The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that during the first six months your baby should only have breastmilk and should eat 8 to 12 times each day. If you have decided to exclusively express your milk rather than feed baby at the breast, there are some things you should remember. You will need to express your milk the same number of times that your baby would breastfeed.

Your baby needs about 55 calories for each pound of body weight. Your milk has approximately 22 calories per ounce. This means that if your baby is 8 pounds, about 440 calories is needed for the baby to grow properly (about 20 ounces of expressed breastmilk) each day. If your baby eats 10 times each day this means that he will eat about 2 ounces at each feeding.

Feeding Cues – How do I know if my baby is hungry?

Babies don’t always eat the same amount so sometimes they will eat more than 2 ounces and sometimes they will eat less. Babies know when they are hungry or full. Feed your baby every time she is hungry or thirsty.

Babies will not typically overeat during the first year of life unless pressured to do so. Remember to watch your baby’s feeding cues. These cues can difficult to see at first. When babies begin to feel hungry they may move, lick or smack their lips. They might open their mouth or suck on their lip. You may see the baby’s eyes moving under their eyelids if they are sleeping. If these cues are not recognized and babies become hungrier they may begin moving their legs and arms quickly. They may start fussing or crying. Babies also have cues to tell you they are satisfied. Moving away from the nipple, smiling, or disinterest in eating may indicate they are finished.

Remember, babies need small frequent meals but no two babies are alike. Sometimes babies will eat more—like right before a growth spurt—and sometimes babies will eat less. Rest assured, babies know how much to eat and will let you know when they are hungry.

In the Table below are some guidelines. These are not hard and fast rules because every baby is different.

Expressing Milk for My Baby – The First 6 Months

Size of Baby (pounds)	Daily requirement (calories)	Average Feeding (Ounces)	Average Intake Per day(Ounces)	Daily Range (Ounces)
Five	275	1	14	12 to 14
Six	330	1.25	16	14 to 16
Seven	385	1.5	18	17 to 19
Eight	440	1.9	19	18 to 20
Nine	495	2.25	22.5	20 to 25
Ten	550	2.5	25	22 to 26
Eleven	605	2.75	27.5	24 to 30
Twelve	660	3	30	26 to 34
Thirteen	715	3.25	32.5	30 to 36
Fourteen	770	3.5	35	32 to 38
Fifteen	825	4.5	37.5	34 to 40
Sixteen	880	5	40	36 to 42
Seventeen	935	5.3	42.5	38 to 44
Eighteen	990	5.6	45	40 to 46
Nineteen	1045	6	47.5	42 to 48
Twenty	1100	6.25	50	44 to 50

      Expressing 12 times a day       Expressing 10 times a day       Expressing 8 times a day

References
1. Heird, WC. Nutritional Requirements During Infancy Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. Ninth Edition 1999. Willimas and Wilkins. pages 839-855.
2. Morin, KH. Update on what and how much infants and toddlers eat. AM J Matern Child Nurs 2006;31(4):269.
©Dr. Jimi Francis 2011.