INTERVALS OF FEEDING

How often should a baby be fed during the first month?

Every two hours during the day and twice during the night, or ten feedings during the twenty-four hours.

At what age may the interval be made two and a half hours?

Usually at five or six weeks.

When may it be increased to three hours?

Usually at two months.

Why should not a child be fed more frequently?

It takes the stomach nearly two hours to digest a meal at two months, and about two and a half hours at five or six months, and if the meals are too near together the second one is given before the first has been digested and vomiting and indigestion result.  The meals should be far enough apart to give the stomach a little time for rest just before each feeding.

Schedule for Feeding Healthy Infants during the First Year

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AGE.         Interval     Night      No. of   Quantity   Quantity
between    feedings    feedings  for one     for 24
meals,    (10 P.M.     in 24    feeding.    hours.
by day.   to 7 A.M.).    hours.
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Hours.                           Ounces.      Ounces.
2d to 7th day         2          2           10      1 -1-1/2   10-15
2d and 3d weeks       2          2           10   1-1/2 — 3     15-30
4th and 5th weeks     2          1           10   2-1/2 — 3-1/2 25-35
6th to 8th week       2-1/2      1            8      3 — 5      24-40
3d to 5th month       3          1            7      4 — 6      28-42
5th to 9th month      3          0            6      5 — 7-1/2  30-45
9th to 12th month     4          0            5      7 — 9      35-45
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This schedule gives the averages for healthy children The smaller quantities are those required by small children whose digestion is not very vigorous.  The larger quantities are those required by large children with strong digestion; in very few cases will it be advisable to go above these figures.

The interval is reckoned from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next one.

When should the interval between the feedings be lengthened?

When there is gastric indigestion as shown by habitual vomiting or the regurgitation of food long after the bottle is finished; also when the appetite is very poor so that the infant regularly leaves some of its food.

When should the interval between the feedings be shortened?

This is done much too frequently; it is rarely advisable to feed any infant, except one seriously ill, oftener than the time put down in the schedule.

REGULARITY IN FEEDING