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, how often, and how many grams per age to eat. Remember that milk should be your baby's main food during the first year of life. Even after solid foods are offered, the baby's milk intake should not decrease significantly, if at all. Also, babies are very good at moderation, so there is often no need to limit milk intake for fear of being overweight. Your baby's growth and development depends on a high intake of fat and calories.
ThisNutrition charts for babiesFor breastfed babies, bottle feeding and solid feeding will help you know if your baby is getting enough to eat and how you can help him sleep better through the night sooner rather than later. You can bookmark this page or pin it to Pinterest.
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Amounts of breast milk by age
Formula values by age
Amounts of solid food by age
Feeding and amount of breast milk by age
All breastfed babies need an average of 20 to 35 ounces of breast milk per day.From the youngest newborns and up to 2-3 months of age, your baby should be fed as needed, which usually means every 2-3 hours.
When you're pumping, breast milk bottles generally range in size from 3 to 6 ounces, with 4 ounces being the average size if your baby is at least 3 to 4 months old. Remember that some babies just have bigger appetites than others.The most important aspect is that your baby's weight gain stays within his growth curve.. Do not hold milk in front of your baby for fear of being overweight. Babies are very good at moderation and should be fed when they are hungry.
Remember that the frequency with which your baby feeds over a 24-hour period depends on a combination of the following:
a) how much milk your baby can hold in his stomach (ie stomach capacity).
B)How much milk can you store in your breasts?(which has nothing to do with the size of the breasts).
c) your baby's personality and whether they have any digestive problems such as B. Reflux.
We've found that babies with reflux tend to eat smaller meals more frequently. Also, some babies' personalities get too full while others eat their fill and quit. Both of my children were different. While my first son only had 4 ounce bottles when we weren't breastfeeding, his brother sometimes had 5-5 1/2 ounce bottles. They were just different and even as my first son got older he just did NOT overeat or fill up his stomach and still does to this day.
Here's a helpful baby feeding chart of breast milk amounts by age, although you should keep in mind that many breastfeeding moms feed their babies as needed throughout the breastfeeding process. This is just a rough guide to keep in mind, especially if you feel you are overfeeding your baby because of their age.
If you have concerns about your baby and feeding habits, consult a doctor and/or lactation specialist.
| Alter | Number of recordings per day / 24 hours | current frequency | Average bottle sizes (if applicable) | nocturnal feedings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 weeks | upon request | Upon request* | ~2-3 ounces / 60-90ml | upon request |
| 5-8 weeks | upon request | every 2-3 hours** | ~2-4 ounces / 60-120ml | 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 Fun | ~6-10 | every 2-3 hours | 3-4 ounces / 90-120 ml | 2, maybe 3 |
| 6 Fun | ~6-9 | every 3 hours | 4-5 ounces / 120-150 ml | 1-2 |
| 7 Fun | ~5-8 | every 3-4 hours | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 1-2 |
| 8 Fun | ~5-8 | every 3-4 hours | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 1, maybe 2 |
| 9 Fun | ~5-8 | every 3-4 hours | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 1 |
| 10 Fun | ~4-6 | every 3-4 hours | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 0-1 |
| 11 Fun | ~4-6 | every 3-4 hours | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 0 |
| 12 Fun | ~4-6 | every 3-4 hours | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 0 |
* If your baby doesn't eat for more than 4 hours, be sure to wake them up to feed them.
** Many newbornsfeed the grapeat night, which means they may nurse every hour for several hours, or stay at the breast for practically several hours. Some say they "prepare" for the night.
You might also be interested in:
- Baby night feeding table by age
- Baby sleep and breastfeeding series
- Breastfeeding and sleep training: do they go together?
Formula feeding amounts by age
Formula-fed infants typically require an average of 2 1/2 ounces or 74 ml of formula per pound of weight. However, some babies have larger appetites than others. I've personally worked with many families, and some babies bottle-feed and take in about 24 ounces a day total, while others take in excess of 30 ounces.The most important thing to remember is that your baby needs to stay on their own growth curve.
In the newborn days, it is important to feed your baby every time he or she doesshows signs of hunger. As your baby grows older, consider dressing herBaby on schedule.
While some parents and babies are fine with schedules, some people prefer to be flexible in their daily schedule. Remember, the more your baby eats during the day, the soonerthe baby will sleep through the night.
Here's an infant formula feeding chart that shows you the average frequency and size of infant formula bottles by age, but remember that some babies eat different amounts at different times of the day. You should only use this chart as a guide when customizing your daily routine for your unique baby.
