Newborn Feeding Milestones: Weeks 3-4
In the initial month, newborns undergo rapid growth, becoming visibly bigger and stronger each day. In fact, they gain an average of an ounce per day. By around the age of 4 weeks, infants start to develop a more coordinated pattern of the suck/swallow reflex during feeding. This makes feeding more efficient, allowing them to take in more milk during each feeding session. Which in turn, helps babies continue to rapidly grow and get stronger.
3-4 Feeding Milestones
Typically, a 4-week-old baby will exhibit the following feeding patterns:
- 👶 Suckling Rhythm: Babies at this age usually have a rhythmic suckling pattern. They will suck, swallow, and breathe in a coordinated manner. The suck/swallow reflex is stronger and more efficient, allowing them to draw milk from the breast or bottle more effectively.
- 💪 Suck Strength: The strength of the baby’s suck has likely increased. They can create a stronger vacuum, enabling them to extract milk with a more forceful suck.
- 🍼 Feeding Duration: Feeding sessions might become more efficient as babies get older. While the exact duration can vary from baby to baby, they might spend around 10-20 minutes on each breast during breastfeeding, or consume about 2-4 ounces of milk from a bottle, depending on their individual needs and appetite.
- 👀 Alertness and Engagement: Around 4 weeks, babies often become more alert and aware of their surroundings. During feeding, they might pause to look around or make eye contact with their caregiver. Some babies might even start to display feeding cues more clearly, indicating when they are hungry or full.
- ⏰ Frequency: Babies at this age still typically feed every 2-3 hours, but the stretches between feedings might be a bit longer during the night as they gradually begin to establish a more predictable sleep pattern. Every baby is unique, and these patterns can vary.
Infant Hunger Cues
Newborns need to eat every 2-3 hours, but there will be times when they will eat more. For example, in the evenings, newborns tend to cluster feed. Caregivers should respond to a baby’s cues and feed them on demand. Do you know the cues infants use to tell caregivers they are hungry? Believe it or not, crying is actually the last cue they give us. There are several others they show prior to the waterworks-
- licking lips
- hands to mouth
- opening mouth (also referred to as ‘fish lips’)
- sticking tongue out
- rooting mouthing/sucking objects
Of course, every baby is unique and will grow and develop at different rates. If there are concerns about a baby’s feeding habits, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider or a lactation consultant.
Read Newborn Feeding Milestones: Weeks 1-2. What surprises you most about the newborn feeding milestones? Let us know below ⬇️
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