Babies Formula How Much Formula Should a Newborn Eat? By Jennifer White Jennifer White Jennifer White has authored parenting books and has worked in childcare and education fields for over 15 years. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 30, 2021 Medically reviewed by Willow Jarosh, MS, RD Medically reviewed by Willow Jarosh, MS, RD Willow Jarosh, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and nutrition coach specializing in intuitive eating. She is the author of "Healthy, Happy Pregnancy Cookbook." Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Tara Moore / The Image Bank / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Signs of Hunger and Fullness How to Calculate Formula Needs Signs of Over- or Under-feeding The amount a newborn needs to eat isn't an exact science, because every baby is different. However, there is a simple equation you can use to get a rough estimate of how many ounces your baby needs each day. Remember that an infant's needs can change day-to-day. While having a rough estimate of how much formula they need can be helpful, it's most important to learn and respond to your baby's hunger and fullness cues. Signs of Hunger and Fullness Whether you're using a formula, nursing, pumping, or a combination of all these feeding methods, tune in to your baby's hunger and fullness cues before you start crunching numbers. While each baby is unique, these are are some common hunger cues to watch for: Crying or fussinessOpening of his mouth when touched on his chin or lipsSmacking of lips or making small sounds with his mouthSucking on fingers or placing fist in mouth Fullness cues include: Fidgeting or acting distractedSlowing down or falling asleepSpitting out formulaStopping feeding or only taking a few sucks before pausing How to Calculate Formula Needs In addition to looking for cues to when your baby is hungry and when they've had enough, you can use different techniques to estimate the amount of formula to prepare. But again, from one day to the next, your baby may want more or less at any feeding. So watching for hunger/fullness cues is important. By Weight This equation can be used regardless of what type of infant formula you use (cow milk formula, soy-based formula, etc). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a baby should consume, on average, about 2.5 ounces of formula a day for every pound of their body weight. Most babies are satisfied with 3 to 4 ounces per feeding in the first month. You'll begin to increase the amount by 1 ounce per month, leveling off at about 7 to 8 ounces per feeding. For example, a 12-pound baby would likely need 30 ounces in a 24-hour period. To determine how many ounces per bottle, divide the ounces needed in a 24-hour period by the number of feedings your baby takes during that time. So, if your 12-pound baby needs 30 ounces a day and takes 6 bottles in a 24-hour period, then each bottle would need to be approximately 5 ounces. Baby Weight in Pounds Ounces of Formula per Day 4 lbs. 10 oz. 5 12.5 6 15 7 17.5 8 20 9 22.5 10 25 11 27.5 12 30 13 32.5 By Age You can also estimate formula needs by your infant's age. Newborns: 2 to 3 ounces per feedingOne month: 4 ounces per feedingTwo months: 4 to 5 ounces per feedingFour months: 4 to 6 ounces per feedingSix months: 6 to 8 ounces per feeding How Much Should a 3-Month-Old Eat? Signs of Over- or Under-feeding Signs that you are not feeding your baby enough can include persistent crying, decreased urine output, a wrinkly look to the skin, dry roof of the mouth, and increased sleep. Your baby should be wetting at least four diapers a day. Their bowel movements should be no firmer than peanut butter. Hard or dry stools can be a sign that your baby is not adequately hydrated. Signs that you might be overfeeding may include spitting up or vomiting, crying, pulling up legs to the abdomen, and behaviors that resemble colic. Generally speaking, it's best to time feedings to allow your baby to take bottles that have less formula, which means you'll be giving them more frequently (as opposed to giving larger amounts of formula less often). If you are concerned about your baby's weight or if you think they are losing or gaining weight too rapidly, talk to your pediatrician. 4 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. American Academy of Pediatrics. Amount and schedule of formula feedings. Shelov SP, Altmann TR, Hannermann RE. Caring for your baby and young child, birth to age 5, 6th Edition. American Academy of Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics. Is your baby hungry or full? Responsive feeding explained. American Academy of Pediatrics. How often and how much should your baby eat?. Additional Reading American Academy of Pediatrics. Amount and schedule of formula feedings. By Jennifer White Jennifer White has authored parenting books and has worked in childcare and education fields for over 15 years. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Featured Video By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies