Important Notes:

• “Feeding Frequency” is timed from the beginning of one feeding to the beginning of the next feeding. Newborns take longer to feed than older babies so it will make a bigger difference to newborn babies.
• Babies are very good at self-moderation and will usually tell you if/when they need more.
• Do not withhold feedings from the baby for fear of them “overeating.” Yes, they might spit-up but they don’t overeat in the same sense of adults over-indulging. Babies will start to learn how much they should eat in one sitting with practice and experience.
• Your baby is unique and, by definition, some babies will fall above or below averages. Your baby’s weight gain and staying on their growth curve are the best indicators that your baby is eating enough.
• This is not meant to be medical advice and you should always consult your baby’s pediatrician should you have questions or concerns about your unique baby.
• You might want to bookmark this page so you can come back to it month-after-month

How Much Should Newborns Eat?

Newborns eat, poop, and sleep almost around the clock in the early days. Newborn babies should eat on demand every 1-2 hours at least until they regain their birth weight. However, during growth spurts, they often eat more frequently. Here are the average amounts for newborns:

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Not sure about your newborn’s schedule? Use our Newborn Sleep Schedules by Week

How Much Should a 1 Month Old Eat?

1 month olds should eat on-demand every 2-3 hours around the clock, usually. However, babies with reflux often eat smaller, more frequent meals so if your 1 month old is spitting up quite a bit, you might need to offer smaller feedings.

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Is your baby fussy and eating every hour in the evening? Check out our blog post about Cluster Feeding.

Did your 6 week old’s sleep get worse? Check out 6 Week Sleep Regression or Growth Spurt?

How Much Should a 2 Month Old Eat?

2 month olds often eat every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Some babies this age, however, graduate to eating every 4 hours. Parents who try to follow 12 Hours By 12 Weeks encourage this. It is said that babies who eat every 4 hours during the day will often sleep through the night earlier. Keep in mind, though, that we find this works more often for formula-fed babies. Most breastfed babies, in our experience, tend to eat every 3 hours, and sleeping through the night (for 11-12 hours, I mean) too early can negatively impact a mom’s milk supply.

Average Total Per Day: 5-8 breastfeeding sessions, 20-25 ounces of breastmilk, or 20-30 oz of formula.

Please Note: If your baby is eating every 4 hours, it’s very likely their feedings will be larger. Breastfeeding babies eat 2-3 times at night while formula-fed babies eat 1-2 times at night, on average, at this age.

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2-Month Old Baby Sleep Guide

2 Month Old Sleep Schedule

How Much Should a 3 Month Old Eat?

3 month old babies should eat every 3-4 hours though there are a few babies, especially those with reflux, who still eat every 2 to 2 1/2 hours during the day. Keep in mind the more total ounces they consume during the day, the less they need at night. There are some babies who do best eating more frequently during the day so they can sleep in longer stretches at night.

Average Total Per Day: 5-8 breastfeeding sessions, 20-30 ounces of breastmilk, or 20-30 oz of formula.

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3 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

How Much Should a 4 Month Old Eat?

4 month old babies should eat every 3-4 hours but, again, some babies still eat every 2 to 2 1/2 hours if they take smaller feedings. This is not abnormal though it’s not as common in my 10+ years of experience as a sleep consultant. Of course, my son was one who still ate every 2 to 2 1/2 hours at this age. He did not take big feedings and that was just his preference. Here is how much your 4 month old should be eating:

Average Total Per Day: 5-8 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 20-32 oz of formula.

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4 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

Did your baby suddenly start waking very frequently at night or taking short naps? Be sure to read 4 Month Sleep Regression: 20 Tips.

How Much Should a 5 Month Old Eat?

A 5 month old should eat every 3-4 hours during the day, including 1-2 times at night. Again, breastfeeding babies tend to feed more frequently and bottles tend to be smaller since breast milk is more concentrated than formula.