If you have concerns about your baby and feeding habits, consult a doctor and/or lactation specialist.
| Alter | Number of recordings per day / 24 hours | current frequency | average bottle size | nocturnal feedings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 weeks | upon request | Upon request* | ~2-4 ounces / 60-120ml | upon request |
| 5-8 weeks | 6-7 | every 3 hours | ~4 ounces / 120ml | 2-3 |
| 9-12 weeks/3 months | 5 | every 3 hours | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 2, maybe 3 |
| 13-16 weeks/4 months | 5 | every 3-4 hours** | 4-6 ounces / 120-180ml | 1-2 |
| 5 Fun | 4-5 | every 3-4 hours | 6-7 ounces / 180-210 ml | 1-2 |
| 6 Fun | 4-5 | every 3-4 hours | 6-8 ounces / 180-240ml | 0-1 |
| 7 Fun | 4-5 | every 3-4 hours | 6-8 ounces / 180-240ml | 0*** |
| 8 Fun | 4-5 | every 3-4 hours | 6-8 ounces / 180-240ml | 0 |
| 9 Fun | 4-5 | every 3-4 hours | 6-8 ounces / 180-240ml | 0 |
| 10 Fun | 3-5 | every 3-4 hours | 6-8 ounces / 180-240ml | 0 |
| 11 Fun | 2-4 | every 3-4 hours | 6-8 ounces / 180-240ml | 0 |
| 12 Fun | 2-3 | every 3-4 hours | 6-8 ounces / 180-240ml | 0 |
* If your baby doesn't eat for more than 4 hours, be sure to wake them up to feed them.
**Not all babies at this age or ever have 4 hours between feedings. Some babies always eat every 3 hours until they are 9-10 months old.
***Some formula fed babies are still eating at night after 6 months, especially if they have acid reflux.
You might also be interested in:
- Baby night feeding table by age
- Baby feeding schedule: rigid, flexible or on demand?
- How to give your baby a schedule
solid foods by age
When you start eating solid foods, your baby's milk intake shouldn't decrease much, if at all, until around 10 months of age, when he's eating 3 solid meals a day plus a snack. In the first year, solid foods are very convenient and have a variety of flavors and textures. Remember that until your baby eats significant amounts of solid food,Eating solid foods early does not necessarily help your baby fall asleep.. In fact, so many sleep problems are unrelated to hunger that early solid foods don't interfere with sleep at all.
Here is a solid food baby feeding chart. Keep in mind that if you're practicing baby-led weaning, either voluntarily or because your baby doesn't like puree, she's likely eating far fewer solid foods than other babies her age. That's okay, because milk should remain your baby's primary source of nutrition.
| Alter | Grain (per day) | fruit (per day) | Vegetables (per day) | meat and dairy products (per day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth - 5 months | none | none | none | none |
| 6 Fun (1 solid meal a day) | 1-2 tablespoons of dry infant cereal mixed with breast milk or formula | 1-2 tablespoons fruit puree | 1-2 tablespoons vegetable puree | none |
| 7-8 Sweet (2 fixed meals a day) | 1-6 tablespoons of dry infant cereal mixed with breast milk or formula | 1-6 tablespoons fruit puree | 1-6 tablespoons vegetable puree | Meat: 1-2 tablespoons protein puree (8 month supply) dairy: 1/4-1/2 cup yogurt or cream cheese; 1 ounce. grated cheese |
| 9-10 Sweet (3 solid meals a day) | 2-4 tablespoons of dry infant cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. 1-2 servings of other grains* | 4-8 tablespoons of chopped fruit puree | 4-12 tablespoons chopped pureed vegetables | Meat: 2-6 tablespoons of shredded/chopped protein dairy: Same as recommendations for 7 to 8 months. |
| 11-12 Fun (3 solid meals a day) | As above except increase “other grains” to 2 servings | 6-8 tablespoons pureed/chopped fruit or 1/2 cup diced | 6-12 tablespoons vegetable puree or chopped or 1/2 - 3/4 cup diced | Meat: 2-6 scoops shredded/chopped protein or 1/4 cup diced dairy: Same as recommendations for 7 to 8 months. |
* 1 serving of "other grains" = 1/2 slice bread, 2 crackers, 1/2 cup Cheerios, or 1/2 cup whole wheat pasta
You might also be interested in:
- When to start with solids
- How to feed your baby solid food
- Starting Your Baby on Solid Foods: A Complete Guide
Share your experiences with feeding your baby!
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