Baby milk feeding chart by age

Feeding Guide for the First Year

Feeding Guide for the First Year | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Reviewed By:

Tiffani Hays, M.S., R.D., L.N., Director of the Pediatric Clinical Nutrition Education & Practice

Making appropriate food choices for your baby during the first year of life is very important. More growth occurs during the first year than at any other time. It’s important to feed your baby a variety of healthy foods at the proper time. Starting good eating habits at this early stage will help set healthy eating patterns for life.

Recommended Feeding Guide for the First Year

Breast milk and formula are designed to be the primary sources of nutrition throughout an infant’s first year of life. You should talk with your baby’s health care provider before starting solid foods. Solid foods should not begin before age 4 months because:

Breast milk or formula provide your baby with all the nutrients that are needed.
Your baby isn’t physically developed enough to eat solid food from a spoon.
Feeding your baby solid food too early may result in poor feeding experiences and increased weight gain in both infancy and early childhood.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants, children and adolescents take in enough vitamin D through supplements, formula or cow’s milk to prevent complications from deficiency of this vitamin. In November 2008, the AAP updated its recommendations for daily intake of vitamin D for infants, children, and adolescents who are healthy. It is now recommended that the minimum intake of vitamin D for these groups should be 400 IU per day, beginning soon after birth. Your baby’s health care provider can recommend the proper type and amount of vitamin D supplement.

Guide for Breast-feeding (Zero to 12 Months)

In the early days after a baby’s birth, the mother should plan to breast-feed every two to three hours, including overnight. The mother should respond to the infant’s cues of hunger in a prompt and relaxed manner, providing a quiet and comfortable environment for both herself and the baby. Frustrated or distracted infants may have difficulties latching on.
It is normal for infants to wake up overnight to feed for the first several months. If you have any concerns about overnight feeding, please discuss them with your health care provider.
Alternate breasts to feed on, and allow the infant to completely empty the breast before switching to the other. This practice ensures the infant receives hindmilk, which is richer in nutrients.
Follow your child’s feeding cues and resist forcing a schedule. Instead, rely on keeping track of wet diapers and your child’s growth to judge whether he or she is receiving enough breast milk. A mother’s milk changes as the infant grows, and feeding habits change as well in order to best meet a child’s needs. If you have any questions about whether your child is receiving enough breast milk, ask your health care provider.
When not able to breast-feed, use a breast pump to extract milk and maintain milk supply. Pumped breast milk should be stored safely, using appropriate temperature guidelines. Pumped breast milk may be offered to infants in bottles, while responding to the same feeding cues to determine how much they take. Forcing bottles to be emptied may result in overfeeding and excess weight gain, even when feeding breast milk.
With the proper support, a mother can meet the needs of most infants, even twins, so seek out help from your health care provider or lactation consultant for success.

Guide for Formula Feeding (Zero to 12 Months)

When breast milk is not available, standard infant formula is an appropriate alternative for most healthy full term infants, but there are some differences between brands. Do not hesitate to ask your health care provider for a recommendation if you are unsure which formula to use.
Bottle-feeding should be interactive, with the caregiver holding both the bottle and the infant. Propping a bottle has been linked to an increased risk of ear infections and tooth decay.
Formula feeding should be in response to the infant’s needs and not based on a predetermined schedule. Look for cues of hunger and fullness to determine both when to feed and how much. The number of wet diapers per day and your child’s growth will reflect if he or she is getting enough formula. The chart below demonstrates common intakes for infants at various stages. However, ask your health care provider if you have any questions about how much formula your infant is taking.
The amount of formula an infant takes will decrease as the baby increases intake of solid foods, but formula remains a significant source of calories, protein, calcium and vitamin D for the first year of life.
Ask your health care provider before switching an infant less than 1 year of age from formula to cow’s milk or a cow’s milk alternative.

Age	Amount of formula per feeding	Number of feedings per 24 hours
1 month	2 to 4 ounces	six to eight
2 months	5 to 6 ounces	five to six
3 to 5 months	6 to 7 ounces	five to six

Complementary Feedings (After 6 Months of Age)

Beverages

Offer only breast milk or formula in bottles until 1 year of age unless specifically advised by your health care provider.
Begin offering breast milk and/or formula in a cup starting at 6 months of age. Infants should drink breast milk and/or formula for the first year of life.
- Fruit juice is not recommended under 1 year of age.
- When introducing juice, offer 100% pasteurized juice and limit it to 4–6 ounces per day. Do NOT place juice in a bottle.
- Avoid giving any sugar-sweetened beverages to infants.

