Most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, and in the first days a breastfed baby may want to feed every 1 to 3 hours. Formula amounts start small — about 30–60 mL (1–2 oz) a feed — and by around 6 months many formula-fed babies take 180–240 mL (6–8 oz) at 4 or 5 feeds a day. Solids start around 6 months, meals build towards 3 a day plus snacks by the first birthday, and milk feeds gradually drop as food takes over.
The numbers below come from the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the NHS, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) and the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. They are averages, not targets. If your baby's doctor, midwife or child-health nurse has given you a feeding plan, follow that plan over anything here.
How often should a breastfed baby feed?
The CDC's breastfeeding guide says that in the first days your baby may want to feed as often as every 1 to 3 hours. Over the first weeks and months, most exclusively breastfed babies feed every 2 to 4 hours, or about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Some feed as often as every hour at times (often called cluster feeding), and some have one longer sleep of 4 to 5 hours.
Other sources give slightly different ranges, which is a reminder that normal is wide. The AAP describes 10–12 feeds in 24 hours as the norm for breastfed newborns, and the ABA says young babies need to feed 8 to 14 times or more.
| Age | Typical breastfeeding pattern |
|---|---|
| First days | As often as every 1–3 hours |
| First weeks to months | About 8–12 feeds in 24 hours; some closer together, one longer gap |
| 6–12 months | On cue; breastfeed before offering solids |
| 12–24 months | Varies a lot; follow your child's cues |
Feeds won't be evenly spaced. The CDC notes that some feeds are long and others short, and that's OK. From 6 months, the CDC suggests breastfeeding before you offer other foods, because breast milk is still the most important source of nutrition. The WHO recommends breastfeeding as often as your child wants, day and night, and continuing up to 2 years or beyond alongside food.
How much formula does a baby need by age?
Formula-fed babies usually feed a little less often than breastfed babies, but they still feed often at first. The CDC's formula guide suggests starting with 1–2 oz (about 30–60 mL) every 2 to 3 hours in the first days, offering more if your baby still shows hunger. Most formula-fed newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.
| Age | Typical amount per feed | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1–2 | About 15 mL (½ oz) | Every 2–3 hours |
| First days to first weeks | 30–60 mL (1–2 oz) | Every 2–3 hours, 8–12 times a day |
| End of first month | At least 90–120 mL (3–4 oz) | About every 3–4 hours |
| Around 6 months | 180–240 mL (6–8 oz) | 4 or 5 feeds in 24 hours |
| 6–12 months | Milk drops as solids increase | Milk or solids about 5–6 times a day |
The day 1–2, first-month and 6-month figures come from the AAP's feeding guide; the frequencies come from the CDC. The AAP says 8 feeds in 24 hours is generally the minimum for a bottle-fed newborn.
The AAP's formula schedule page adds two rules of thumb. On average, babies take about 75 mL (2½ oz) of formula a day for every 453 g (1 lb) of body weight, and they should generally have no more than about 960 mL (32 oz) in 24 hours. These are averages to discuss with your GP or child-health nurse if your baby consistently wants much more or much less — not amounts to make a baby finish. In the first week, the AAP says to expect no more than about 30–60 mL (1–2 oz) a feed.
For more on reading bottle amounts, see how much formula, paced bottle-feeding and preparing formula safely.
Should I feed my baby on demand or on a schedule?
For healthy full-term babies, responsive feeding comes first. It means offering milk when your baby shows hunger and stopping when they show they're full. The WHO describes this as recognising and responding to signs of hunger and fullness, and the AAP says babies should generally be fed whenever they seem hungry.
The CDC's hunger and fullness signs for babies up to 5 months include hands to mouth, turning towards the breast or bottle, lip smacking or licking, and clenched hands. Fullness looks like closing the mouth, turning away and relaxed hands. Crying is a late hunger sign, so feeding at the earlier cues is usually calmer for both of you. Our hunger cues guide goes through these in detail.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Not every suck is hunger. The AAP notes babies also suck for comfort.
- Your baby doesn't have to finish the bottle. The CDC says to let your child decide how much they take.
