Feeding a 1–3 month old: how much, how often and what changes

Between 1 and 3 months, most breastfed babies feed about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, often every 2 to 4 hours, with clusters of close feeds in the evening. Formula-fed babies usually take at least 90–120 mL (3–4 oz) a feed about every 3 to 4 hours from the end of the first month. By weight, Australian guidance gives about 150 mL per kg a day up to 3 months, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests no more than about 960 mL (32 oz) a day. Plenty of wet diapers and steady weight gain are the best signs that feeding is going well.

This stage is often when feeding starts to feel more settled: feeds space out, many babies get quicker at the breast, and some start one longer sleep. It's also when fussy evenings, hungry days, bottle refusal and plans for going back to work tend to come up. This guide covers each of those for breastfed, formula-fed and combination-fed babies. For the whole first two years at a glance, see the baby feeding schedule by age.

How often does a 1- to 3-month-old feed?

Breastfed babies. The CDC's breastfeeding guide says most exclusively breastfed babies feed every 2 to 4 hours in the first weeks and months, about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Some feed as often as every hour at times, and some have one longer sleep of 4 to 5 hours. The Australian Breastfeeding Association says young babies need to feed 8 to 14 times or more in 24 hours.

Formula-fed babies. The CDC's formula guide says most formula-fed babies feed about every 3 to 4 hours in the first weeks and months, which works out at roughly 6 to 8 bottles in 24 hours. The AAP's formula schedule page says babies gradually develop a fairly regular timetable of their own.

Both patterns are guides, not timetables. Victoria's Better Health Channel in Australia says to feed your baby when they show signs of being hungry, not on a strict schedule. If you'd like more predictability, let your baby's own rhythm lead; responsive vs scheduled feeding and daily rhythm explain how.

How much formula does a 1- to 3-month-old need?

The AAP's feeding guide says most babies take at least 90–120 mL (3–4 oz) a feed, about every 3 to 4 hours, by the end of the first month, and 180–240 mL (6–8 oz) at 4 or 5 feeds by around 6 months. Between those points, amounts creep up slowly and vary from day to day. The AAP also says babies should usually have no more than an average of about 960 mL (32 oz) in 24 hours.

Formula by weight

Weight is often a better guide than age. The Better Health Channel gives about 150 mL per kg of body weight a day from 5 days to 3 months, falling to 120 mL per kg from 3 to 6 months. The AAP's rule of thumb is about 75 mL (2½ oz) a day for every 453 g (1 lb). Here's what those give for babies under 3 months:

To get a rough amount per bottle, divide the daily figure by the number of feeds your baby usually has. A 5 kg baby on 7 feeds would take roughly 105–120 mL a bottle. The Better Health Channel notes that the amounts on the formula can are often more than a baby needs, and says never to pressure your baby to drink a set amount. The full tables are in how much formula.

Signs your baby has had enough

The Better Health Channel lists turning away, frowning or pushing the nipple out. The AAP says a baby who becomes fidgety or easily distracted during a feed is probably finished, while one who drains the bottle and keeps smacking their lips may still be hungry. Paced bottle feeding helps your baby set the pace.

If you combination feed

The NHS introduction to mixed feeding recommends breastfeeding only for the first 6 to 8 weeks if you can, so many families start bottles during this stage. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's mixed feeding guide says the more formula your baby takes, the less milk your breasts will make. It suggests offering the breast before formula, keeping the replaced feed and amount consistent, and offering extra breastfeeds if your baby seems hungry. A combination-fed baby needs less formula than the tables above. See combination feeding.

How do I know my baby is getting enough?

