How often should a baby be fed in the first few weeks of breastfeeding?

In the first few weeks of breastfeeding, infants typically need to be fed 8-12 times per day. This frequent feeding schedule is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, newborns have small stomachs, which means they require smaller but more frequent amounts of nutrition to meet their energy needs and support optimal growth and development.

Breastfeeding on demand, which usually aligns with this frequency, helps establish a good milk supply for the mother. The more often the baby breastfeeds, the more signals are sent to the mother’s body to produce milk, ensuring that she is able to meet the infant's changing needs as they grow. Additionally, each feeding session plays a significant role in fostering a bond between the mother and baby, providing comfort and emotional stability for the newborn.

In contrast, the other choices suggest feeding intervals that are too infrequent for a newborn. Feeding a baby only a few times a day does not align with their natural hunger cues and can lead to inadequate weight gain, dehydration, and other feeding issues.