How much should my baby eat? Breast milk and formula by age

Babies are good at telling us when they're hungry and when they're full. These ranges are a guide, not a rule.

Follow your baby's cues

Feeding on cue, sometimes called responsive feeding, means offering a feed when your baby shows hunger signs and stopping when they show they're full.

Early hunger signs: rooting (turning toward your hand or breast), sucking on hands, smacking lips, and opening and closing the mouth. Crying is a late sign.

Fullness signs: closing the mouth, turning away, slowing or stopping sucking, relaxed hands, and falling asleep.

Breastfed babies

In the first weeks, most breastfed babies feed about every two to three hours, or 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Some feeds come close together (cluster feeding), especially in the evening. That's normal and helps build your milk supply.

Because you can't see how much your baby drinks, look at these signs instead:

• Steady weight gain at checkups after the first week.
• After day five, about six or more wet diapers and several yellow stools a day.
• You can hear or see swallowing during feeds.
• Your baby seems content after most feeds.

Formula-fed babies

The CDC gives these general ranges:

• First days: about 1 to 2 ounces every two to three hours.
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• By the end of the first month: about 3 to 4 ounces every three to four hours.
• Around six months: about 6 to 8 ounces four to five times a day, as solids begin.

Most babies don't need more than about 32 ounces of formula in 24 hours. Let your baby decide when to stop, rather than encouraging them to finish the bottle.

Six to twelve months

Once solids begin, breast milk or formula is still the main source of nutrition for most of the first year. Offer milk feeds as usual and solids at set meal times. As your baby eats more solid food, milk feeds may become a little smaller or less frequent.

Growth spurts

Many babies seem hungrier for a few days around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. Feeding more often during these spurts is normal.

When to call your pediatrician

• Fewer wet diapers than expected, dark urine, or a dry mouth.
• Your baby is very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds.
• Poor weight gain, or your baby hasn't regained their birth weight by about two weeks.
• Frequent forceful vomiting.
• Feeding seems painful for you or your baby.

Getting support

If breastfeeding hurts, or you're worried about your supply, ask your pediatrician, your OB or a lactation consultant (IBCLC). Many hospitals offer free support lines.