The same checks as the newborn weeks still work best:

• Wet diapers: at least 6 heavy wet diapers a day, according to the NHS, or at least 5 heavy disposables or 6 very wet cloth diapers, according to the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Pee should be clear or pale.
• Poop: the Australian Breastfeeding Association says breastfed babies under 6 to 8 weeks usually have three or more runny poops a day. After that, some poop only once every 7 to 10 days, which is fine if the poop is soft and there's a good amount.
• Weight: the Australian Breastfeeding Association's weight gains page says breastfed babies usually gain a bit faster than formula-fed babies in the first 3 months, grow more slowly after 3 to 4 months, and often double their birth weight by 4 months. It says a monthly average is more useful than week-to-week changes.

Some changes at this age worry parents but are normal. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's page on low supply says breasts often feel softer and less full after a few weeks, feeds may get shorter as babies get better at breastfeeding, and the amount you can express isn't the same as what your baby gets. If diapers and growth are on track, these aren't signs of low supply. See is my baby getting enough milk?.

Why is my baby hungrier or fussier on some days?

Hungry days. Many parents notice a day or two of feeding much more often. The Maryland Department of Health's WIC programme, a US public health service, describes growth spurts around 6 weeks and 3 months, lasting 1 to 2 days for most babies. But a 2024 review by Davanzo and Baldassarre found no evidence that growth speeds up at fixed ages, and suggests hungry days reflect how breastfeeding normally works: babies feed more, and supply rises to match. Either way, feed responsively. If you're formula feeding, offer a little more when your baby still shows hunger, within the AAP's daily guide. See growth spurts.

Fussy evenings. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's cluster feeding guide says feeds often bunch together in the evening or early morning in the first few months, and that it's not usually a sign of low supply. The NHS colic page says colic usually starts when a baby is a few weeks old and stops by about 3 to 4 months. It describes crying for more than 3 hours a day, on 3 days a week, for at least a week, often in the afternoon and evening. It suggests holding your baby upright during feeds, winding them after feeds and keeping feeding as usual. See cluster feeding and colic and the period of purple crying.

Will my baby start sleeping longer at night?

Some do. The CDC says some breastfed babies have one longer sleep of 4 to 5 hours, and the Australian Breastfeeding Association says many babies seem to fill up with evening clusters before a longer sleep. The AAP 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).

Plenty of babies still wake to feed, and that's normal. Unicef UK's guide to caring for your baby at night says it is both normal and essential for babies to feed at night, because they grow quickly in the early months and have very small stomachs. If your baby was premature or isn't gaining weight well, check with your doctor or pediatrician before letting them sleep through feeds. See dropping night feeds.

Whatever the night looks like, every sleep is safe sleep. NICHD Safe to Sleep advises placing your baby on their back for every sleep, on a firm, flat, level surface in their own crib or bassinet in your room for at least the first 6 months, day and night, with nothing soft or loose, no inclined or weighted sleep products, and a smoke-free home. If you fall asleep feeding in bed, it says to move your baby back to their own sleep space as soon as you wake. See safe sleep.

What does a feeding day look like at 1 to 3 months?

These are made-up examples built from the ranges above. Your baby's day will look different, and it will change from week to week.

6 weeks, breastfed — Example day — adjust to your baby

10 weeks, formula-fed — Example day — adjust to your baby

That formula-fed day has 7 bottles. For a 5 kg baby, the per-weight figures above would mean bottles of very roughly 105–120 mL, with some bigger and some smaller.

Common questions at 1 to 3 months

What if my breastfed baby won't take a bottle?

It's common, and it usually takes practice rather than force. The CDC's bottle feeding guide suggests offering a bottle when your baby is calm and not too hungry or full, and says a breastfed baby may take a bottle more readily from someone other than you. The NHS suggests a slow-flow nipple and says it may take a while for your baby to get used to it. Never force the nipple. Bottle refusal has more to try.

How do I plan expressing and going back to work?

The Australian Breastfeeding Association's guide to work options lists breastfeeding when you're with your baby and expressing at work, or having your baby brought to you or visiting them during breaks. Its expressing basics page says many moms find expressing every 2 to 3 hours during the day works well, that most sessions last about 15 to 20 minutes, and that you can work out how much to express from the number of feeds you'll miss. As a rough guide, the Australian Breastfeeding Association says babies aged 1 to 6 months take 600 to 1000 mL of breast milk in 24 hours.

