7-week-old baby feeding schedule & amounts

Although your 7-week-old’s feeding schedule probably hasn’t changed too dramatically in the past few weeks, you may find that it’s much easier for you to manage. After all, they say it takes a few weeks to create a habit—and that applies whether you are breastfeeding, formula feeding or combination feeding. Be sure to celebrate the little wins both for yourself and your baby. When you do, we bet there’s a lot to cheer for.

Related: 2-month-old baby milestones

How much should a 7-week-old baby eat?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and La Leche League recommend the following feeding schedules and amounts for 7-week-olds.

Breast milk: 2 to 3 ounces every 2 to 3 hours

Formula: 4 to 5 ounces every 4 hours

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also recommends that parents should follow the responsive feeding method, also known as feeding on demand, which looks to the infant’s hunger cues for when to feed. The schedules below are just examples—be sure to follow your baby’s hunger signals to know when your little one is ready for the next feeding. As babies get older, their hunger cues and feeding times start to become a little more predictable.

Related: New guidelines for infants with fevers that all parents should know

What’s a good 7-week-old baby feeding schedule?

Remember, it’s more important that you follow your baby’s cues than adhere to a set schedule, so schedules outlined are general guides of how frequently you’ll feed your baby—not hard-and-fast rules.

These guidelines also apply primarily to infants born full-term and without any underlying medical conditions. For preterm infants, babies with certain medical conditions or for any specific questions pertaining to your child, be sure to consult your child’s pediatrician for a more customized feeding schedule.

Related: How much sleep does a 7-week-old need?

How can I boost breast milk supply?

For breastfeeding and/or pumping mamas, the breast milk supply generally regulates between 6 and 12 weeks postpartum. When this happens, you may find your milk supply lessens. That’s not necessarily cause for concern: Supply tends to meet the baby’s demand. If you would like to boost breast milk production, however, there are a few tried-and-true tips outlined in this how-to guide. Because supply is so linked to demand, also be sure to be consistent with feeding or pumping.

Related: 10 surprising foods that boost your milk supply

A note from Motherly on feeding a 7-week-old

With your baby’s 2-month well-check right around the corner, make an effort this week to write down any questions or concerns you have about your baby’s feeding schedule, tummy troubles or formula. Trust us, pediatricians have seen and heard a lot—so there is no such thing as a silly question. You should also feel supported in your efforts to continue feeding your baby the way that works best for your family.

Look ahead: 8-week-old baby feeding schedule and amounts

A version of this story was published October 17, 2021. It has been updated.