Solid Foods

Introduce solid foods when your infant is ready, at around 6 months of age depending on the infant’s development. Infants are ready to start eating solid foods when they can:
- sit up on their own or with a little support
- reach for and put things in their mouth
- open their mouth when seeing something coming
- keep food in their mouth rather than pushing it out onto the chin
- move food to the back of their mouth with their tongue
- turn their head away when they do not want something

Prepare to introduce solid foods in a calm feeding environment where the infant is sitting upright and is appropriately supported and moderately hungry.
Start with small amounts of solid food, feeding with a spoon or allowing finger feeding, then gradually increase the amount as the infant eats more and develops. Avoid offering breast milk or formula until after the solid-food experience has wound down.
Expose infants to a wide variety of flavors and textures of healthy food. Don’t limit your baby’s food choices to the ones you like. Offering a range of foods early will pave the way for healthy eating habits.
Maintain the division of responsibility when feeding.
- The caregiver is responsible for what to eat (offering appropriate variety and textures).
- The child is responsible for deciding whether to eat and how much.
Avoid adding salt or sugar to make baby foods more appealing. Many babies and toddlers need to experience a new food multiple times before accepting it, and increased intakes of salt and sugar among children are associated with obesity in adults.
Observe infants for any signs of intolerance when introducing a new food or texture, and discuss all concerns with your health care provider.
Although convenient and safe, commercial baby foods are not required. Young children are more likely to eat foods they see others eating, so as long as they are observed to see how they handle new food in their mouths, baby-led weaning using table foods is an appropriate way to introduce solids.
Avoid honey in any form during your child’s first year, as it can cause infant botulism. Address any concerns about developing food allergies with your health care provider.
Don’t restrict fat and cholesterol in the diets of very young children, unless advised by your child’s health care provider. Children need calories, fat and cholesterol for the development of their brains and nervous systems, and for general growth.

Updated on July 26, 2019.

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Baby Feeding Chart - How Many Ounces By Age

As newborns, babies seem to eat, sleep, and poop all day – every day. But, as your baby gets older, you may be wondering how much your baby should be eating, how often, and how many ounces by age. Keep in mind that milk should be your baby’s primary form of nutrition for the first year. Even after you’ve begun to offer solid foods, your baby’s milk intake should not decrease much, if at all. Also, babies are very good at self-moderation, so it is usually unnecessary to limit your baby’s milk intake for fear of him or her becoming overweight. Your baby’s growth and development depend on a large consumption of fat and calories.

These baby feeding charts for breastfeeding babies, formula-fed babies, and solids will help guide you to know if your baby is eating enough and how to help your baby sleep through the night sooner rather than later. You may want to bookmark this page for future reference or pin it on Pinterest.

Quick Links:

Breastmilk Amounts by Age
Formula Amounts by Age
Solid Food Amounts by Age

Breastmilk Feedings and Amounts by Age

All breastfed babies need between 20-35 ounces of breast milk per day, on average. In younger newborns and up to 2-3 months old, your baby should breastfeed on-demand, which usually means every 2-3 hours.

If you are pumping, breastmilk bottles vary in size from 3 to 6 ounces, usually, with 4 ounces being the average size once a baby is at least 3-4 months old. Keep in mind that some babies simply have larger appetites than others. The most important aspect is that your baby’s weight gain stays on his or her growth curve. Do not withhold milk from your baby in fear he or she will become overweight. Babies are very good at self-moderation and should be fed when hungry.

Keep in mind that the number of times your baby breastfeeds in a 24-hour period will depend on the combination of:
a) how much milk your baby can hold in their stomach (i.e. stomach capacity).
b) how much milk you can store in your breasts (which has nothing to do with breast size).
c) your baby’s personality as well as if they have any digestion issues such as reflux.

We find babies who have reflux tend to eat more frequent, smaller meals. Also, some baby’s personalities are to overfill themselves while others eat until content and stop. My two boys were different than one another. While my first son would only ever eat 4-ounce bottles when we weren’t breastfeeding, his brother would take up to 5 to 5 1/2 ounce bottles at times. They were just different and even as my first son got older, he would simply NOT overeat or overfill his stomach and is still this way to this day.

