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
A typical 1-month-old on formula: 7 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm, plus about 11 pm and 3 am at night. Newborns under 4 weeks feed every 2–3 hours around the clock.
- About 2.5 oz per pound of body weight a day (about 165 ml per kg), rarely more than about 32 oz (950 ml) a day (AAP).
- Newborns: ½–2 oz per feed, 8–12 times a day, growing every day of the first week.
- 1 month about 3–4 oz × 7–8 feeds; 2 months 4–5 oz × 6–7; 4–6 months 6–7 oz × 5.
- Breast milk in a bottle stays at about 25 oz (750 ml) a day from 1 to 6 months, whatever the weight: 2–4 oz per bottle.
- The real test isn't the number in the bottle: 6+ wet diapers a day and steady weight gain mean she's getting enough.
Baby feeding chart by age
Typical amounts of formula for a baby of typical weight. A heavier baby drinks a little more, a lighter one a little less, and every baby has hungrier and lazier days. Use the calculator above for your own baby's weight.
| Age | Typical weight | Per feed | Feeds a day | Per day | Night feeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First days (1–3) | 7 lb / 3.3 kg | ½–1½ oz / 10–50 ml | 8–12 | 3–13 oz / 100–400 ml | around the clock |
| 1 week | 7 lb / 3.3 kg | 2 oz / 55–75 ml | 8–10 | 14–18 oz / 440–520 ml | around the clock |
| 2 weeks | 8½ lb / 3.8 kg | 2–2½ oz / 60–80 ml | 8 | 17–21 oz / 500–630 ml | around the clock |
| 1 month | 9½ lb / 4.35 kg | 3–4 oz / 90–120 ml | 7–8 | 22–26 oz / 650–780 ml | 2–3 |
| 2 months | 12 lb / 5.35 kg | 4–5 oz / 120–150 ml | 6–7 | 27–32 oz / 800–950 ml | 1–2 |
| 3 months | 13½ lb / 6.1 kg | 4½–5½ oz / 135–160 ml | 6 | 27–32 oz / 800–950 ml | 0–2 |
| 4 months | 15 lb / 6.7 kg | 5–6 oz / 150–180 ml | 5–6 | 26–32 oz / 780–950 ml | 0–1 |
| 5 months | 16 lb / 7.2 kg | 6–7 oz / 180–200 ml | 5 | 28–32 oz / 840–950 ml | 0–1 |
| 6 months | 17 lb / 7.6 kg | 6–8 oz / 180–240 ml | 4–5 | 24–32 oz / 720–950 ml | 0–1 |
| 7 months | 17½ lb / 7.95 kg | 6–8 oz / 180–240 ml | 4 | 24–30 oz / 720–900 ml | 0–1 |
| 8 months | 18 lb / 8.25 kg | 6–8 oz / 180–240 ml | 4 | 24–30 oz / 720–900 ml | 0–1 |
| 9 months | 19 lb / 8.55 kg | 6–8 oz / 180–240 ml | 3–4 | 20–28 oz / 600–800 ml | 0 |
| 10 months | 19½ lb / 8.85 kg | 6–8 oz / 180–240 ml | 3 | 16–24 oz / 500–720 ml | 0 |
| 11–12 months | 20 lb / 9.1 kg | 6–8 oz / 180–240 ml | 3 | 16–24 oz / 500–720 ml | 0 |
Breast milk in a bottle: about 2–4 oz per feed and ~25 oz a day from 1 to 6 months. Weights are WHO medians, boys and girls averaged.
Tap an age for its own page: what changes that month, breastfed babies, night feeds and when to call the doctor. All of them: the baby feeding chart by age. Making bottles: how to prepare formula safely.
How much formula by weight
The classic rule is 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight per day, for babies past the first week and before solids. It tops out around 32 ounces: a 14-pound baby doesn't need 35.
| Baby's weight | Per day (2.5 oz per lb) | Per feed, typically |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 15 oz (440 ml) | about 2 oz at 8 feeds |
| 7 lb (3.2 kg) | 17½ oz (520 ml) | 2–2½ oz at 8 feeds |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 20 oz (590 ml) | 2½–3 oz at 7–8 feeds |
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | 22½ oz (670 ml) | 3–3½ oz at 7 feeds |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 25 oz (740 ml) | 3½–4 oz at 6–7 feeds |
| 11 lb (5 kg) | 27½ oz (810 ml) | 4–4½ oz at 6–7 feeds |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 30 oz (890 ml) | 5 oz at 6 feeds |
| 13 lb (5.9 kg) and up | 32 oz (950 ml), the ceiling | 5–6½ oz at 5–6 feeds |
The first week, day by day
A newborn's stomach is small: the few studies that measured it put it at about 20 ml (⅔ oz) at birth (Bergman 2013), which is why the first feeds are tiny and frequent. The cherry, walnut and egg pictures in hospital leaflets are teaching aids, not measurements. The AAP says a bottle-fed newborn may take only about ½ ounce per feed for the first day or two, then usually 1–2 ounces; the CDC: 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours in the first days. More day by day on our newborn feeding page.
