My baby hasn't started eating solids yet and is exclusively breastfed. How much breast milk is enough and healthy for my baby at each feeding? (Kim Ngan, Ho Chi Minh City)
Reply:
The milk requirements of babies under 6 months old vary greatly, increasing or decreasing depending on their age in months or individual needs. Since you haven't provided your child's specific age in months, you can refer to the general information below.
On the first day after birth, a baby's stomach is very small, about the size of a pea or a marble, and can only tolerate 5-7 ml of milk (about 1-2 teaspoons). From the second to the seventh day after birth, the amount of milk can gradually increase to 15 ml per feeding. From the seventh to the fourteenth day, the baby can consume 15-30 ml per feeding. From the fourteenth to the twenty-eighth day after birth, the baby needs about 30 ml of milk per feeding.
By the time a baby is 1-2 months old, their stomach has stabilized and grown larger, and the amount of milk they consume per feeding is at least 60 ml, with hungrier babies possibly drinking up to 90 ml. By 2-4 months, babies can consume 60-90 ml per feeding.
By the time babies are 4-6 months old, they start to become more active. The energy they need to expend also increases significantly. The average amount of milk they need to drink is at least 90-120 ml per feeding, with some babies drinking more, around 150 ml.
However, babies with slower metabolisms only need 90 ml at a time to gain weight better than babies who drink more milk but have a faster metabolism. Additionally, the exact amount of milk varies from child to child and needs to be adjusted daily due to weight, age, development, and other factors.
Parents should not force children to drink too much milk. If children drink more than they can absorb, they are at risk of acid reflux, vomiting, and respiratory infections. Conversely, babies who do not get enough breast milk are at risk of being underweight, malnourished, having rickets, and experiencing delayed development compared to their peers.
You can refer to the general guidelines on milk intake for children at each stage mentioned above. However, it is best to take your child to a nutritionist for specific advice tailored to their individual needs.
Master's degree holder, Doctor Nguyen Anh Duy Tung
Nutrihome Nutrition Clinic System
| Readers can ask questions about nutrition here for the doctor to answer. |
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