How much formula your baby needs depends on a number of factors, such as his weight, his age, and whether you’re feeding him only formula or using it in combination with breast milk or solids. Still, there are some basic guidelines for figuring out how much formula to give:
Take your baby’s cues
The most important thing to take into account when deciding how much to feed is your baby’s behavior. Babies eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full. Appetites vary among babies, and each baby’s nutritional needs change from day to day and month to month.
Formula Feeding Problem Solver
If your baby’s having any problems with formula feeding, our tool can help.
Your baby may be hungrier than usual during growth spurts — which typically occur ten to 14 days after birth and at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months — and he may want less food if he’s not feeling well. That’s why it’s so important to learn to read your baby’s hunger cues.
A key sign that your baby is hungry, of course, will be his cry. But resist the urge to respond to his every whimper with a bottle. Consider the possibility — especially if you’ve recently fed him — that he may be crying because his diaper is wet. Or maybe he’s cold or hot, he needs to be burped, or he simply wants to be close to you.
If your baby is hungry, he might show signs like smacking his lips or sucking, rooting (turning his head toward your hand when you stroke his cheek), and putting his hands to his mouth. You’ll know that your baby wants more than you’re giving him when he finishes the feeding quickly and looks around for more.
If your baby seems hungry after his first bottle, try preparing just an ounce or two more at a time. If you make a larger amount, he may not finish it and you’ll have to throw it out.
Multiply your baby’s weight times 2.5 ounces
If your baby isn’t eating any solids (if he’s younger than 4 to 6 months, he shouldn’t be), the rule of thumb is to offer him 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day.
So if your baby weighs 6 pounds, you’ll give him about 15 ounces of formula in a 24-hour period. If he weighs 10 pounds, he should drink about 25 ounces in a 24-hour period.
Consider your baby’s age
How much formula your baby needs depends not only on his weight but also on his age. Let his hunger guide you. As a general guideline:
Most new babies want to eat every two to three hours. (Start with 1 or 2 ounces at each feeding for the first week, then work up to 2 to 4 ounces.) As your baby gets older — and his tummy gets bigger — he’ll drink fewer bottles a day with more formula in each.
In a couple of months, for example, he may be down to six to eight bottles of 4 to 6 ounces each every 24 hours. By 4 months, he’ll probably drop to four or five bottles of 6 or 7 ounces each, and by his half birthday he’ll typically be down to three or four bottles of 7 to 8 ounces each every day.
He’ll likely remain at that three- to four-bottle pace until his first birthday, when he can transition to whole cow’s milk in a bottle or sippy cup, along with three solid meals and snacks.
Although cow’s milk is good for your child once he’s the right age, don’t overdo it. Drinking more than 16 to 24 ounces a day can reduce his appetite for other healthy foods and lead to iron-deficiency anemia.
Signs that your baby’s getting the right amount of formula
Here are some signs that your baby’s getting all the formula he needs:
•He seems relaxed and satisfied after a feeding.
•He has five to six wet diapers a day if you’re using disposable diapers, or six to eight if you’re using cloth diapers. (Disposables hold more liquid.)
•He continues to gain weight after his first two weeks. (Most babies lose between 5 and 9 percent of their birth weight and then regain it by the time they’re about 2 weeks old.)
It’s possible to give your baby too much formula, and he’ll let you know this, too. If after a feeding he vomits (spitting up is normal, vomiting isn’t — see how to tell the difference), you may have overfed him.Another sign of overfeeding is if he seems to have tummy pain — he might draw his legs up and his tummy may be tense.
If you’re worried that your baby isn’t eating enough or is eating too much, take a look at his weight gain and talk with his doctor. She can tell you whether your baby’s intake is appropriate for his size and age, and she can advise you about any adjustments you may need to make. How much formula do other babies drink?
To see how much formula other babies typically take at different ages, check out our sample baby feeding, sleep, and play schedules.
Solve your formula feeding problems
If you have questions about formula feeding, make our Formula Feeding Problem Solver your first stop. Let us know your baby’s symptoms, and we’ll tell you what the cause might be.
