Formula Feeding Schedule by Age
The numbers below are the CDC's and the American Academy of Pediatrics' averages [3] [5]. Babies vary; the guiding rule from both is responsive feeding — offer when your baby shows hunger cues, stop when they show they are full [3].
Amounts and frequency at a glance
Two ceilings from the AAP: about 2½ oz of formula per pound of body weight per day, and no more than an average of about 32 oz (960 ml) in 24 hours [5]. A baby regularly wanting more than that should be seen by a paediatrician.
Newborn (0–4 weeks)
Little and often. Expect feeds every two to three hours round the clock, 8–12 in a day [3]. Do not add cereal or anything else to the bottle.
1–3 months
Feeds stretch to roughly every three to four hours and amounts rise to 3–4 oz and beyond [5]. Many babies drop to six or seven feeds and start one longer night stretch.
3–6 months
Five or six feeds of 5–6 oz [5]. Growth spurts bring a few days of wanting more; follow the cues rather than the table.
6–12 months
Solids start at about six months, per both AAP and WHO [1] [2], and formula stays the main source of nutrition until around one year. Milk feeds drop to about four to six a day of 6–8 oz [3] [5]; give milk before solids in the early weeks of weaning so intake does not fall too fast.
Preparation and storage rules that apply to every feed
- •Make powdered formula exactly as the tin says. The CDC advises boiling water and waiting about five minutes before mixing; water at around 70 °C (158 °F) is needed to kill *Cronobacter*, which matters most for babies under two months, premature, or immunocompromised .
- •Use prepared formula within two hours of preparation and within one hour of starting a feed .
- •Bottles not used within two hours go in the fridge immediately and are used within 24 hours .
- •Throw away whatever is left after a feed — saliva in the bottle lets bacteria grow .
- •Never dilute formula to stretch it or concentrate it to "add calories" without medical advice.
For combination-fed babies, use these formula amounts for the formula feeds and let breastfeeds run on demand — see combination feeding schedules.
Frequently asked questions
How much formula should a newborn have?
The CDC suggests starting with 1–2 oz (30–60 ml) every 2–3 hours in the first days, and most formula-fed newborns feed 8–12 times in 24 hours. Babies generally take what they need and stop when full.
How often should a formula-fed baby feed?
Every 2–3 hours in the first days, then roughly every 3–4 hours in the following weeks and months, according to the CDC. By 6–12 months most babies need formula or solids about 5–6 times in 24 hours.
What is the maximum amount of formula per day?
The AAP's guidance is that a baby should usually drink no more than an average of about 32 oz (960 ml) of formula in 24 hours, and that a useful average is about 2½ oz per pound of body weight per day.
How long can a bottle of formula sit out?
Per the CDC, use prepared formula within 2 hours of preparation and within 1 hour of starting a feed; refrigerate unused bottles immediately and use within 24 hours; throw away anything left after a feed.
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