Average Total Per Day: 5-8 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

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5 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

Thinking about starting solid foods soon? Be sure to read about when to start solids and how to introduce solid food.

How Much Should a 6 Month Old Eat?

6 month old babies drink milk every 3-4 hours and typically eat one solid meal a day if you’ve started solids. It’s important to note that starting solid food should NOT decrease milk intake during the day. If it does, you are likely offering too much solid food. Babies are good at moderating not to eat too much but solid food can leave them full too long to fit in all their milk feedings. The problem is fruits and vegetables aren’t high enough in calories and/or fat.

Average Total Per Day: 5-6 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

* Please Note: Some formula-fed babies (especially those with reflux) still eat at night at this age but the majority of formula-fed babies can be night-weaned. If you are breastfeeding and considering supplementing with formula to help your baby sleep better, be cautious, and read our article Will Supplementing or Switching to Formula Help Your Breastfeeding Baby Sleep?.

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6 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

Not sure if your baby should be eating at night or how much? Use this Night Feedings by Age guide.

How Much Should a 7 Month Old Eat?

Your 7 month old is likely drinking milk every 3-4 hours during the day and eating one solid meal a day. Similar to 6 month olds, it’s important to note not to overdo it with solid food or your baby might start waking up at night again for a milk feeding they might have missed during the day.

Average Total Per Day: 5-7 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

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7 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

Considering meat and dairy? This is a common age. Check out our Types of Solid Food by Age Chart.

How Much Should an 8 Month Old Eat?

8 month olds are on the move and start becoming mobile! This can make it much harder for them to stop long enough to feed well throughout the day. We sometimes see a nighttime feeding creep back for that reason. Be cautious about allowing too much night feedings. Take the baby into a less interesting room or find a way to occupy them while they are feeding to encourage full feedings during the day as much as possible. 8 month olds should still be drinking milk every 3-4 hours and eat 2 solid meals a day.

Average Total Per Day: 5-6 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

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8 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

Is your baby waking frequently at night yet again? Be sure you’re ready for the 8 Month Sleep Regression!

How Much Should a 9 Month Old Eat?

Just like 8 month olds, 9 month old babies are often moving around a lot and some don’t tolerate being in their highchair multiple times a day. These are common frustrations for parents. Your baby should be getting milk every 3-4 hours plus 2-3 solid meals. Not every baby this age will eat solids three times a day. Again, it’s easy to overdo it with solid food and then find your baby is waking at night for a milk feeding they missed during the day. Fruits and veggies are very good for us but until your baby is eating more protein, too much solid food can make sleep worse at night.

Average Total Per Day: 3-5 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

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9 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

Is your baby still not sleeping through the night? Be sure to download our free e-Book, 5 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep Through the Night!

How Much Should a 10 Month Old Eat?

10 month olds tend to start getting much more regular at sleeping through the night if they haven’t already. At this age, they are getting past their last sleep regression and eating a good number of calories during the day. 10 month olds drink milk 3-4 times a day and eat 3 solid meals. Some babies this age are also getting one snack, too.

Average Total Per Day: 3-4 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

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10 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

How Much Should a 11 Month Old Eat?

Your 11 month old should still drink milk 3-4 times a day, eat 3 solid meals a day, plus 1-3 snacks depending on their appetite and the size of their meals. Just like adults, some children like fewer, larger meals while others eat more frequent, smaller meals. To encourage sleeping through the night, we want to follow a schedule that will maximize caloric intake. If your baby’s stomach only holds so much food, making them wait longer between meals doesn’t work as well since they won’t eat more in total during the day. We want to balance the time between meals with when they will eat the most.

Average Total Per Day: 3-4 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

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11 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

How Much Should a 12 Month Old Eat?

