One of the benefits of formula-feeding your baby is that you can track almost exactly how much they're eating – but knowing this information can raise a lot of questions, too. It doesn't help that the amount your baby needs may change week to week – and how much they'll eat could double over the course of a year.
"The goal is to feed your baby the amount of formula they need in order to progress along a healthy growth curve over time," says Liz Donner, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist and member of the BabyCenter Advisory Board.
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If you're wondering if your exclusively formula-fed baby is getting too much, not enough, or just the right amount, these guidelines are for you. (If your baby is getting a combination of breast milk and formula, talk to their doctor for separate advice.)
Key takeaways
- How much formula your baby needs depends on their age and weight, and their appetite might vary slightly from day to day.
- Watch for your baby's hunger cues – like smacking, rooting, and fussiness – so you know when to feed them.
- Talk to your baby's pediatrician if you have any questions about formula feeding or weight gain.
For the first few days, offer your newborn 1 to 2 ounces of formula every two or three hours. (At first, newborns may take only a half ounce of formula at a time.)
After the first few days, give your newborn 2 to 3 ounces of formula every three to four hours.
Initially, it's best to feed your formula-fed newborn on demand, whenever they show signs that they're hungry. Because your little one can't tell you when they want a bottle, you'll need to learn to read their hunger cues. Crying is often a late sign of hunger, so if you can, try to catch the earlier signs that it's time for a feeding.
Here are some hunger cues to watch for:
- Smacking or licking their lips
- Rooting (moving their jaw, mouth, or head in search of food)
- Putting their hands to their mouth
- Opening their mouth
- Fussiness
- Sucking on things
- Becoming more alert
- Crying
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As time passes, your newborn will begin to develop a fairly regular feeding schedule. You'll become familiar with their cues and needs, and knowing when and how much to feed them will be much easier.
During the first 4 to 6 months, when your baby isn't eating solid foods, here's a simple rule of thumb: Offer 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight every 24 hours, with a maximum of about 32 ounces.
| Weight | Ounces of formula |
|---|
| 6 pounds | 15 fl oz every 24 hours |
| 7 pounds | 17.5 fl oz every 24 hours |
| 8 pounds | 20 fl oz every 24 hours |
| 9 pounds | 22.5 fl oz every 24 hours |
| 10 pounds | 25 fl oz every 24 hours |
| 11 pounds | 27.5 fl oz every 24 hours |
| 12 pounds | 30 fl oz every 24 hours |
These numbers aren't rigid rules. They offer a rough estimate for what your baby may need. Some babies will grow well while taking less than the recommended amount, while others consistently need more. Your baby's daily feedings will also vary according to their individual needs – in other words, they may want a bit more on some days and a bit less on others.
Here are typical amounts per day based on age:
| Age | Ounces of formula |
|---|
| Full-term newborn | 2 ounces every 3 to 4 hours |
| 1 month old | 3 to 4 ounces every 3 to 4 hours |
| 2 month old | 4 to 5 ounces every 3 to 4 hours |
| 3 month old | 4 to 6 ounces every 3 to 4 hours |
| 4 month old | 4 to 6 ounces, 4 to 6 times a day |
| 5 month old | 4 to 6 ounces, 4 to 6 times a day |
| 6 month old | 6 to 8 ounces, 4 to 5 times a day |
| 7 month old | 6 to 8 ounces, 3 to 5 times a day |
| 8 to 12 months old | 7 to 8 ounces, 3 to 4 times a day |
As your baby gets older – and their tummy gets bigger – they'll drink fewer bottles a day with more formula in each. It's important not to overfeed your baby so they'll stay at a healthy weight. Your baby shouldn't have more than 32 ounces of formula in 24 hours.
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When they reach their first birthday, they can stop drinking formula and transition to cow's milk in a bottle, sippy cup, straw cup, or open cup. Offer up to 16 to 24 ounces (2 to 2.5 cups) a day of whole milk, so your toddler has room for other healthy foods.
Here are signs that your baby's getting all the formula they need:
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Steady weight gain. They continue to gain weight after their first 10 days and follow a healthy growth curve during their first year. (Most babies lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first few days and then regain it by the time they're about 2 weeks old.) Your pediatrician can tell you where your baby falls on a growth chart, make sure they're growing steadily on their own growth curve, and help you ensure that they're getting the right amount of formula.
-
Happy baby. They seem relaxed and satisfied after a feeding.
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Wet diapers. They wet two to three diapers a day in the first few days after birth. Over the next few days, the amount should increase to at least five to six wet diapers a day.
Babies are usually good at eating the amount they need, but bottle-fed babies can drink too much at times. Here are the signs that they're getting too much formula:
-
Vomiting after a feeding may be a sign that your baby had too much. (Spitting up is normal – vomiting isn't.)
-
Tummy pain after a feeding can also be a sign of overfeeding. If your baby draws up their legs or their tummy seems tense, they may be in pain. (See other possible reasons for stomach pain in babies.)
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If your baby seems to want to eat all the time, even after finishing a bottle, talk to your pediatrician. Using a pacifier may soothe their need to suck.
- In general, babies eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full, so resist the temptation to encourage your baby to finish each bottle. Overfeeding during infancy can contribute to obesity later in life.
- Don't respond to your baby's every cry with a bottle. They may be crying because their diaper is wet, they're cold or hot, they need to be burped, or they want to be close to you. (Learn more about why babies cry and how to soothe them.)
- Your baby may be hungrier than usual during growth spurts. These typically occur 10 to 14 days after birth and around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age.
