When you're breastfeeding, figuring out whether your infant's getting the right amount to eat is usually a pretty uncomplicated calculation — if enough's coming out in the diaper, plenty'due south going in. With bottle-feeding, withal, there's some math to do. After all, you lot'll want to know how much yous can await your little one to down, or how much formula volition become the bodyguard through the twenty-four hour period — or you lot through the week. Which is why rough guidelines for formula amounts are so handy.

Simply these guidelines also come up with some caveats. Bottle-fed babies, just similar breastfed babies, know when they've had plenty. But because formula commitment is regulated past caregivers, it's possible that parental pushing — prodding your footling one to take those last few ounces — can upshot in your canteen-fed baby getting too much of a good thing.

And so accept your cues from your babe'south hunger and feed to friction match her ambition instead of to a specified number of ounces. As long as your baby is gaining enough weight, is wetting and dirtying enough diapers, and is happy and healthy, yous can be sure you're on target. Remember: Let your little one phone call the shots — and call it quits — when it comes to feedings.

Formula feeding guide

And so given those caveats, y'all may still exist wondering how much formula in general your baby needs. As a dominion of pollex, infants under 6 months who haven't yet started solids should exist taking 2 to 2½ ounces of formula per pound of trunk weight over a 24-hour period. In practice, that may work out to somewhere betwixt eighteen and 36 ounces per day, depending on your baby's size and mood.

And so, if your baby weighs 10 pounds, that could translate to 20 to 25 ounces of formula a 24-hour interval; in a 24-hour period y'all'll be feeding your baby near 3 to 4 ounces every four hours.

Simply recall, every baby is different — bigger babies tend to drink more than smaller babies, and your baby's appetite may vary 24-hour interval-to-solar day and feeding-to-feeding. Then treat these guidelines as rough approximations — there are no absolutes when it comes to how much formula to feed your petty ane at each meal — and always have your cues from your baby. If she becomes fidgety or hands distracted during a feeding, she's probably had enough. If she drains the bottle and starts smacking her lips for more, she might still be hungry.

Formula-feeding nautical chart

Wondering just how much formula to give your baby? Use 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 parcel's stomach is tiny (the size of a fist — hers, not yours), so it'south best to start slowly when it comes to feedings.

For newborns, offering just 1 to 3 ounces at each feeding every three to four hours (or on demand). Gradually up the ounces, adding more as the demand becomes greater, only never push a babe to have more than than she wants.

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

Your cutie will be taking in more than formula at each feeding, anywhere from 3 to vii ounces, depending on her age. Her breadbasket capacity has increased, too, which means she'll likely stretch out the time between feedings.

In general, here'south what you can expect:

  • 2-month-olds volition commonly drinkable 3 to 6 ounces of formula every three to iv hours. That adds upwardly to xviii to 32 ounces of formula in around eight feedings total in a 24-hour catamenia.
  • three-month-olds volition generally drink 4 to 6 ounces of formula around every four hours. That adds up to 24 to 36 ounces of formula in effectually half-dozen feedings full in a 24-hour menstruation.
  • 4-calendar month-olds will often drink 5 to vii ounces of formula every four to v hours. That adds upwardly to 24 to 32 ounces of formula in four to vi feedings full in a 24-60 minutes menstruation.
  • five-month-olds will typically drink 6 to 8 ounces of formula around five times per twenty-four hours. That adds upwardly to 24 to 36 ounces of formula total in a 24-hour catamenia.
  • 6-calendar month-olds will usually beverage six to 8 ounces of formula four to five times per solar day. That adds up to 24 to 32 ounces of formula total in a 24-hour menstruum.

Have a serious sipper who consistently seems to want more than than that? Hash out it with your medico. The upper daily intake formula intake for babies 6 months and younger is 32 to 36 ounces per 24-hour menstruum, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Formula-feeding schedule

Now that yous've got the amounts figured out, when should your little eater be drinking up? Early, it's all-time to feed your newborn on demand whenever she is sending out hunger cues like lip smacking, rooting and finger sucking. Equally yous get a sense of her ambition and natural rhythms over the course of a month or ii, y'all'll be able to transition to more formal mealtimes.

Newborn formula-feeding schedule

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

Rather than practise mealtimes past the clock or try to enforce nap or bedtimes, attempt to go with your little ane'southward menses. You can offering an ounce or two of formula every two to iii hours, or viii to 12 feedings inside a 24-hour menstruum. 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 start to establish a rhythm that you tin can employ every bit the basis for a feeding and sleeping schedule.

Can a baby eat likewise much formula?

Healthy babies, when immune to drinkable (and eventually eat) to their appetites without whatsoever prodding by parents, will abound at the rate that's normal for them. If your little i'southward weight is increasing at a steady clip and following a familiar bend, there'south no need to worry that she'southward overeating. Merely if your infant'southward bottle becomes the liquid equivalent of an all-you-tin can-consume buffet, in that location'southward a hazard she can easily get too much.

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

  • Frequent spit-ups. Overfeeding tin can lead to overflow in the form of excessive spit-up. Put too much in her lilliputian tummy, and it's leap to come support.
  • Excessive weight gain. If your baby's weight seems to be consistently moving upward faster than her height, cheque with the md. She may be picking up too many pounds likewise quickly considering she's taking in as well much formula.

If your pediatrician tells you that your baby seems to be overeating, there are a few things you lot can practise to boring downwardly her formula intake (and the rate of weight gain):

  • Feed for the right reason. The right reason existence because she's hungry. Non because she's unhappy, or because she's bored, or because she got a boo-boo, or because she's peckish attention. Baby'due south recently fed but crabby? Offer comfort with a cuddle, not an actress feed. Baby'due south fussy after a repast? Consider that she may but need a burp, not a second serving.
  • Offer your baby a pacifier to satisfy the need to suck. Or help her find her yummy fist or fingers. Some babies just demand extra sucking (not an extra bottle) between meals or subsequently a feed.
  • Make sure you're not under-diluting the formula. Always check the label when you're mixing formula to make sure you're non inadvertently calculation too little water — which tin can increase the calorie count per ounce considerably.
  • Ask the doctor if you can offer your baby water. Unremarkably non 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 can experience like a lot at start. In the outset, attempt to follow your baby's lead and proceed the general rules of thumb for feeding times and amounts in heed as helpful guideposts. (And if yous accept whatever questions, always inquire the pediatrician.) Over time, the two of you will fall into a feeding rhythm and yous'll get a sense for how much your little one needs to potable and when she's likely to await a sip.