How to Tell if a Baby is Eating Enough

Having a new baby brings to mind many questions and worries in the minds of parents, one of which is whether or not their baby is properly nourished. The typical intake for a formula-fed infant is two to three ounces per feeding, culminating in a daily total of two to three ounces per pound. According to "Parenting" magazine, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfed infants have eight to 12 feedings per day of 10 to 15 minutes per breast. Some babies, however, fluctuate from this norm. If yours is one, how can you tell if she is getting enough to eat?

Instructions

    • 1

      Assess your baby's waste output. He should be producing six to eight wet diapers per day. Disposable diapers are designed to feel dry, so familiarize yourself with how they appear when wet by pouring a small amount of water on a dry diaper and then examining it. Your baby's stool output can vary from several times per day to several times per week depending on whether he is drinking breast milk or formula.

    • 2

      Monitor your baby's weight gain. Some post-birth weight loss is expected, but should not exceed 10 percent of her birth weight. A typical rate of weight gain is five to seven ounces per week, with your baby's birth weight having doubled by the age of 5 months. From 6 months to 1 year your baby's growth may slow to three to five ounces per week, and her birth weight should triple at the age of 12 months. Weight gain can fluctuate and still represent satisfactory progress. However, if your baby fails to gain any weight at all between doctor's visits, this may be an indicator that she is not eating enough, and warrants a further check from your doctor to rule out a more serious issue.

    • 3

      Watch for signs of malnutrition in your baby. These include wetting fewer than four diapers per day, wrinkled skin beyond 1 week of age and prolonged lethargy or irritability. By about 3 weeks of age, an adequately fed baby will have a face that appears round, and if your baby does not it may be because he is undernourished. Watch for urine that is dark like the color of apple juice -- this is a sign that your baby is not receiving adequate fluids.

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