The NHS guide to expressing says once your baby has started drinking from a bottle of breast milk, use it within 1 hour and throw away what's left. Storage rules differ between countries; see milk storage, pumping basics and returning to work.

Does my baby need vitamin D drops?

It depends on how your baby is fed and where you live. Breast milk contains only a small amount of vitamin D, and formula has it added.

The sources are the NHS guide to vitamins for children, the AAP's supplement recommendations, the CDC's vitamin D page, Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital fact sheet in Australia, and the King Edward Memorial Hospital handout from Western Australia. The Royal Children's Hospital lists risk factors such as darker skin, little time in the sun, a mother with low vitamin D and being born early. Products vary a lot in strength, so ask your pharmacist or doctor which one to use and how much, and give it straight into your baby's mouth rather than in a bottle, as the Western Australian handout advises. See vitamin D for babies.

Does my baby need water?

No. The NHS guide to drinks and cups says breast milk is the only food or drink babies need in the first 6 months, and that fully breastfed babies don't need water before solids. Advice for formula-fed babies in hot weather differs between countries; see water for babies.

What changes next?

La Leche League GB says that around 4 months many babies become more efficient feeders, so a feed that once took about half an hour may be much shorter, and more distractible during daytime feeds. It adds that a baby who had been sleeping longer stretches may start waking more often at this age. Milk stays your baby's only food until around 6 months, and the NHS says breast milk is the only food or drink babies need in the first 6 months. The next guide, feeding a 4- to 6-month-old, covers distraction, night feeds and getting ready for solids.

When to get help

Call 911 now (or go straight to the nearest emergency room) if your baby:

• has had no wet diaper or pee for 12 hours
• is floppy, much sleepier than usual, hard to wake or can't be woken, or is too sleepy to feed
• is struggling to breathe, breathing very fast or grunting, or has blue, gray, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
• is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher, or is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39°C (102.2°F) or higher
• has a weak, high-pitched or continuous cry, or a cry that doesn't sound like their normal cry
• has a seizure, or a bulging or sunken soft spot on their head, or sunken eyes
• has green or yellow vomit, or vomit that is red, black or brown.

These come from the NHS guide to urgent help for babies and the NHS colic page. The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network in Australia says green or yellow vomit can mean a twisted or blocked bowel and needs an ambulance or emergency room, and the NHS diarrhea and vomiting page also treats it as an emergency.

Get medical help today (a same-day doctor, after-hours doctor or your pediatrician's after-hours nurse line; go to an emergency room if you can't be seen) if your baby:

• has fewer wet diapers than usual, or dark, strong-smelling pee
• is refusing feeds or feeding much less than usual, but is alert
• keeps vomiting feeds, or seems unwell
• still looks yellow, or has dark yellow pee or pale, creamy poop.

The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne in Australia says any baby under 6 months with signs of dehydration should see a doctor, and that severe signs such as lethargy, sunken eyes or cold, mottled hands need an ambulance or emergency room. The NHS dehydration page lists a sunken soft spot as a reason for an urgent doctor appointment rather than an emergency call; we use the stricter tier. The NHS jaundice page says jaundice usually takes around 2 weeks to go, and that jaundice that isn't getting better needs urgent advice; see newborn jaundice.

Talk to your doctor or pediatrician soon (or call La Leche League or a lactation consultant (IBCLC) for breastfeeding help) if your baby isn't gaining weight as expected, regularly wants much more or much less than the averages above, crying is wearing you down, feeding hurts, or you'd like help planning bottles or going back to work.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call 988 (call or text) or 911 now.

What's useful to note

A few days of feed times, bottle amounts (made up and left over) or breastfeeds, and wet and dirty diapers shows your baby's real pattern. Noting when fussy spells start and end helps you spot an evening cluster, and gives your doctor or pediatrician something concrete if crying is a worry.