How Long Is an Average Feeding for a Newborn?

While some babies make quick work of draining a bottle, some lazily attach to the breast and feed for what seems like hours. Each newborn is different, so the length of another baby's feeding may or may not be similar to yours. The importance lies not in the length of the feeding but the amount and the quality of nutrition your baby is getting.

  1. Average Length and Amount

    • The average feeding usually lasts anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes, according to Sutter Health. This may stretch longer if your sleepy newborn can't stay awake to complete a feeding. Because your baby needs to eat between 8 and 12 times per day, it may seem like you finally finish a feeding just in time to start another one. For the first few months, finding a comfortable feeding spot is of utmost importance; you'll be spending a lot of time there.

    General Feeding Schedule

    • Your baby's feeding schedule is nonexistent at first; MayoClinic.com recommends feeding your baby on demand during the first few months. Your little one starts by eating about 3 or 4 ounces of formula or breast milk at first, but that amount increases over time as your little one's stomach grows to accommodate larger amounts. Of course, the amount of breast milk or formula can affect the length of the overall feeding. Expect to feed your newborn every two to three hours.

    Formula Feeding

    • One of the ways in which formula feeding differs from breastfeeding is the fact that you know exactly how much formula your baby consumes at each feeding. If your little one eats faster than usual and leaves a couple of ounces in the bottle, you can predict that she'll probably be hungrier and have a longer feeding the next time. Formula takes longer for babies to digest, so you can expect to go longer in between each feeding before it's time to mix another bottle.

    Breastfeeding

    • A breastfed baby might have longer feedings than a formula-fed baby. You don't know how much milk is being produced or how quickly your newborn is eating, so you might allow your baby to spend more time at the breast. At nighttime, breastfed babies often "cluster-feed," which happens when your milk supply is lower. Cluster-feeding is when your baby feeds for shorter amounts of time in shorter intervals than during the day. It's totally normal -- if inconvenient -- and can also help your baby "tank up" for longer periods of sleep throughout the night.

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