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Baby Milk Feeding Calculator
A guide to how much milk a formula-fed or bottle-fed baby needs each feed and each day, based on weight and age. Breastfed babies feed on demand, so use this as a rough reference and always follow your baby's hunger and fullness cues.
Amount per feed
How much milk by age
A rough guide to bottle amounts for formula-fed babies. Newborns feed little and often; amounts per feed grow as feeds become less frequent.
| Age | Per feed | Feeds per day |
|---|---|---|
| First week | 30 - 60 ml (1 - 2 oz) | 8 - 12 |
| 1 month | 90 - 120 ml (3 - 4 oz) | 7 - 8 |
| 2 months | 120 - 150 ml (4 - 5 oz) | 6 - 7 |
| 4 months | 120 - 180 ml (4 - 6 oz) | 5 - 6 |
| 6 months (with solids) | 180 - 240 ml (6 - 8 oz) | 4 - 5 |
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics and KidsHealth. These are typical amounts, not targets to hit exactly.
Watch your baby, not just the numbers
Signs baby is hungry
- Rooting (turning to search for the nipple)
- Hands or fists to the mouth, sucking on hands
- Lip-smacking or opening the mouth
- Restlessness; crying is a late sign
Signs baby is full
- Turns the head away from the bottle
- Slows down, stops sucking or dozes off
- Gets fidgety or distracted
- Never force the rest of a bottle
Is my baby getting enough?
The best signs are not millilitres but: 6 or more wet nappies a day, steady weight gain along their growth curve, and a content baby between feeds. If you are worried about feeding or weight, check with your doctor, polyclinic, or KKH or NUH.
Paced, responsive bottle feeding
Hold your baby fairly upright, let them draw the teat in, keep the bottle more horizontal so milk flows gently, and pause often. This lets your baby control the pace and helps avoid overfeeding, much like breastfeeding.
Growth spurts
Around 7 to 14 days, 3 to 6 weeks, and again near 3, 4 and 6 months, your baby may suddenly want to feed more for a few days. That is normal, follow their lead and it usually settles.
Breastfeeding and combination feeding
Breastfed babies regulate their own intake, so there is no bottle figure to hit, on average exclusively breastfed babies take around 750 ml a day from 1 to 6 months. Judge by wet nappies, weight gain and contentment rather than volume. If you combine breast and formula, this calculator is a guide for the formula or expressed-milk portion, and your supply will adjust to how often you nurse or pump.
Frequently asked questions
How much milk should my baby drink a day?
A common guide for formula-fed babies is about 150 ml per kg of body weight per day (within a 120 to 200 ml/kg range), up to a maximum of around 960 ml (32 oz). A 4 kg baby is roughly 600 ml a day. Use the calculator above for your baby.
How much per feed and how often?
It changes with age: newborns take 30 to 60 ml every 2 to 3 hours, building to 120 to 180 ml around 4 months and 180 to 240 ml at 6 months across fewer feeds. See the by-age table above.
Can a baby drink too much formula?
Yes. More than about 960 ml (32 oz) a day on a regular basis can be too much. Watch for fullness cues and do not force a bottle. If your baby seems hungrier than the guide, speak to your doctor.
How do I know my breastfed baby is getting enough?
You cannot measure breast milk by volume. Look for 6 or more wet nappies a day, regular weight gain, and a settled baby. These matter more than any number.
How much formula does one tin make?
It depends on the tin size and your baby's intake. Work out tins and monthly cost with our formula cost calculator.
When does milk start to reduce?
From around 6 months, as solids are introduced, milk gradually makes up less of your baby's intake, though it stays important through the first year.
