When you lot're breastfeeding, figuring out whether your infant's getting the right amount to swallow is usually a pretty uncomplicated adding — if enough'southward coming out in the diaper, enough'due south going in. With bottle-feeding, withal, at that place'due south some math to exercise. After all, y'all'll desire to know how much you can await your little one to downwards, or how much formula will go the babysitter through the day — or y'all through the week. Which is why rough guidelines for formula amounts are and then handy.

Merely these guidelines likewise come with some caveats. Canteen-fed babies, merely like breastfed babies, know when they've had enough. But because formula delivery is regulated past caregivers, information technology's possible that parental pushing — prodding your piddling one to take those last few ounces — can upshot in your bottle-fed baby getting too much of a good matter.

So take your cues from your baby's hunger and feed to match her appetite instead of to a specified number of ounces. As long as your infant is gaining enough weight, is wetting and dirtying enough diapers, and is happy and salubrious, you can exist sure you're on target. Remember: Allow your little 1 call the shots — and phone call it quits — when it comes to feedings.

Formula feeding guide

So given those caveats, you may still be wondering how much formula in general your infant needs. As a dominion of pollex, infants nether 6 months who haven't nevertheless started solids should be taking 2 to 2½ ounces of formula per pound of body weight over a 24-hour period. In practice, that may work out to somewhere betwixt 18 and 36 ounces per day, depending on your baby's size and mood.

So, if your baby weighs x pounds, that could translate to 20 to 25 ounces of formula a day; in a 24-hr period y'all'll be feeding your baby about 3 to 4 ounces every four hours.

But remember, every baby is different — bigger babies tend to drink more smaller babies, and your baby's appetite may vary day-to-day and feeding-to-feeding. So treat these guidelines equally rough approximations — there are no absolutes when it comes to how much formula to feed your little one at each meal — and e'er take your cues from your baby. If she becomes antsy or easily distracted during a feeding, she's probably had plenty. If she drains the bottle and starts smacking her lips for more than, she might still be hungry.

Formula-feeding chart

Wondering simply how much formula to give your baby? Apply this formula-feeding chart as a guide.

formula-feeding chart, how much formula does my baby need

How much formula does a newborn need?

Your adorable bundle'southward tummy is tiny (the size of a fist — hers, not yours), then it'due south best to outset slowly when it comes to feedings.

For newborns, offer but 1 to 3 ounces at each feeding every three to four hours (or on demand). Gradually up the ounces, adding more than as the demand becomes greater, but never push a baby to take more she wants.

How much formula should you lot feed your baby past age?

Your cutie will be taking in more formula at each feeding, anywhere from 3 to 7 ounces, depending on her age. Her stomach capacity has increased, also, which means she'll likely stretch out the fourth dimension between feedings.

In full general, here'southward what y'all can expect:

  • 2-month-olds will usually drink 3 to six ounces of formula every three to four hours. That adds up to 18 to 32 ounces of formula in effectually eight feedings total in a 24-hour period.
  • 3-calendar month-olds volition generally drink iv to 6 ounces of formula around every four hours. That adds upwards to 24 to 36 ounces of formula in around half-dozen feedings full in a 24-hour menstruum.
  • four-month-olds will often potable 5 to 7 ounces of formula every four to five hours. That adds up to 24 to 32 ounces of formula in 4 to six feedings full in a 24-hour period.
  • five-month-olds will typically drink vi to 8 ounces of formula effectually 5 times per solar day. That adds upwardly to 24 to 36 ounces of formula total in a 24-hour menstruation.
  • 6-calendar month-olds will usually beverage vi to 8 ounces of formula four to v times per twenty-four hour period. That adds up to 24 to 32 ounces of formula total in a 24-hr period.

Accept a serious sipper who consistently seems to want more than than that? Discuss information technology with your md. The upper daily intake formula intake for babies 6 months and younger is 32 to 36 ounces per 24-60 minutes flow, according to the American University of Pediatrics (AAP).

Formula-feeding schedule

Now that you've got the amounts figured out, when should your little eater exist drinking up? Early on on, it's best to feed your newborn on demand whenever she is sending out hunger cues like lip smacking, rooting and finger sucking. As yous become a sense of her ambition and natural rhythms over the form of a month or two, you lot'll be able to transition to more formal mealtimes.

Newborn formula-feeding schedule

Much as you might be longing for some predictability right now, newborns aren't typically ones to stick with a schedule for eating or sleeping.

Rather than do mealtimes by the clock or attempt to enforce nap or bedtimes, try to go with your footling 1's flow. You can offer an ounce or two of formula every ii to three hours, or eight to 12 feedings within a 24-hour period. But those are more loose guidelines than hard rules. Ultimately, you'll want to feed your newborn on demand when she seems hungry.

Within a few months, she'll commencement to establish a rhythm that you lot can use as the footing for a feeding and sleeping schedule.

Can a baby eat too much formula?

Healthy babies, when allowed to drink (and somewhen eat) to their appetites without any prodding by parents, will grow at the rate that'due south normal for them. If your little one's weight is increasing at a steady prune and following a familiar curve, at that place's no need to worry that she's overeating. But if your baby'southward canteen becomes the liquid equivalent of an all-yous-can-eat cafe, there'due south a chance she tin hands go too much.

Here are signs to expect for that may indicate your babe is taking in more than formula than she needs:

  • Frequent spit-ups. Overfeeding can pb to overflow in the form of excessive spit-upwardly. Put likewise much in her little tum, and it's bound to come back upwards.
  • Excessive weight gain. If your baby'south weight seems to exist consistently moving upwardly faster than her acme, bank check with the doc. She may be picking up too many pounds as well quickly considering she'due south taking in too much formula.

If your pediatrician tells y'all that your baby seems to be overeating, there are a few things you can do to slow down her formula intake (and the rate of weight gain):

  • Feed for the right reason. The right reason being because she'due south hungry. Not because she's unhappy, or considering she's bored, or because she got a boo-boo, or considering she'southward craving attention. Baby's recently fed but crabby? Offer comfort with a cuddle, not an extra feed. Babe's fussy after a meal? Consider that she may merely demand a burp, not a 2nd serving.
  • Offer your baby a pacifier to satisfy the need to suck. Or assist her find her yummy fist or fingers. Some babies just need extra sucking (not an extra canteen) between meals or after a feed.
  • Brand sure you're not under-diluting the formula. E'er cheque the characterization when you're mixing formula to make sure you're not inadvertently calculation also lilliputian h2o — which can increment the calorie count per ounce considerably.
  • Ask the doctor if you lot tin can offer your infant h2o. Unremarkably not recommended before solids are started at 6 months, a few sips of water could quench her thirst without filling her up. Just don't over-dilute formula with water to cut down on her consumption of calories without a doctor's advice — this can lead to a sodium imbalance.

Figuring out feeding times tin can feel like a lot at first. In the beginning, try to follow your infant'south lead and go on the full general rules of thumb for feeding times and amounts in listen equally helpful guideposts. (And if you have any questions, always ask the pediatrician.) Over time, the two of yous will fall into a feeding rhythm and yous'll get a sense for how much your little one needs to drinkable and when she's likely to wait a sip.