Here is a handy baby feeding chart with breastmilk amounts by age, though keep in mind that many breastfeeding mothers feed their babies on-demand throughout their breastfeeding journey. This is just a rough guide to consider, especially if you feel like you are having to feed your baby excessively given his or her age.

If you ever have any concerns about your baby and your baby’s feeding habits, please be sure to seek out a healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.

Age	# of feedings per day / 24 hours	Feeding Frequency	Average Bottle Sizes (if applicable)	Night Feedings
0-4 weeks	on-demand	on-demand*	~2-3 ounces / 60-90 ml	on-demand
5-8 weeks	on-demand	every 2-3 hours**	~2-4 ounces / 60-120 ml	3-4
9-12 weeks/3 months	~8-10	every 2-3 hours	3-4 ounces / 90-120 ml	2-3
13-16 weeks/4 months	~6-10	every 2-3 hours	3-4 ounces / 90-120 ml	2-3
5 months	~6-10	every 2-3 hours	3-4 ounces / 90-120 ml	2, maybe 3
6 months	~6-9	every 3 hours	4-5 ounces / 120-150 ml	1-2
7 months	~5-8	every 3-4 hours	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	1-2
8 months	~5-8	every 3-4 hours	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	1, maybe 2
9 months	~5-8	every 3-4 hours	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	1
10 months	~4-6	every 3-4 hours	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	0-1
11 months	~4-6	every 3-4 hours	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	0
12 months	~4-6	every 3-4 hours	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	0

* If your baby goes longer than 4 hours without eating, be sure to wake him or her to feed them.

** Many newborns cluster feed in the evenings, which means they may nurse every hour for several hours or practically remain on the breast for several hours. Some say they are “tanking up” for the night.

You may also be interested in:

Baby Night Feedings By Age Chart
Baby Sleep and Breastfeeding Series
Breastfeeding and Sleep Training – Can They Go Together?

Formula Feeding Amounts by Age

Formula fed infants typically need 2 1/2 ounces or 74 ml of formula for each pound of weight, on average. Some babies have larger appetites than others, though. I have worked with a lot of families, personally, and some babies take small bottles and consume around 24 oz a day total while others consume over 30 oz. The most important thing to remember is that your baby should stay on his or her own growth curve.

In the newborn days, it’s important to feed your baby on-demand whenever he or she shows signs of hunger. As your baby grows older, you can consider putting your baby on a schedule.

While some parents and babies thrive on schedules, some people prefer to allow the daily routine to be flexible. Keep in mind that the more your baby eats during the day, the sooner your baby will sleep through the night.

Here is a formula-feeding chart to tell you the average frequency and bottle sizes of formula by age, but keep in mind that some babies eat a variable amount at different times of the day. You should use this chart simply as a guide while also adapting your daily routine to fit your unique baby.

If you ever have any concerns about your baby and your baby’s feeding habits, please be sure to seek out a healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.

Age	# of feedings per day / 24 hours	Feeding Frequency	Average Bottle Size	Night Feedings
0-4 weeks	on-demand	on-demand*	~2-4 ounces / 60-120 ml	on-demand
5-8 weeks	6-7	every 3 hours	~4 ounces / 120 ml	2-3
9-12 weeks/3 months	5	every 3 hours	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	2, maybe 3
13-16 weeks/4 months	5	every 3-4 hours**	4-6 ounces / 120-180 ml	1-2
5 months	4-5	every 3-4 hours	6-7 ounces / 180-210 ml	1-2
6 months	4-5	every 3-4 hours	6-8 ounces / 180-240 ml	0-1
7 months	4-5	every 3-4 hours	6-8 ounces / 180-240 ml	0***
8 months	4-5	every 3-4 hours	6-8 ounces / 180-240 ml	0
9 months	4-5	every 3-4 hours	6-8 ounces / 180-240 ml	0
10 months	3-5	every 3-4 hours	6-8 ounces / 180-240 ml	0
11 months	2-4	every 3-4 hours	6-8 ounces / 180-240 ml	0
12 months	2-3	every 3-4 hours	6-8 ounces / 180-240 ml	0

* If your baby goes longer than 4 hours without eating, be sure to wake him or her to feed them.