- Pauses help. The AAP says overfed babies may not pull away when full, and pausing during a feed helps them notice fullness.
A more regular rhythm usually develops over the first months, and the AAP says you can shape your day around it once it does. It's a pattern your baby leads, not a timetable you impose.
Premature babies and babies with feeding plans
The AAP says scheduled feeds advised by your baby's doctor are best for premature or medically complex babies. Early babies can be sleepy and take less at first, so they need close follow-up, and the AAP advises not leaving long gaps between feeds — even if that means waking your baby — when weight gain is a struggle. Use your baby's corrected age for any age-based guide, and follow the plan from your care team.
When do solids start, and how many meals by age?
Solids start around 6 months for most babies. The NHS guide to first solid foods lists three signs that show up together when a baby is ready: they can stay sitting with their head steady, coordinate eyes, hands and mouth to pick up food, and swallow food rather than push it back out. Chewing fists, waking more at night or wanting extra milk don't on their own mean a baby is ready. If your baby was premature, the NHS suggests asking your health professional when to start.
| Age | Meals (WHO) | What the NHS describes |
|---|---|---|
| Around 6 months | Starting out | Small tastes; 3 meals a day not needed yet |
| 6–8 months | 2–3 meals a day | From about 7 months, moving towards 3 meals and about 4 milk feeds |
| 9–12 months | 3–4 meals, plus 1–2 snacks if needed | By about 10 months, 3 meals and about 3 milk feeds |
| 12–24 months | 3–4 meals, plus 1–2 snacks if needed | 3 meals plus 2 snacks |
The WHO fact sheet adds 1–2 snacks "as required" without tying them to an age, while the NHS first mentions snacks from 12 months. Before the first birthday, a snack is optional rather than expected.
Breast milk or formula stays the main drink until 12 months. For formula-fed babies, the NHS says they may need around 600 mL of milk a day at about 7 to 9 months and about 400 mL a day at 10 to 12 months. It gives no set amount for breastfed babies, whose intake adjusts as they eat more food.
For first foods, textures and iron, see starting solids, first foods and iron and food textures.
What does a feeding day look like at different ages?
These are made-up examples built from the ranges above, to show the general shape of a day. Your baby's times, number of feeds and amounts will differ, and that's normal.
Newborn, breastfed — Example day — adjust to your baby
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 12:30 am | Wakes, roots; feeds |
| 3:00 am | Feed, nappy change |
| 5:30 am | Feed |
| 8:00 am | Feed, short awake time |
| 10:30 am | Feed |
| 1:00 pm | Feed |
| 3:30 pm | Feed |
| 5:00–8:00 pm | Several close feeds (cluster feeding) |
| 10:00 pm | Feed |
4 months, formula-fed — Example day — adjust to your baby
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6:30 am | Bottle on waking |
| 10:00 am | Bottle |
| 1:30 pm | Bottle |
| 5:00 pm | Bottle |
| 7:30 pm | Bottle before bed |
| Overnight | Some babies still wake for a feed; feed if hungry |
At this age amounts usually sit somewhere between the end-of-first-month and 6-month figures above, and feeds are often about every 3 to 4 hours, as the CDC describes.
7 months, breast milk or formula plus solids — Example day — adjust to your baby
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6:30 am | Milk feed |
| 8:00 am | Breakfast; sips of water from a cup |
| 10:30 am | Milk feed |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch; sips of water |
| 3:00 pm | Milk feed |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner, if your baby is ready for a third meal |
| 7:00 pm | Milk feed before bed |
10 months — Example day — adjust to your baby
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6:30 am | Milk feed |
| 7:30 am | Breakfast; water in a cup |
| 10:00 am | Snack, if needed |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch; water |
| 2:30 pm | Milk feed |
| 5:00 pm | Dinner; water |
| 6:45 pm | Milk feed before bed |
15 months — Example day — adjust to your toddler
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Breakfast; milk in a cup |
| 9:30 am | Snack; water |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch; water |
| 2:30 pm | Snack; milk in a cup |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner; water |
| Bedtime | Breastfeed, if you're still breastfeeding |
How much milk does a toddler need after 12 months?
