Signs your baby is drinking enough

You are a mom, so of course you are concerned about whether your baby is drinking enough milk. Fortunately, there are several ways to tell. One of the best ways for you to tell is with what is in his diaper. Your baby’s urine should be clear and odorless. After the first week, he should be wetting 6 or 7 diapers a day (yes, we know it’s a lot — just remember that all that diaper changing means that he's healthy). His stools should be frequent and liquid or very soft. He will poop 2 to 5 times a day for the first 4 weeks, and then produce 1 plentiful stool every 3 to 7 days after that.

Another good sign is that he wakes up on his own to feed and that he feeds regularly, usually 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.

Your health care professional will monitor his growth. If he is gaining weight and growing well, then he is drinking enough.

How to tell if your baby is hungry

Each baby is different, so pay attention to your baby’s feeding cues to give him what his body needs to grow and develop. Here are some things you can pay attention to.

Your baby's eating rhythm

• Follow your baby’s lead.
• Feed him when he naturally wants to eat.
• Pay careful attention to hunger cues — rooting for milk, sucking motions, or putting hands to mouth.
• Crying is a late sign of hunger, and might be a signal for something else.