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The size of the baby's stomach increases as it grows and develops, and on the first day of birth it can hold up to 7 mL of milk and reach a capacity of 250 mL of milk by the 12th month, for example. After this period, the baby's stomach grows according to its weight, with its capacity estimated at 20 ml / kg. Thus, a 5 kg baby has a stomach that holds about 100 ml of milk.
In general, the size of the baby's stomach and the amount of milk it can store according to age is:
- 1 day of birth: size similar to a cherry and capacity for up to 7 mL;
- 3 days of birth: size similar to a walnut and capacity for 22 to 27 mL;
- 7 days of birth: size similar to a plum and capacity for 45 to 60 mL;
- 1st month: size similar to an egg and capacity for 80 to 150 mL;
- 6th month: size similar to a kiwi and capacity for 150 mL;
- 12th month: size similar to an apple and capacity for up to 250 mL.
Another way to estimate the baby's gastric capacity is through the size of your hand, as the stomach is, on average, the size of the baby's closed fist.
How breastfeeding should be
As the baby's stomach is small, it is common for the first few days of life to have to be breastfed several times throughout the day, as it empties very quickly. Thus, it is normal that at the beginning the baby needs to breastfeed 10 to 12 times a day and that the amount of milk produced by the woman varies over time due to stimulation.
Regardless of the size of the baby's stomach, it is recommended that the baby feed exclusively on breast milk until the sixth month of life, and breastfeeding can continue until the baby's 2 years old or as long as mother and child want.
The small size of the newborn's stomach is also the reason for frequent gulps and regurgitations at this age, as the stomach soon becomes full and milk reflux occurs.
When to start the baby food
Complementary feeding should start at the 6th month of life when the baby feeds exclusively on breast milk, but for babies who take infant formula, the beginning of the baby food should be done at the 4th month.
The first porridge must be of shaved or well-mashed fruit, such as apple, pear, banana and papaya, paying attention to the appearance of allergies in the baby. Then, it should be passed to the savory baby food, with rice, chicken, meat and vegetables well cooked and mashed, to prevent the baby from choking. See more details about baby feeding up to 12 months.