8-week-old baby feeding schedule & amounts

By 8 weeks old, your newborn’s feeding schedule may be evolving, which is likely welcome news to you! As they’ve grown, they can now eat more during each breastfeeding or formula-feeding session. That translates to also being able to go a bit longer between feedings—which can make a big difference, especially in the middle of the night.

Related: 2-month-old baby milestones

How much should an 8-week-old baby eat?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and La Leche League recommend the following feeding schedules and amounts for 8-week-olds.

Breast milk: 4 to 5 ounces every 3 to 4 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: Activities for a 2-month-old

What’s a good 8-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 an 8-week-old need?

How to tell if your baby should switch infant formula types

If you feed your baby formula, you know there are quite a few formula options on the market. There are practical options to consider, such as cost and convenience. But there are also reasons to consider switching baby formula types that relate to your baby’s digestion.

A few reasons to change formula types include:

• Suspecting your baby has food allergies
• Your baby needs more iron
• Your baby is fussy after feedings

It’s best to consult with your doctor before changing infant formulas.

Related: How to choose an organic baby formula

How long does it take to breastfeed a baby at 8 weeks old?

On average, 8-week-old babies may take 5 to 10 minutes to breastfeed on each side during feedings. The big keyword there is “average”—because many other factors can contribute to how long it takes for a baby to breastfeed. These include your baby’s eating style, the speed at which breast milk lets down, how frequently they feed and more.

A note from Motherly on feeding an 8-week-old

Around two months, your baby may be ready to move into another size of clothes—which is always a bittersweet milestone! As you reflect on how much they have grown and look ahead to all that is to come, know that you are doing an amazing job, mama.

Look ahead: 9-week-old baby feeding schedule and amounts

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