Setiap Berapa Jam Bayi 0-6 Bulan Harus Minum Susu?
How often should a baby be fed? This is a question many new mothers may have after the birth of their little one. Ideally, babies aged 0 to 6 months should breastfeed 8–12 times per day. However, in practice, it may not be exactly as recommended because every baby has different conditions. Even so, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months should be strived for to support the child's immune system as well as their growth and development. Well, Mom, the following will explain the guidelines for a baby's breastfeeding schedule and the signs that your little one's breast milk intake has been met.
How Often Should a Baby Be Fed?
Breast milk is the primary food source for babies aged 0–6 months. It contains all the nutrients a baby needs, such as fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins.
The benefits of breast milk for babies not only include boosting the immune system but also minimizing allergies, supporting growth, development, and intelligence, and protecting your little one from getting sick easily. Therefore, let's maximize breastfeeding for your beloved baby by understanding the breastfeeding schedule guidelines below.
1. Breastfeeding Schedule for Newborns/0 Months
After birth, mothers should breastfeed immediately, which is often referred to as early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD). Generally, IMD lasts for 15 minutes and can be continued after 2–2.5 hours.
The Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI) also urges parents to breastfeed newborns/0-month-old babies 8–12 times every day for a duration of 10 to 15 minutes. This time is intended for the nursing process on one side of the breast, and the other side can be given at the next scheduled feeding.
However, that schedule may not be immediately applicable as recommended because the baby is still adapting to breastfeeding. In addition, the breast milk requirements for each baby may vary because some babies get hungry easily, while others do not.
On the other hand, some mothers may face certain obstacles that hinder the exclusive breastfeeding process. However, Mom must not give up and should continue training the baby to get used to nursing. For newborns, the interval between each breastfeeding session is generally between 1.5–3 hours.
2. Breastfeeding Schedule for Babies Aged 1–6 Months
As the baby gets older, the breastfeeding schedule usually begins to become more regular and organized. So, Mom will know when the baby is hungry and wants to breastfeed. Entering the age of 1 month, the breastfeeding schedule is usually around every 2 to 3 hours. This means that in a day, your little one can nurse 8–12 times with a longer duration of 20–45 minutes.
Entering the age of 2 months, the frequency of breastfeeding will decrease to about 7–9 times per day. At the age of 3 to 5 months, the breastfeeding schedule also decreases further and may only reach 7–8 times a day with an interval of 2.5–3.5 hours.
This number will gradually decrease as your little one grows older. At the end of the exclusive breastfeeding period, which is at the sixth month, breastfeeding might only be about 4–6 times a day at intervals of 5–6 hours.
Subsequently, the baby will begin to be introduced to complementary foods (MPASI) because their nutritional needs are increasing, so breastfeeding alone will no longer be enough to fulfill them.
Signs That the Baby's Breast Milk Needs Are Met
The schedule for breastfeeding your little one may vary for each child. But most importantly, Mom must understand the signs that the baby's breast milk needs are met to support their growth and development. Well, these are the characteristics of a child who is getting enough breast milk during their growth.
1. The Baby Appears to Be Swallowing Breast Milk
Not all babies are naturally good at nursing from the start. To find out if the baby is truly sucking breast milk, simply pay attention to whether your little one is swallowing the milk or not.
This is because some babies appear to nurse quickly but do not swallow or may even fall asleep at the breast. Therefore, Mom should feel the baby's movements while nursing, look at the jaw position while sucking, and try to listen when the baby gulps the milk.
2. The Baby Sleeps Soundly and Is Not Fussy
A baby who feels full is usually calmer after nursing. Your little one will also sleep soundly because their breast milk needs have been met. However, if you find your child is fussy or appears lethargic after nursing, this could be a sign that the baby is not satisfied or their breast milk needs have not been fully met.
3. Increased Frequency of Urination and Bowel Movements
Signs that breast milk needs are met can also be seen from the frequency of the baby's urination and bowel movements. Usually, babies will wet their diapers often and have bowel movements after nursing. A baby can urinate 6–10 times and have bowel movements at least 3 times a day in their first month.
In addition, the color of the stool also becomes a characteristic that the baby's breast milk intake is met. Generally, the stool of a baby who has received enough breast milk is yellowish.
4. Baby's Weight Gain
Mom, make sure to weigh your baby regularly. The baby's weight gain is a sign that their breast milk needs are met. So, if your little one's weight is stable or the increase is not as it should be, Mom must be alert. It could be that the baby's breast milk needs are not being met or the baby is experiencing a specific medical condition.
After understanding how often a baby should be fed and the signs that your little one's breast milk needs are met, Mom must also maximize the provision of quality exclusive breast milk. If the little one is still asleep when it is time to nurse, Mom can pump the breast milk to be given later when the baby wakes up.
Use a high-quality breast pump to support milk production by choosing the HEGEN PCTO™ DOUBLE ELECTRIC BREAST PUMP NEW which is equipped with a built-in massage feature. Interestingly, this feature will help calm the body before, during, and after pumping.
With kneading and gentle cupping innovations, the mother's breast will release the hormone oxytocin, which can effectively facilitate the flow of breast milk. The nursing process will run smoothly, and mothers can provide exclusive breast milk to their little ones with a happy heart.
The breast pump from Hegen also integrates directly with the breastmilk storage during the pumping process. In fact, the storage can also function as a feeding bottle, so Mom can store or give the breast milk to your little one from a single container.
The magic of Hegen's express-store-feed feature makes the breastfeeding process easier, more practical, and hygienic because there is no need to transfer milk to a new container. Additionally, this minimizes wasted breast milk, because Hegen understands that every drop of mother's milk is precious. Get the Hegen Electric Breast Pump now by clicking here
References:
- Hellosehat. Breastfeeding Schedule and How to Wake Your Baby to Feed. https://hellosehat.com/parenting/bayi/menyusui/jadwal-menyusui-bayi/
- Hermina Yogya. Breast Milk Needs for Newborns. https://herminahospitals.com/id/articles/kebutuhan-asi-bagi-bayi-baru-lahir.html
