How many ounces of formula a day and per feeding, from your baby’s weight and age, using the AAP rule of about 2.5 ounces per pound up to 32 ounces and CDC feeding guidance
Updated October 2026
The American Academy of Pediatrics gives a simple rule: on average a baby takes about 2½ ounces (75 mL) of formula a day for every pound of body weight, and usually no more than about 32 ounces (960 mL) in 24 hours. So the daily estimate is the smaller of 2.5 × weight in pounds and 32 ounces. Divide it by the number of feedings to estimate each bottle. (AAP rounds an ounce to 30 mL; the calculator uses the exact 29.57 mL, so 32 ounces shows as about 950 mL.)
Worked example. A 12-pound baby needs about 12 × 2.5 = 30 ounces a day, roughly 890 mL. Formula-fed babies typically eat every 3 to 4 hours, which is 6 to 8 feedings in 24 hours. That works out to about 3.8 to 5 ounces per bottle. That is the calculator’s default. Babies regulate their own intake from day to day, so treat the number as a guide, not a target.
| Age | Amount per feeding | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| First days and first week | 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 mL) | Every 2 to 3 hours; 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours | CDC (Apr. 2026), AAP |
| During the first month | Gradually up to 3 to 4 oz (90 to 120 mL) | Every 3 to 4 hours | AAP |
| End of the first month | At least 3 to 4 oz | About every 3 to 4 hours, a fairly predictable schedule | AAP |
| 2 to 4 months | From the weight rule | Most no longer need a middle-of-the-night feeding (or once over 12 lb); daytime gaps occasionally 4 to 5 hours | AAP |
| 6 months | 6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 mL) | 4 or 5 feedings in 24 hours | AAP |
| 6 to 12 months | Less formula as solids increase | Formula or solids about 5 to 6 times in 24 hours | CDC |
| 12 months | Can switch to whole cow’s milk or a fortified unsweetened dairy alternative, gradually | CDC | |
| Any age | Usually no more than about 32 oz of formula in 24 hours | AAP | |
Vitamin D: CDC says babies who get about 32 ounces or more of infant formula a day do not need extra vitamin D, because formula is fortified. Babies on breast milk only, or on less than 32 ounces of formula, need vitamin D drops starting shortly after birth.
| Weight | 2.5 oz per lb | Daily estimate (32 oz cap) | Per feeding at 6 to 8 feeds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 lb (3.2 kg) | 17.5 oz | 17.5 oz (520 mL) | 2.2 to 2.9 oz |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 20 oz | 20 oz (590 mL) | 2.5 to 3.3 oz |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 25 oz | 25 oz (740 mL) | 3.1 to 4.2 oz |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | 30 oz | 30 oz (890 mL) | 3.8 to 5 oz |
| 14 lb (6.4 kg) | 35 oz | 32 oz (950 mL) | 4 to 5.3 oz |
| 16 lb (7.3 kg) | 40 oz | 32 oz (950 mL) | 4 to 5.3 oz |
From about 13 pounds the weight rule passes 32 ounces, and the ceiling takes over. By 6 months many babies also start solid foods, so formula intake levels off and then falls.
AAP suggests feeding a formula-fed newborn on demand, whenever they cry with hunger, and letting a schedule develop. A baby who gets fidgety or distracted during a feed is probably finished. One who drains the bottle and keeps smacking their lips may still be hungry. Some babies want to keep sucking after a feed and are content with a pacifier. In the first weeks, AAP advises waking a baby who sleeps more than 4 to 5 hours and misses feeds.
This calculator gives general guidance for healthy, full-term babies; it is not a feeding plan. Talk with your pediatrician in these cases:
Preterm babies’ feeding plans come from their NICU and pediatric team.