From 12 months, cow's milk can become a main drink alongside water, and formula is no longer needed for most children. Guidance on amounts differs by country:
| Source | What it says after 12 months |
|---|---|
| Royal Children's Hospital (AU) | Cow's milk as part of a varied diet, no more than 500 mL (about two cups) a day |
| AAP (US) | Whole milk, about 2 cups (16 oz) a day for 12–24 months; water 1–4 cups (8–32 oz) a day |
| NHS (UK) | Whole or semi-skimmed pasteurised milk can be a main drink from 1 year; formula, including toddler milks, not needed |
| WHO | Breastfeeding can continue up to 2 years or beyond |
The Royal Children's Hospital iron fact sheet explains why the limit matters: cow's milk contains very little iron, and drinking too much can fill a child up so they eat fewer iron-rich foods. The AAP's drinks guide also says toddler milks are unnecessary for most children. The NHS guide to drinks and cups suggests offering a cup from around 6 months and discouraging bottles once your baby is 1.
For the switch itself, see moving to cow's milk, water for babies and cups and dropping bottles.
Why is my baby suddenly feeding more, and what about night feeds?
Many babies have days when they want to feed much more often. The CDC describes some breastfed babies feeding as often as every hour at times. Parents often call these stretches growth spurts or cluster feeds; our growth spurts guide explains what is and isn't known about them. Feeding more often during these days is how a breastfed baby asks for more milk, and the ABA explains that frequent feeding removes more milk, which helps your body make more.
Night feeds are normal and expected in the early months. In the first weeks, the CDC says you may need to wake a sleepy baby to feed, and the AAP's formula feeding guide advises waking your baby to offer a feed if they sleep longer than 4 to 5 hours and miss feeds. Patting, stroking, undressing or a nappy change can help wake them.
As babies grow, many take more milk during the day. The AAP's formula page says most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed somewhere between 2 and 4 months, or once they weigh more than 5.4 kg (12 lb). Breastfed babies often keep feeding at night for longer, and there's no single right age. See dropping night feeds before making changes, and talk to your GP or child-health nurse first if your baby was premature or has any growth concerns.
How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?
Because you can't see how much a breastfed baby takes, the signs below matter more than the clock. The ABA says that by day five you'd expect at least five wet disposable nappies (or at least six very wet cloth nappies) in 24 hours, with pale or clear wee. Poo should be soft and yellow-mustard, with three or more runny poos a day before 6 to 8 weeks. Over time, your baby should regain their birth weight, grow in length and head size, and be alert when awake.
The AAP describes 2 to 3 wet nappies a day in the first days, rising to at least 5 to 6 a day after days 4 to 5, and steady weight gain at check-ups. The ABA notes that frequent feeds, fussiness and night waking can all happen in babies getting plenty of milk. Our enough milk guide goes further.
If you keep notes, the most useful things to record are feed times, roughly how long or how much, wet and dirty nappies, and anything unusual. A few days of notes helps your GP or child-health nurse see the pattern rather than a single hard day.
When should I get help with feeding?
Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) or go to the nearest emergency department now if your baby has any of the signs in the box above, or (from the NHS guide to serious illness):
- a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher and is under 3 months old
- a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry
- a bulging soft spot (fontanelle) on their head
- green or yellow-green vomit, which the NHS vomiting guide lists as an emergency in children
Get medical advice today (call a health advice line (Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 in Australia, NHS 111 in the UK, your pediatrician's after-hours line in the US) or see a GP) if your baby:
- stops breast or bottle feeding while unwell, or is refusing feeds
- has fewer wet nappies than usual, or other signs of dehydration
- keeps vomiting and can't keep feeds down
Mention it to your GP or child-health nurse (or call a breastfeeding helpline (the Australian Breastfeeding Association on 1800 686 268 in Australia, the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 in the UK) for breastfeeding help) if:
- you have questions about growth or how much your baby is taking
- your baby consistently wants much more or much less than the averages above
- feeding hurts, or you're worried about your supply
- you'd like help working out a routine that suits your family