- Day 1: about ½ oz (10–30 ml) per feed. Many babies are sleepy and barely interested; that's normal.
- Day 2–3: 1–1½ oz (20–50 ml) per feed, 8–12 times in 24 hours, often in clusters in the evening.
- Day 4–7: 1½–2½ oz (40–75 ml) per feed as the tummy stretches and feeds get more efficient.
Newborns lose weight in the first days, no more than about 8–10 % of birth weight (AAP). Half are back to birth weight by day 9–10, but 14 % of babies born vaginally and 24 % born by cesarean are still below it at 2 weeks (Paul 2016). Wet diapers: 2–3 a day in the first few days, then 6 or more by day 5–7, pale or nearly colorless (AAP). With breast milk, colostrum comes in tiny amounts and that's exactly right: a few milliliters is what a newborn needs until the milk comes in around day 3–4.
Breast milk in a bottle: why the amount doesn't grow
Formula-fed babies drink more as they grow. Breastfed babies mostly don't: from about 1 to 6 months they take a fairly steady 25 ounces (750 ml) a day, somewhere between 19 and 30. The milk changes as the baby grows; the amount stays. That's why a bottle of pumped milk for a 5-month-old is often only 3–4 ounces, and that's fine.
For daycare or a night out, divide about 25 ounces by the number of feeds in her day: at 8 feeds that's about 3 ounces a bottle (KellyMom). Fresh pumped milk keeps 4 hours at room temperature and 4 days in the fridge (CDC). Use smaller bottles of 2–4 ounces plus a small spare, so less of your hard-won milk gets poured away. The away planner above counts the bottles for you.
Mixed feeding: formula on top of breastfeeding
If you combine the breast and the bottle, count only the feeds that are bottles: each one is about what a fully bottle-fed baby would take per feed. That's what the calculator's Breast + bottle option does. A top-up after nursing is usually much smaller, often 1–2 ounces (30–60 ml), enough to settle her.
Every bottle in place of a breastfeed tells your body to make a little less milk. If you want to keep your supply, pump when she gets a bottle, and a lactation consultant can help you find a mix that works. Fed is what matters; there's no wrong ratio.
How often: a day and night rhythm
Under about 4 weeks babies feed every 2–3 hours around the clock, 8–12 times a day (CDC, AAP). Formula-fed babies then often settle into feeds every 3–4 hours (AAP, CDC), with 2–3 night feeds at 1 month and 1–2 at 2 months as a typical picture. The AAP says that between 2 and 4 months, or once a baby weighs more than about 12 pounds, most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed; needing and waking are different things, though. The dream-feed option in the planner above schedules a quiet bottle around 10:30 pm, before you go to bed. Between 6 and 12 months, 61 % of babies in one survey still had at least one night milk feed, breastfed and formula-fed alike (Brown 2015). For naps and bedtime by age, our nap schedule planner fits around these feeds.
After 6 months: solids and milk
Solids start around 6 months as tastes, and at first she still gets most of her nutrition from milk (AAP). As meals grow, milk falls; how far depends on how much she eats. US guidance keeps milk generous through the first year, while the NHS expects formula-fed babies to drink about 600 ml (20 oz) a day at 7–9 months and about 400 ml (14 oz) at 10–12 months. Most babies land in between.
From about 6 months, offer water in an open or free-flow cup with meals, a few sips at a time (NHS) and no more than 4–8 ounces a day (AAP); more on water for babies. Cow's milk as a drink waits until 12 months; small amounts in cooking are fine from around 6 months (NHS).
Is my baby getting enough?
The number in the bottle is a guide. These four signs are the real answer:
- Wet diapers: 6 or more a day from day 5, pale and not smelly.
- Weight: back toward birth weight over the first 1–2 weeks (half of babies by day 9–10; Paul 2016), then growth along her own curve. Our growth percentile calculator shows where she sits on the WHO curves.
- Settled after most feeds: relaxed hands, content for a while, not crying for more every time.
- Alert when awake: she has good color and wakes for feeds.
Fewer wet diapers, a sunken soft spot, few tears or a drowsy baby are signs of dehydration: call your pediatrician today (NHS). A fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or more in a baby 3 months or younger: call right away (AAP).
