The rule of thumb
About 2.5 oz per pound a day, up to about 32 oz
Newborns take 1–2 oz per feed, 8–12 times a day. At 1 month that's about 3–4 oz a bottle, at 2 months 4–5 oz, at 4–5 months 5–7 oz. The calculator works it out for your baby's exact age and weight; the full chart by month is below.
Your day and night feeding rhythm
- Per feed: 5–6 oz (150–180 ml) of formula, 5–6 times a day.
- Per day: about 26–32 oz (780–950 ml).
- At night: 0–1 feeds, varies a lot.
- Breastfed: nurse on cue, and watch diapers and growth, not ounces; a pumped bottle is about 3–4 oz (90–120 ml).
- The real test: plenty of wet diapers, growth along their own curve and a baby who is content after feeds.
How much a 4-month-old drinks
| Per feed | Feeds a day | Per day | Night feeds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formula | 5–6 oz (150–180 ml) | 5–6 | 26–32 oz (780–950 ml) | 0–1 |
| Breast milk in a bottle | 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) | 6–8 | about 25 oz (750 ml), typically 19–30 oz | 0–1 |
Compared with 3 months: a bigger bottle, often one fewer, and the same daily total. For a baby of typical weight (15 lb, WHO median). A heavier baby drinks a little more, a lighter one a little less: about 2½ oz per pound a day (about 165 ml per kg), rarely more than about 32 oz (960 ml) in 24 hours (AAP). The calculator above does it for your baby's weight. Night feeds are a typical picture, not a target: babies vary a lot.
What's different at this age
Purees can wait. The AAP recommends only breast milk for about the first 6 months, and the WHO says complementary foods start from 6 months. The European pediatric society ESPGHAN puts the window as not before 4 months (17 weeks) and not later than 6 months (26 weeks). So a few spoons at 4–5 months isn't harmful if your baby is ready and your pediatrician agrees, but there's no need to hurry.
No cereal in the bottle. The AAP is clear: don't put baby cereal in a bottle, because your baby could choke. The exception is reflux, and only on your doctor's advice.
The distracted feeder. A 4-month-old may take half a bottle, look at the ceiling fan and refuse the rest. Feed somewhere quiet and dim, and offer the rest a little later rather than pushing.
Night feeds
Many 4-month-olds need 1 night feed or none, but the 4-month sleep regression often brings more night waking. A baby who wakes and settles with a quick cuddle probably isn't hungry; one who drains a full bottle probably is. Feeding more during the day can mean fewer night feeds, though not always fewer wakings (Brown 2015, in older babies).
Breastfed babies: what to watch instead of ounces
At the breast there is nothing to count, and you don't need to. Breastfed babies feed on cue, typically 8–12 times a day in the early months (AAP); in one study of 1–6-month-olds the range was 6 to 18 feeds a day, and how often a baby fed said nothing about how much milk their mother made (Kent 2006). Watch the signs below instead. For a bottle of pumped milk, plan on about 25 ounces (750 ml) a day divided by the number of feeds: this amount hardly changes from 1 to 6 months (KellyMom).
Is my baby getting enough?
- Wet diapers: 6 or more a day, pale and not smelly (AAP).
- Growth along their own curve on the WHO charts (AAP). Our growth percentile calculator shows where your baby sits; the curve matters more than the number.
- Content after most feeds: relaxed hands, settled for a while (CDC).
Hungry or full? Paced bottle feeding
Hungry: hands to mouth, turning toward the breast or bottle, puckering, smacking or licking lips, clenched hands (CDC). Crying is a late sign. Full: closes their mouth, turns away from the breast or bottle, relaxes their hands (CDC).
Paced bottle feeding lets your baby set the speed: hold them fairly upright, keep the bottle closer to horizontal so milk flows only while they suck, and pause every few minutes (Kassing 2002). The NHS puts it simply: be guided by your baby, give them plenty of time and don't force them to finish. Leftover milk means it worked.
When to call the doctor
- Fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or more under 3 months: call right away (AAP).
- Signs of dehydration: fewer wet diapers, a sunken soft spot, few or no tears, drowsiness (NHS).
- Vomiting a lot, forcefully, or a baby who seems in pain (NHS).
- Wants to eat all the time, even when full, or has trouble gaining weight (AAP).
Trust your instinct: if your baby seems unwell, call, whatever the numbers say.
Born early? Use the corrected age for the number of feeds and for starting solids, and real weight for the amounts. Our corrected age calculator works it out.
Questions
How much should a 4 month old eat per bottle?
Usually 5 to 6 ounces (150–180 ml), 5 or 6 times a day, about 26 to 32 ounces (780–950 ml) in 24 hours.
Should a 4 month old eat puree?
Not yet for most babies. The AAP recommends only breast milk or formula for about 6 months; ESPGHAN says solids should not start before 4 months. If your baby is very interested and your pediatrician agrees, a few tastes are fine, but milk stays the food.
Can I put cereal in my 4 month old's bottle?
No. The AAP advises against it because your baby could choke; only do it if your doctor recommends it for reflux.
Feeding by age
All ages: the baby feeding chart · the full feeding calculator · how to prepare formula safely · water and tea
Same age: weight percentiles · wake windows and naps
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Feed Infant Formula
- NHS: Bottle feeding advice
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
- CDC: Signs Your Child is Hungry or Full
- Kassing D., Bottle-feeding as a tool to reinforce breastfeeding, Journal of Human Lactation 2002 (paced bottle feeding)
- NHS: Dehydration
- Kent J.C. et al., Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day, Pediatrics 2006
- KellyMom: How much expressed milk will my baby need?
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Starting Solid Foods
- World Health Organization: Infant and young child feeding (fact sheet)
- Fewtrell M. et al., Complementary Feeding: A Position Paper by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition, JPGN 2017
- Brown A., Harries V., Infant sleep and night feeding patterns during later infancy, Breastfeeding Medicine 2015
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Fever and Your Baby
- World Health Organization: Child Growth Standards, weight-for-age (the typical weights)
Spotted a mistake or an outdated figure? Write to [email protected].