Babies Formula Print How Much Formula You Should Be Feeding Your Baby By Vincent Iannelli, MD facebook Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Vincent Iannelli, MD Medically reviewed by a board-certified physician Updated on February 03, 2020 Malek Chamoun / Getty Images More in Babies Formula Baby's First Year Growth & Development Health & Safety Everyday Care Baby Food Breastfeeding Preemies Postpartum Care Gear and Products View All There is no specific amount of formula that all babies should be eating each day. While some infants may be eating just 24 ounces a day, others may need 32 ounces or more. Rules of Formula Feeding Babies A good rule of thumb is that the average baby at this age is likely to drink about 5 to 6 ounces of formula every 3 to 5 hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in the book Your Baby's First Year, also provides a nice guideline and suggests that on average, your baby should take in about 2 1/2 ounces of formula a day for every pound of body weight. So for an average 3-month-old baby boy who weighs 13 pounds, that would be about 32 1/2 ounces a day. The AAP also states that 'most babies are satisfied with 3 to 4 ounces per feeding during the first month, and increase that amount by 1 ounce per month until reaching 8 ounces.' Keep in mind that these are still averages, though, and some babies require more or less formula at each feeding and on each day. If your baby seems satisfied between feedings and is gaining weight normally, then he is likely eating enough. If your baby is consistently eating more or less than these averages, though, you might see your pediatrician and make sure that you are recognizing your baby's hunger signals and that he is gaining weight normally. How to Choose the Best Baby Formula How Feedings Are Affected by Baby's Sleeping Through the Night As to when he is going to have his last feeding of the night, that is going to depend on your baby too. While some infants' sleep schedules have them already sleeping through the night by 3 months, others still need at least one feeding. If your baby is waking up and you aren't sure if he is really hungry, you can try to settle him down and put him back to bed and see what happens. If he won't go back to bed until he is fed or quickly wakes up again, then you likely need to continue with middle-of-the-night feedings for a few more weeks or months. Keep in mind that many people believe that reaching the milestone of sleeping through the night is more a developmental thing, and not necessarily related to hunger. That is why feeding cereal at bedtime often doesn't help a baby sleep longer. When Should Your Baby Sleep Through the Night? Tips for Feeding Your Baby Formula In addition to these tips, other things to know about feeding your baby formula include that: Choosing a baby formula is not as complicated as many ads and articles make it out to be. While parents have many baby formula choices these days, there is really no single best formula for every baby. Talk to your pediatrician before you switch formula, especially if you are concerned about the latest formula marketing trends.You should never warm up your baby's formula bottles in a microwave oven.Don't make the switch to whole milk until your infant is at least 12 months old.Because of the risk of fluorosis, or getting too much fluoride, which can lead to tooth staining, the American Dental Association (ADA) has advised that parents limit the amount of fluoridated water that infants under age 12 months get. So instead of using fluoridated tap water or bottled water with fluoride, the ADA recommends mixing formula with fluoride-free bottled water. Still, by the time they are 6 months old, babies begin to need some fluoride for healthy teeth. And don't start solid foods until your baby is at least four to six months old. Risks Associated With Starting on Baby Food Too Early Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Track your baby’s most exciting moments with our milestone checklist. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Amount and Schedule of Formula Feedings. Healthychildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics Fluoridation FAQs. The American Dental Association (ADA) Additional Reading ADA. Infants, Formula and Fluoride. http://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/advocating-for-the-public/fluoride-and-fluoridation/recent-fluoridation-issues/infant-formula-and-fluoridated-water . American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report. Diagnosis and Prevention of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Infant and Young Children. Pediatrics. November 2010, VOLUME 126 / ISSUE 5.