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Chart for how much to feed baby


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

Share your experience with feeding your baby!

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Breastfeeding norms for newborns

When a child is born in a family, parents have many questions about the proper care of the baby. One of the most frequently asked questions is related to breastfeeding norms.

Dry initial milk formula adapted by Valio Baby 1 NutriValio for feeding children from birth to 6 months More

Follow-up dry milk formula adapted by Valio Baby 2 NutriValio for feeding children from 6 to 12 months Read more

Dry milk drink "Baby milk" Valio Baby 3 NutriValio for feeding children over 12 months Read more

Starting from the first feeding and in the first days of life, the child receives colostrum. It is very nutritious. The newborn eats little, but remains full. The volume of the stomach in babies in the first days of life does not exceed 10 ml. In one day, a baby eats about 100 ml of breast milk. This volume is increasing every day. For a baby older than 10 days, it is very easy to calculate the feeding rate. To do this, you need to multiply the number of days lived by 10. The amount of food eaten per day should be 1/5 of the baby's body weight.

To determine the rate of feeding children from the first month of life to a year, experts have developed the following table for calculating the volume of feeding:

You can also determine the correct amount of food for feeding a baby, focusing on the age, weight, behavior and development of the child.

At present, the so-called free-feeding regimen is recommended, i.e., to give the child a breast not according to the schedule, but at his first request, including at night. This allows the baby to take full advantage of the first milk - colostrum, which is characterized by a high concentration of antimicrobial factors, which prevents the possibility of infection of the newborn. Colostrum, which contains a high percentage of protein and minerals, even in small quantities satisfies the nutritional needs of the child. In addition, the entry of colostrum into the child's digestive tract ensures a faster "maturation" of the intestinal mucosa. A mother can learn to correctly identify the "hungry" cry of her child: at the same time, he turns his head in search of the mother's breast, smacks his lips, cries loudly, insistently. Usually, with a free-feeding regimen, a newborn baby receives breasts up to 10-12 times a day. on, initiating the secretion and release of milk. It has been shown that with free feeding, the volume of milk is 1.5 times higher than with hourly feeding. Subsequently, as the child grows, he usually develops his own feeding regimen by 2-3 months - from 6 to 8 times a day and, as a rule, without a night break. Observations show that with this feeding regime, children are distinguished by calm behavior, good mood, sleep soundly, give normal weight gain, and mothers produce more breast milk and the ability to secrete it lasts longer.

How can you tell if your baby is getting enough milk?

There is a so-called "wet diaper test". If the baby receives the necessary daily nutritional intake, he pees an average of 16-18 times. At the same time, 6-8 or more richly filled diapers are usually spent per day.

You can also determine if a child is getting enough nutrition by observing how much weight he gains each month. Infants from 2 to 13 weeks of age should gain between 170 and 200 grams per week.

Keep track of whether the baby grows out of the clothes he wears and out of diapers. If the baby eats properly, then on the 10-14th day of life, he returns to his original weight at birth. Babies who get enough food also sleep well and look cheerful and cheerful.

#PROMO_BLOCK#

Learn more about proper breastfeeding and check out our blog for tips.


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