How do you know how much to feed your baby?

I feel so ignorant - I'm not sure if I'll be able to breast feed, so how much formula shuold a newborn be consuming? How much at each sitting, etc....

who do I find all this info out from? Do I just inherit it as soon as I give birth?

Re: How do you know how much to feed your baby?

at the hospital they told me how much she should be eating. when i was discharged our ped gave a us a target and then at our followup he increased it.

Re: How do you know how much to feed your baby?

the dr will tell you, also you can educate yourself by buying a book like "what to expect the 1st year" which gives you info about how
the babys needs change by month-really that book should be a new moms bible!
also sign up for babycenter.com-i learned EVERYTHING between that book and website

Re: How do you know how much to feed your baby?

Re: How do you know how much to feed your baby?

I don't know about formula in the states, but the formula here in the UK has a table on the back with guidelines for feeding.

Personally, I am a total believer that babies under a year should be fed on demand and those guidelines are not necessarily relevant...but thats just me. The girl whose baby often wants 10 oz of milk at 4 in the morning...

Re: How do you know how much to feed your baby?

I worry myself sick over this. My DD is almost 5 months and doesn't drink nearly as much as my friend's baby and the babies on this chat. She drinks under the guidlines for her age too. I feed her on demand and as much as she wants. I try to feed her more than she wants but she protests. She is on the 25 percentile for ht and wt but the ped isn't concerned unless she starts to drop off the chart. I'm obsessed with the number of ounces she drinks per day and am holding off feeding cereal even though ped said it would be fine because I don't want her to drink even less formula. My advice to you is NOT to be like me and relax about it. If DC is healthy, he/she won't starve to death. He/she will let you know when hungry and eat as much as needed.Good luck.