** Not all babies get to 4 hours between milk feedings by this age or ever. Some babies will always eat every 3 hours until 9-10+ months old.

*** Some formula-fed babies still eat at night even past 6 months old, especially if they have reflux.

You may also be interested in:

Baby Night Feedings By Age Chart
Baby Feeding Schedule: Rigid, Flexible, or On-Demand?
How to Put Your Baby on a Schedule

Solid Foods by Age

As you start solids, your baby’s milk intake should not decrease much, if at all, until 10+ months old when he or she is eating 3 solid meals per day plus one snack. For the first year, solid food is a lot about practice and introducing a variety of flavors and textures. Keep in mind that until your baby is consuming significant amounts of solid food, starting solids won’t necessarily help your baby sleep. In fact, so many sleep problems have nothing to do with hunger that starting solids doesn’t change sleep whatsoever.

Here is a baby feeding chart for solid foods. Keep in mind that if you are practicing baby led weaning, whether by choice or because your baby doesn’t like pureed foods, your baby will likely consume a lot less solid food than other babies his or her age. That is just fine as milk should still be your baby’s primary source of nutrition.

Age	Grains (per day)	Fruit (per day)	Vegetables (per day)	Meat and Dairy (per day)
Birth-5 months	None	None	None	None
6 months (1 solid feeding per day)	1-2 tablespoons dry infant cereal, mixed with breastmilk or formula	1-2 tablespoons pureed fruit	1-2 tablespoons pureed vegetables	None
7-8 months (2 solid feedings per day)	1-6 tablespoons dry infant cereal, mixed with breastmilk or formula	1-6 tablespoons pureed/mashed fruit	1-6 tablespoons pureed/mashed vegetables	Meat: 1-2 tablespoons pureed/mashed protein (offer at 8 months) Dairy: 1/4-1/2 cup yogurt or cottage cheese; 1 oz. shredded cheese
9-10 months (3 solid feedings per day)	2-4 tablespoons dry infant cereal, mixed with breastmilk or formula. 1-2 servings other grains*	4-8 tablespoons mashed/chopped fruit	4-12 tablespoons mashed/chopped vegetables	Meat: 2-6 tablespoons mashed/chopped protein Dairy: Same as 7-8 month recommendations.
11-12 months (3 solid feedings per day)	Same as above, except increase “other grains” to 2 servings	6-8 tablespoons mashed/chopped fruit, or 1/2 cup diced	6-12 tablespoons mashed/chopped vegetables, or 1/2 – 3/4 cup diced	Meat: 2-6 tablespoons mashed/chopped protein, or 1/4 cup diced Dairy: Same as 7-8 month recommendations.

* 1 serving of “other grains” = 1/2 slice of bread, 2 crackers, 1/2 cup Cheerios, or 1/2 cup whole wheat pasta

You might also be interested in:

When to Start Solids
How to Feed Your Baby Solids
Your Baby’s Start On Solid Foods: A Comprehensive Guide

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How to introduce complementary foods while breastfeeding: Monthly chart

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna

37788 views

24 November 2021

Before every parent one day the question arises - how to introduce complementary foods for months and do it right?

When to start complementary foods

The question of the timing of the introduction of complementary foods is still debatable. Over the past decades, doctors have agreed that the introduction of complementary foods with any type of feeding should be started at 4-6 months. However, the principle of an individual approach to each child remains unshakable in the organization of complementary foods. There are quite a few factors that affect the age of the first complementary foods. Therefore, before giving your baby new products, you should consult a pediatrician ^{[1, 2]} .

The order of introduction of products is also determined individually. So, for example, porridge is recommended to be administered first with a lack of body weight. If the baby's weight is normal or in excess, it is better to start with vegetable puree. However, these recommendations should be based only on the opinion of the pediatrician.

