Baby’s nutrition starts from day one, and healthy eating habits are developed right from the beginning. It is important that your newborn get plenty of good nutrition for healthy growth and development.
But what is a parent to do when a new baby arrives? With so many responsibilities, it can seem overwhelming to plan meals at times. There are several things you need to take into account when planning food for your newborn.
In this post, we’ll touch only on a timing aspect of it. Can a newborn go 7 hours without eating?
Let’s find out!
Can A Newborn Go 7 Hours Without Eating?
For the first two weeks after baby’s birth, feed on demand. Newborns have tiny stomachs, so they generally need to eat every 2-3 hours for at least the first few weeks. If your baby is less than three days old, you should wake him up for every feeding.
After two weeks, babies can go four hours between feedings and six hours after three weeks.
So the answer to this question is obviously no. Newborns can’t go without eating for 7 hours straight.
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- Baby Dove Tip to Toe Wash and Shampoo, Tear-Free & Hypoallergenic, 20 Fl Oz
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- Huggies Little Snugglers Baby Diapers, Size Newborn, 84 Ct
1. 7 Hours Is Too Much
Newborns are born with an empty stomach, and breast milk or formula is their main source of nutrition. Their digestive tracts are not yet fully developed, so they need the high caloric content in formula to support growth and development.
Within the first few days of their lives, newborns should be fed on demand. They will likely want to eat every 2-3 hours around the clock.
Babies can go 7 hours between feedings without any problems (this applies only to breastfed babies) but this is definitely not recommended because the baby is in the extreme growth phase and you should not do anything bad.
2. Small Stomach
Newborns have a small stomach, so they have to be fed many times a day. That means that the newborn will need to be changed frequently. This can become very inconvenient for parents who are trying to get other things done around the house while their newborn is being fed every 2 to 3 hours.
To help solve this problem, parents should purchase some cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are much more convenient than disposable ones because they are washable. Their reusable nature also makes them cheaper in the long run. With cloth diapers, there is no need to worry about running out of diapers while you are short on them.
3. Not In The Mummy Tummy Anymore
Breastfeeding is an essential aspect of infant care that contributes to the health of both the mother and baby. It is significantly associated with decreased mortality (20-30%), lower risk for infection, and improved cognitive development in children.
Breastfeeding has also been shown to improve maternal physical health, psychological well-being, and help promote bonding between mother and child.
Because the newborn is not in the mummy tummy anymore they require milk to survive every 2-3 hours.
