International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Practice Exam

Milk intake in a baby remains stable from which age range?

1. 0 weeks to 4 months

2. 2 weeks to 5 months

3. 6 weeks to 6 months

4. 6 weeks to 7 months

The correct answer is: 6 weeks to 6 months

The correct answer highlights that milk intake in a baby remains stable from 6 weeks to 6 months. During this period, infants generally develop a consistent feeding routine and a stable volume of milk consumed as they grow. In the early weeks of life, particularly from birth to around 4 months, babies go through rapid growth and their feeding patterns can fluctuate significantly based on their developmental needs, leading to variable intake. After approximately 6 weeks, babies typically begin to establish a more regular feeding pattern, with milk intake stabilizing as they adapt to their growth and nutritional needs. Continuing through to 6 months, while there may be some variation due to growth spurts, most babies maintain a relatively consistent intake of milk, whether breast milk or formula. This stability is crucial, as it supports appropriate growth and development during an important phase of infancy. The other options suggest timeframes that either begin too early, where intake is still fluctuating, or extend beyond 6 months, when many infants begin introducing solid foods alongside milk, which can alter their intake patterns as nutritional needs change. Therefore, focusing on the age range of 6 weeks to 6 months encapsulates the period where milk intake remains stable and defines a crucial phase of infant nutrition.