Which products should be preferred: ready-made or homemade

Experts answer this question as follows: let's say any option, depending on the individual conditions, developmental characteristics and health status of the baby, the capabilities and desires of the family. However, the decision must also be made after consultation with your pediatrician. Industrial products have a number of advantages. Firstly, for their preparation only safe raw materials are used, which pass all the necessary checks and quality control. In addition, for the manufacture of baby food, technologies are used that meet all hygienic standards. Secondly, when developing their composition, the required level of grinding is taken into account. Thirdly, specialists who are responsible for safety are involved in the manufacture of complementary foods. nine0005

Where to start complementary foods

Dairy-free cereals

For the first acquaintance with grain products, rice or buckwheat baby porridge is suitable. It is better to give preference to cereals of industrial production. Despite the great desire of parents to cook porridge on their own, it must be understood that during cooking, cereals can lose a number of important nutrients. Instant cereals, that is, soluble, are distinguished by the fact that during their production the substances necessary for a small organism are preserved. In addition, the required degree of grinding is taken into account and observed at the baby food production plant. nine0005

Vegetables

It is better to start complementary foods with one-component puree of broccoli, cauliflower or courgettes ^[1] . All these products should be introduced in turn, observing the reaction. If the baby has taken well one type of vegetable, you can offer another, gradually expanding the diet. Experts recommend starting a child's training in vegetables with industrial baby purees. This approach guarantees the safety of the first complementary foods, because their production undergoes a multi-stage test. The FrutoNyanya baby puree contains only natural vegetables, without the addition of starch, salt or preservatives. nine0005

Breastfeeding complementary feeding chart by month

These recommendations are generalized and do not take into account the individual characteristics of each child, so the exact scheme and timing of the introduction of complementary foods should be checked with your pediatrician.

nine0053 - nine0053 five nine0053 1-3

_{* without vegetable raw materials added not for first foods * according to indications from 6 months ****added to vegetable puree}
Product names (g, ml)	4–5 months	6 months	7 months nine0054	8 months	9-12 months
vegetable puree	10 - 150	150	150	150	150
Porridge	10 - 150 nine0054	150	150	180	200
Meat puree of industrial production*/boiled meat	-	5–30/ 3–15	40–50/ 20–30	60–70/ 30–35 nine0054	80–100/ 40–50
Fruit puree**	5 - 50	60	70	80	90-100
Cottage cheese (not earlier than 5.5 months)***	-	-	10-40	50
Yolk (pcs. )	-	-	¼	½	½
Fish puree nine0054	-	-	-	5-30	30-60
Fruit juice	-	-	-	5-60	80-100 nine0054
Kefir and other non-adapted dairy drinks for children	-	-	-	200	200
Baby biscuits	-	3	five	five
Wheat bread, crackers	-	-	-	five	10
Vegetable oil****	five	five	6	6
Butter*****	1-3	four	four	five	five nine0054

General rules for the introduction of complementary foods

Complementary feeding schedule - the age of introduction, the type and amount of products - should be determined by the pediatrician. Only a doctor can develop an individual scheme for the first feeding for a baby by months, because he knows about the features of the growth and development of the baby. nine0271
Complementary foods should be introduced gradually, ½ tsp in the first half of the day, before the main feeding for 5–7 days, increasing the volume in accordance with the age norm. After mastering one type of complementary foods, you can proceed to the next.
The first complementary foods should be puree-like consistency. Gradually, the dishes should become thicker, and by 8-10 months, pieces may appear in them.
It is better to introduce new products in the morning, so it is easier to follow the reaction of the baby during the day. After the first “tasting”, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the skin, stool and evaluate the general behavior of the child. If everything is in order, then the body has accepted a new product and you can continue to adapt to it. It is recommended to keep a food diary. nine0271
You need to offer the child complementary foods from a spoon, after checking the temperature of the food - it should correspond to body temperature. During the trial of new products, the baby should be seated in high chair (if the baby is already sitting well). It provides an anatomically correct posture for eating.
If the child is breastfed, after each feeding during the introduction of complementary foods, it is recommended to apply it to the breast. This will help maintain lactation. nine0271

List of sources

1. The program for optimizing the feeding of children in the first year of life in the Russian Federation: guidelines / FGAU "NMIC of Children's Health" of the Ministry of Health of Russia. — M.: b. i., 2019. - 112 p.

2. Borovik T. E., Skvortsova V. A., Netrebenko O. K. Complementary foods in infant nutrition // Pediatrics. Journal them. G. N. Speransky. 2008. No. 4.

Reviewer Kovtun Tatyana Anatolievna nine0005

Scientific adviser to PROGRESS JSC, Ph. D.

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