At NAPS, we believe in tuning into your baby’s cues and finding a rhythm that works for your family, not following a rigid rulebook. Think of schedules as flexible guides. They can help you anticipate your baby’s needs, but the real goal is to stay adaptable.
0-3 months: newborns
Newborns are frequent feeders, often eating every 2–3 hours around the clock. Their little bellies don’t hold much, so calories usually come in the form of smaller, more frequent meals.
Here’s what to expect:
- 8-12 feeds in 24 hours
- Awake windows (i.e. time they are awake between naps, including feeds) of just 60-90 minutes
- Many naps scattered throughout the day, from 20 minutes to 2 hours
Sample rhythm:
- 6:00 am: Feed + nap after
- 8:45 am: Feed + nap after
- 11:30 am: Feed + nap after
- 1:30 pm: Feed + nap after
- 3:30 pm: Feed + nap after
- 5:30 pm: Feed + nap after
- 7:30 pm: Feed + nap after
- 10:00 pm: Final feed & bedtime
- Overnight: Feed every 2-4+ hours as needed
💡Tip: Watch your baby’s cues more than the clock. Early hunger cues include stirring, rooting or bringing hands to the mouth.
4-6 months: starting solids slowly
At this stage, babies may begin to show signs of readiness for solids, like sitting with support and showing interest in your food. But remember: breastmilk and/or formula is still their primary nutrition source. Solids are for practice and exploration.
Here’s what to expect:
- 4-6 breast and/or bottle feeds per day
- 3-4 naps, 45 minutes to 2 hours each
- Awake windows stretch to 1.5-2.5 hours
- Solids once a day at first, just for fun
Sample rhythm (5-6 months):
- 7:00 am: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 8:00 am: Breakfast (tiny tastes of puree or soft food)
- 10:00 am: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 1:00 pm: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 4:30 pm: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 5:30 pm: Dinner (small tastes of puree or soft foods)
- 6:45 pm: Breast and/or bottle feed & bedtime
💡Tip: Don’t stress about the volume of solids your baby is taking in, most of the nutrition still comes from breastmilk and/or formula. This is about introducing textures and skills.
6-9 months: expanding the menu
By 6 months, many babies are ready to eat solids regularly. You can move towards 2-3 meals a day, while still offering breastmilk and/or formula.
What to expect:
- 3-5 breast and/or bottle feeds a day
- Solids 2-3 times daily
- 2 naps (1-1.5 hours each)
- Awake windows of 2-3 hours
Sample rhythm (7–8 months):
- 7:00 am: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 8:00 am: Breakfast (purees or table foods)
- 11:00 am: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 12:00 pm: Lunch
- 3:30 pm: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 5:00 pm: Dinner
- 6:45 pm: Breast and/or bottle feed & bedtime
💡Tip: Solids should complement, not replace, milk feeds. Think “add, don’t swap.”
9-12 months: joining the table
As babies near their first birthday, they start eating more like the rest of the family. Solids become the main nutrition source at or after 12 months, with breastmilk and/or formula as a complement.
What to expect:
- 3 meals + 1-3 snacks daily
- 2 naps
- Milk feeds usually 2-4 times a day
Sample rhythm:
- 7:00 am: Breast and/or bottle feed
- 8:00 am: Breakfast (table foods + sippy cup)
- 9:00 am: Snack
- 11:45 am: Lunch
- 1:30 pm: Optional breast and/or bottle feed
- 3:30 pm: Snack
- 5:30 pm: Dinner
- 6:45 pm: Breast and/or bottle feed & bedtime
💡Tip: Family meals can be powerful! Let your baby explore finger foods and share safe versions of what’s on your plate.
Flexibility is the real goal
Some babies eat more often, some less. Some are snackers, others tank up at mealtimes. Sickness, teething and growth spurts can throw off even the best rhythm. And that’s okay.
The best feeding schedule is the one that keeps your baby growing, you feeling sane and your family rhythm intact, even if it looks different than others around you!
The bottom line is that your baby hasn’t read the schedule. They’ll have their own preferences and timing, and that’s perfectly normal. Use these sample rhythms as a guide, keep flexibility in mind and lean on resources (like Little Spoon!) to make the journey easier.