Hungry or full? Cues and paced bottle feeding
Hungry:
- rooting (turning toward your hand or breast, mouth open)
- hands to mouth, sucking on fists
- lip smacking
- fussing and squirming; crying is a late sign
Full:
- turns her head away
- closes her lips or lets the teat slide out
- slows down, pauses for long stretches
- open, relaxed hands
- dozes off
Paced bottle feeding lets her set the speed: hold her fairly upright, keep the bottle more horizontal so milk only flows while she sucks, and pause every few minutes (Kassing 2002). Be guided by your baby and don't push her to finish (NHS); leftover milk is a sign it worked, not a failure.
Questions
How many ounces should a newborn drink?
About ½ ounce per feed on day 1, 1–1½ ounces by day 3, and 2–3 ounces by the end of the first couple of weeks, 8–12 times in 24 hours. The CDC rule of thumb is 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours after the first few days. Wet diapers (6+ a day from day 5) tell you more than any number.
How much formula should a 2-month-old drink?
At 2 months most babies drink 4–5 ounces per feed, 6–7 times a day, about 27–32 ounces in total. For comparison: at 1 month it's 3–4 ounces × 7–8 feeds (22–26 oz a day), at 3 months 4½–5½ ounces × 6, and at 4 months 5–6 ounces × 5–6, with the day total staying near 26–32 ounces.
How much breast milk should I put in a bottle?
From 1 to 6 months, usually 2–4 ounces (60–120 ml) per bottle, because breastfed babies drink about 25 ounces a day in total and that doesn't grow with age. Divide 25 ounces by the number of feeds in her day. At 8 feeds that's about 3 ounces a bottle (KellyMom).
Can my baby drink more than 32 oz a day?
Some do, but more than about 32 ounces (950 ml) a day usually means a baby who's full and comforted by sucking, not a hungrier one. Try a pacifier, paced feeding and smaller bottles. If she regularly wants more than that, mention it at the next checkup.
My baby drinks less than the calculator says. Is that a problem?
Usually not. The calculator gives a typical amount with a normal range, and babies vary feed to feed and day to day. If she has 6 or more wet diapers a day, gains weight steadily and seems content, she is drinking enough, whatever the bottle says.
When do babies stop night feeds?
It varies a lot. The AAP says that between 2 and 4 months, or above about 12 pounds, most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed, but many still wake; between 6 and 12 months, 61 % of babies in one survey still had a night milk feed (Brown 2015). Weight gain and your pediatrician's advice decide when it's fine to stop waking her.
How much milk after starting solids?
While solids are tastes, milk doesn't need to drop: at first your baby still gets most nutrition from milk (AAP). As meals grow, it falls; the NHS figures for formula-fed babies are about 600 ml (20 oz) a day at 7–9 months and about 400 ml (14 oz) at 10–12 months, and US guidance runs higher.
How long does a can of formula last?
A 30-ounce (850 g) can makes about 6 liters of formula, so at 2–3 months, when babies drink 27–32 ounces a day, it lasts about a week: roughly 4–5 cans a month. A 12.4-ounce can lasts only 2–3 days at that age. The calculator works it out for your baby's amounts.
Does my baby need water?
Not before 6 months: breast milk or formula covers all her thirst, even in hot weather. From about 6 months, offer a few sips of water from a cup with meals, up to about 4–8 ounces a day. Juice isn't needed in the first year.
My baby was born early. Which age do I use?
Use her corrected age (age minus the weeks she came early) for the number of feeds and for starting solids, and her real weight for the amounts. If you left the NICU or the ward with a feeding plan, that plan wins.
Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org: Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Feed Infant Formula
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Starting Solid Foods and Recommended Drinks for Children Age 5 & Younger
- AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Fever and Your Baby
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods, Drinks and cups and Dehydration
- Bergman N.J., Neonatal stomach volume and physiology suggest feeding at 1-h intervals, Acta Paediatrica 2013
- Paul I.M. et al., Weight change nomograms for the first month after birth, Pediatrics 2016
- Brown A., Harries V., Infant sleep and night feeding patterns during later infancy, Breastfeeding Medicine 2015
- Kassing D., Bottle-feeding as a tool to reinforce breastfeeding, Journal of Human Lactation 2002
- Seattle Children's: Bottle-Feeding (Formula) Questions
- NHS: Bottle feeding advice
- KellyMom: How much expressed milk will my baby need?
- CDC: Breast milk storage and preparation
- World Health Organization: Child Growth Standards, weight-for-age
Spotted a mistake or an outdated figure? Write to [email protected].