How often should a newborn eat and how much formula or breast milk do they need?

Newborns typically eat 8-12 times per day (every 2-3 hours). For formula-fed babies: 0-1 month needs 2-3 oz per feeding (16-24 oz daily), 1-2 months needs 3-4 oz per feeding (24-32 oz daily), 2-4 months needs 4-6 oz per feeding (28-36 oz daily). Breastfed babies regulate intake naturally but generally consume 19-30 oz daily. Babies should be back to birth weight by 2 weeks and gain 5-7 oz weekly.

How much should a newborn sleep and what is a normal sleep schedule?

Newborns sleep 14-17 hours per day in short stretches of 2-4 hours. Sleep patterns by age: 0-6 weeks - 16-17 hours with no day/night distinction; 6-12 weeks - 15-16 hours, longer night stretches of 4-6 hours; 3-4 months - 14-15 hours, may sleep 6-8 hours at night; 4-6 months - 14 hours, often sleeping through the night (10-12 hours). Most babies aren't developmentally ready to sleep through the night until 4-6 months.

How many diapers does a newborn use per day and what's the yearly cost?

Diaper usage by age: newborns (0-1 month) use 10-12 diapers daily, 1-5 months use 8-10 daily, 5-9 months use 8 daily, 9-12 months use 6-8 daily. In the first year, babies use approximately 2,500-3,000 diapers. Annual cost for disposable diapers is $800-$1,200. Cloth diapers cost $300-$500 upfront but save money long-term. Budget for wipes too: approximately 8,000 wipes in the first year ($150-$250).

What is a healthy weight and growth percentile for a newborn?

Average newborn weight is 5.5-10 lbs (7.5 lbs average), length is 18-22 inches (20 inches average). The CDC uses percentiles to track growth: 50th percentile is average, 5th-95th percentile is normal range. Babies typically lose 5-10% of birth weight in the first week, regain it by 2 weeks, then gain 5-7 oz weekly. By 4 months, most babies double their birth weight; by 12 months, they triple it.

What developmental milestones should I expect in my baby's first year?

Key milestones by month: 1-2 months - focuses on faces, lifts head briefly; 3-4 months - smiles socially, holds head steady, grasps objects; 5-6 months - rolls over, sits with support, babbles; 7-8 months - sits alone, passes objects between hands, responds to name; 9-10 months - crawls, pulls to stand, says 'mama/dada'; 11-12 months - stands alone, may take first steps, uses 1-3 words, waves bye-bye. Remember: ranges are normal and some variance is expected.