More on How Much Formula To Feed Baby on www.HowMuchFormulaToFeedBaby.com
Take your baby’s cues
The most important thing to take into account when deciding how much to feed is your baby’s behavior. Babies eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full. Appetites vary among babies, and each baby’s nutritional needs change from day to day and month to month.
Formula Feeding Problem Solver
If your baby’s having any problems with formula feeding, our tool can help.
Your baby may be hungrier than usual during growth spurts — which typically occur ten to 14 days after birth and at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months — and he may want less food if he’s not feeling well. That’s why it’s so important to learn to read your baby’s hunger cues.
A key sign that your baby is hungry, of course, will be his cry. But resist the urge to respond to his every whimper with a bottle. Consider the possibility — especially if you’ve recently fed him — that he may be crying because his diaper is wet. Or maybe he’s cold or hot, he needs to be burped, or he simply wants to be close to you.
If your baby is hungry, he might show signs like smacking his lips or sucking, rooting (turning his head toward your hand when you stroke his cheek), and putting his hands to his mouth. You’ll know that your baby wants more than you’re giving him when he finishes the feeding quickly and looks around for more.
If your baby seems hungry after his first bottle, try preparing just an ounce or two more at a time. If you make a larger amount, he may not finish it and you’ll have to throw it out.
Multiply your baby’s weight times 2.5 ounces
If your baby isn’t eating any solids (if he’s younger than 4 to 6 months, he shouldn’t be), the rule of thumb is to offer him 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day.
So if your baby weighs 6 pounds, you’ll give him about 15 ounces of formula in a 24-hour period. If he weighs 10 pounds, he should drink about 25 ounces in a 24-hour period.
Consider your baby’s age
How much formula your baby needs depends not only on his weight but also on his age. Let his hunger guide you. As a general guideline:
Most new babies want to eat every two to three hours. (Start with 1 or 2 ounces at each feeding for the first week, then work up to 2 to 4 ounces.) As your baby gets older — and his tummy gets bigger — he’ll drink fewer bottles a day with more formula in each.
In a couple of months, for example, he may be down to six to eight bottles of 4 to 6 ounces each every 24 hours. By 4 months, he’ll probably drop to four or five bottles of 6 or 7 ounces each, and by his half birthday he’ll typically be down to three or four bottles of 7 to 8 ounces each every day.
He’ll likely remain at that three- to four-bottle pace until his first birthday, when he can transition to whole cow’s milk in a bottle or sippy cup, along with three solid meals and snacks.
Although cow’s milk is good for your child once he’s the right age, don’t overdo it. Drinking more than 16 to 24 ounces a day can reduce his appetite for other healthy foods and lead to iron-deficiency anemia.
Signs that your baby’s getting the right amount of formula
Here are some signs that your baby’s getting all the formula he needs:
•He seems relaxed and satisfied after a feeding.
•He has five to six wet diapers a day if you’re using disposable diapers, or six to eight if you’re using cloth diapers. (Disposables hold more liquid.)
•He continues to gain weight after his first two weeks. (Most babies lose between 5 and 9 percent of their birth weight and then regain it by the time they’re about 2 weeks old.)
It’s possible to give your baby too much formula, and he’ll let you know this, too. If after a feeding he vomits (spitting up is normal, vomiting isn’t — see how to tell the difference), you may have overfed him.Another sign of overfeeding is if he seems to have tummy pain — he might draw his legs up and his tummy may be tense.
If you’re worried that your baby isn’t eating enough or is eating too much, take a look at his weight gain and talk with his doctor. She can tell you whether your baby’s intake is appropriate for his size and age, and she can advise you about any adjustments you may need to make. How much formula do other babies drink?
To see how much formula other babies typically take at different ages, check out our sample baby feeding, sleep, and play schedules.
Solve your formula feeding problems
If you have questions about formula feeding, make our Formula Feeding Problem Solver your first stop. Let us know your baby’s symptoms, and we’ll tell you what the cause might be.
More on How Much Formula To Feed Baby on www.HowMuchFormulaToFeedBaby.com
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