How Much Milk Should a Baby Drink? Age-by-Age Chart

Most parents feel overwhelmed when trying to figure out how much milk should a baby drink. As newborns survive only on milk for the first few months, giving them enough milk is crucial for their health and development. However, the amount of milk a baby needs to drink depends on their age, the feeding method, and also the individual baby's appetite.

You should follow your little one's hunger cues rather than following a fixed milk intake chart. But having a general idea of baby milk intake by age still helps. It gives you a reference as you handle breastfeeding, formula feeding, or a combination of both. In this guide, you will get the answer to how much milk should my baby drink and how many ounces are enough.

 

Baby Milk Intake by Age: Quick Reference Chart

In this chart, we have given bottle feeding ounces by age for both breast fed and formula fed babies. This is based on pediatric nutrition standards. Use this as a starting point but always consult your pediatrician if you have any health concerns.

 

Age	Breastmilk (Per Feed)	Formula (Per Feed)	Frequency (Per 24 Hours)
Newborn (0-1 week)	0.5 – 1.5 oz	1 – 2 oz	8 to 12 times
1 month	3 – 4 oz	3 – 4 oz	8 to 10 times
2 months	4 – 5 oz	4 – 5 oz	6 to 8 times
3 months	4 – 5 oz	5 oz	6 to 8 times
4 months	4 – 5 oz	5 – 7 oz	5 to 7 times
6 months	5 oz	6 – 8 oz	4 to 6 times
9 months	5 oz	7 – 8 oz	3 to 4 times

 

Looking at the chart above, you might wonder why the breastmilk amounts don't jump as much as the formula amounts. When asking how much breastmilk does a baby need, the answer is often "the same amount for several months." This is because breastmilk becomes more calorie-dense as your baby grows, while formula-fed babies must drink more ounces to get those extra calories.

The First Month: How Many Ounces Should a Newborn Drink?

A newborn baby's stomach is tiny, the same size as that of a cherry. So for the first few days, the amount of breast milk is little, such as 0.5 – 1.5 oz. After the first week, their stomach grows to the size of a walnut, and they can drink 1 to 2 ounces every two to three hours.

· How many ounces should a 2 month old drink?

At 2 months of age, babies start to drink 4 to 5 ounces every three to four hours. They also sleep for longer at night and will drink more than before in the day.

· How many ounces should a 3 month old drink?

At three months of age, most of the babies follow a consistent milk intake of about 4 to 5 ounces of milk for 6 to 8 times a day. You might also notice that in 2 to 3 days, your baby will be hungrier than usual. This is common and just a part of the "3-month growth spurt."

· How many ounces should a 4 month old drink?

When babies are four months old, their stomach grows larger, and now they can hold more milk and stay full for longer. They will still drink 4 to 5 ounces of milk, but the feeding frequency might lessen from 8 times a day to 6 to 7 times.

6 to 12 Months: Milk Intake While Introducing Solids

Around 6 months, you can start introducing solids to the baby, but milk is still the main source of nutrition for the baby.

·         How much milk should a 6 month old drink?

Most babies still take 6 to 8 ounces per feeding. Even though they are eating purees or finger foods, they still require the fats and nutrients found in breastmilk or formula to support brain development.

·  How much milk should a 9 month old drink?

Even with three small meals of solids a day, 9-month-old babies usually need around 24 to 30 ounces of milk per day. As they eat more "real food," you may notice them dropping one milk feeding (usually in the afternoon), but their morning and bedtime bottles typically remain the largest.

Signs Baby Is Not Getting Enough Milk

It is normal to worry about a baby not drinking enough milk. According to the CDC, the baby's wet diapers and urine color can indicate their health as well as their hydration level. Here are some clear signs to know for sure.

• Fewer than 6 heavy wet diapers per day.
• Dark yellow urine (it should be pale).
• The soft spot on the head appears dipped in.
• Baby seems low on energy or unsatisfied after every feed.

Signs Baby Is Drinking Too Much Milk

Some parents even wonder, Can you overfeed a baby with formula?

 Yes, babies can be overfed when drinking formula from a bottle because the milk can flow too fast for the baby to realize they are full. Here are some signs if your baby is overfed.

 

• Frequent spit-up or vomiting.
• Excessive gas and pulling legs toward the chest.

 Solution: Use paced bottle feeding. Keep the bottle horizontal and let the baby take breaks to breathe and swallow naturally. Feeding bottles like Mubsie have a slow nipple flow, so your baby does not overfeed when using this bottle.

Why Feeding Patterns Aren't Linear

If your baby suddenly starts drinking more milk, it is most likely that they are going through a growth spurt. These growth spurts usually happen at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months.

When to Call a Pediatrician

Immediately call your pediatrician if your baby is refusing milk multiple times in a day and seems to be losing weight. Always trust your instincts with your baby.

Final Thoughts: How Much Milk Should a Baby Drink?

Getting to know how much should a baby drink is all about the different appetites of every baby. The baby milk intake chart above gives you a general idea, but you should always focus on your baby’s hunger cues. Some days, they might feed a bit more than usual due to a growth spurt, and some days, they will drink a bit less.

The most important thing to look out for is whether your baby is healthy and well hydrated. When you use a high-quality bottle like the Mubsie Silicone Baby Bottle, you can make this process easier for your little one. This bottle has a soft, skin-like feel and an anti-colic design, which helps babies to easily transition between breastfeeding and bottle feeding.