Baby feeding calculator
Work out how much formula or expressed breast milk your baby needs per day and per bottle, based on weight, age and how many feeds they take.
- Per day (typical)
- 27.5 oz
- Normal daily range
- 23.4 oz – 30.3 oz
- Every
- ~3.4 hours
Every baby is different: follow hunger and fullness cues over any calculator.
Baby feeding schedule by age
| Age | How often | Formula per feed | Solids |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 month | Every 2–3 h (8–12 feeds) | 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) | None |
| 1–2 months | Every 3 h (7–9 feeds) | 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) | None |
| 2–4 months | Every 3–4 h (6–8 feeds) | 4–5 oz (120–150 ml) | None |
| 4–6 months | Every 3–4 h (5–6 feeds) | 4–6 oz (120–180 ml) | None, until signs of readiness around 6 months |
| 6–9 months | Every 4–5 h (4–5 feeds) | 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) | 1–2 meals a day, iron-rich first foods |
| 9–12 months | 3–4 milk feeds | 7–8 oz (210–240 ml) | 3 meals plus 1–2 snacks |
Month-by-month detail: newborn, 1 month, 2 month, 3 month, 4 month, 5 month, 6 month, 7 month, 8 month, 9 month, 10 month, 11 month, 12 month.
Guidance: AAP HealthyChildren.org "Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings"; CDC "How Much and How Often to Feed"; Kent JC et al., Pediatrics 2006, on breast milk intake.
Why formula scales with weight but breast milk doesn't
Formula guidance is based on energy needs, which rise with body weight: about 2.5 oz per pound per day. Breast milk changes composition as your baby grows, and studies of exclusively breastfed babies (such as Kent et al., 2006) found daily intake stays around 25–35 oz from 1 to 6 months. So a 6-month-old breastfed baby doesn't need much bigger bottles than a 2-month-old; they often just feed less often.
Paced bottle feeding (holding the bottle horizontal, pausing often) helps babies control flow and avoid overfeeding, especially breastfed babies taking a bottle.
Frequently asked questions
How much formula should a baby drink?
A common guide from the AAP is about 2.5 oz of formula per pound of body weight per day (roughly 150 ml per kg), up to a maximum of about 32 oz (960 ml) a day. A 10 lb baby would take around 25 oz a day, split across 6–8 feeds.
How much breast milk should go in a bottle?
Breastfed babies take a fairly steady 25–35 oz (750–1,035 ml) a day between 1 and 6 months, according to research summarised by Kellymom and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Divide the daily amount by the number of feeds: 8 feeds of about 3–4 oz is typical. Unlike formula, amounts don't keep rising with weight after the first month.
How often should a newborn eat?
Every 2–3 hours, or 8–12 times in 24 hours, for breastfed newborns. Formula-fed newborns usually feed every 3–4 hours. Feed on cues (rooting, sucking hands, lip smacking) rather than waiting for crying.
How do I know my baby is getting enough?
Good signs are 6 or more wet nappies a day after day 5, regular yellow stools in the early weeks, steady weight gain (back to birth weight by about 2 weeks) and a baby who seems satisfied after most feeds.
When can babies go 4 hours between feedings?
Many formula-fed babies stretch to every 3–4 hours by around 2 months, once they take 4–5 oz per feed. Breastfed babies often feed a little more often. Newborns should not routinely go longer than about 3–4 hours until they are back to birth weight.
What are the signs of overfeeding a baby?
Frequent large spit-ups, a tight or bloated tummy, gassiness and fussing after feeds, and very rapid weight gain. Paced bottle feeding and stopping when your baby turns away help prevent it.
When do babies start solids and does it change milk amounts?
The WHO and AAP recommend starting solids at around 6 months. Milk stays the main source of nutrition until 12 months; formula intake typically settles at about 24–32 oz a day, dropping gradually as solid meals increase.