feeding guidelinesNational Health and Medical Research Council
How this guide was made
Drafted with AI assistance and edited against the public sources above. This is general information for Australian families, not personal medical, legal or financial advice. It has not been medically reviewed.
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