A 12 month old will begin to eat more solid food and after 12 months old, we start to see milk become a beverage with a meal rather than a separate event. Of course, you don’t have to rush this if your toddler isn’t very interested in solid food. However, keep in mind that some children aren’t as interested in solid food until milk isn’t their primary source of nutrition. Some parents begin to re-balance the amount of solid food versus milk around this age. At 12 months old, toddlers will drink milk 3-4 times a day, eat 3 solid meals, and 1-3 snacks. In my experience, the amount of snacking varies based on whether your toddler eats a large meal or splits their intake among smaller meals.

Average Total Per Day: 3-4 breastfeeding sessions, 20-35 ounces of breastmilk, or 24-32 oz of formula.

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12 Month Old Sleep and Feeding Schedule

Thinking about whether to transition to one nap? Not so fast! Be sure to read Why Not All 12 Month Olds Transition to One Nap.

This post was meant to guide you so you can feel more confident in how much your baby is eating. If you have any questions, we’re happy to help! Contact us at any time!

How Old Is Your Baby and How Much Is Your Baby Eating?

The post How Much Should Your Baby Eat By Month – A Guide by The Baby Sleep Site^® appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Your baby is finally ready to start trying more solid food by the time they are 10 to 12 months old. By 10-12 months, it is time to introduce new textures and flavors to your baby. Let your baby use their new teeth with easy to eat food.

In general, your 10-12 month-old baby can eat any type of cereal and grains, berries, citrus, corn, cucumber, spinach, tomatoes, whole eggs, any fish, whole milk, and soft cheeses. With all these types of food, now is the time to make new solid foods instead of pureed foods.

We’ve done the research and found a few easy to make and new recipes that your baby will love.

Tropical Fruit Salad

Ingredients

• 2-3 tablespoons of plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon of shredded unsweetened coconut
• ¼ cup of finely chopped kiwi
• ¼ cup of finely chopped mango
• ¼ cup of finely chopped banana

How To

1. In a bowl, stir together the yogurt and coconut.
2. Add fruit and stir gently to combine.
3. Refrigerate in an airtight container for 1-day.
4. Eat!

This tropical fruit salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of shredded carrots
• 2 tablespoons of frozen petite peas
• 2 tablespoons of water
• ½ cup of cooked brown rice
• 1 large egg, beaten

How To

1. In a small frying pan, warm olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add carrots into the pan and cook for about 3 minutes or until carrots are tender.
3. Add peas and water.
4. Cover and cook for 3 minutes or until peas are tender.
5. Stir in rice and cook until warm.
6. Add egg and stir constantly until the egg is fully cooked.
7. Cool and serve.

You can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Quinoa, Black Beans, & Corn

Ingredients

• ¼ cup of rinsed quinoa
• ½ cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• ½ cup of canned low-sodium black beans, drained
• ¼ cup of fresh or frozen corn kernels

How To

1. In a small saucepan, combine quinoa and water.
2. Bring it to boil over high heat.
3. Once boiling, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until quinoa is soft and the liquid is absorbed.
4. Let it stand, covered for another 10 minutes.
5. While quinoa cooks, warm up olive oil in a small frying pan over medium heat.
6. Add beans and coon and cook (stirring and mashing slightly).
7. Add mixture to quinoa and stir.
8. Cool and serve.

It can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Sweet Spinach

Ingredients

• 1 medium/large ripe banana, peeled and broken in half
• 2-3 cups of organic baby spinach

How To

1. Pour water into a pot until it’s 1 inch deep, and on high heat, bring to a boil.
2. Place spinach into a steamer basket and put the basket in the pot. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the steamer basket.
3. Cover with a lid.
4. Steam spinach for 5-7 minutes or until spinach is wilted.
5. Place banana and spinach into a food processor and pulse until desired consistency.
6. Serve.

It can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.

Yogurt Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups of self-rising flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/3 cups of whole milk
• 1 1/3 cups of vanilla yogurt
• 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1 cup of blueberries
• 2-4 tablespoons of vegetable oil

How To

1. Mix ingredients except vegetable oil in a large mixing bowl. The mixture will be lumpy.
2. Coat a large skillet with vegetable oil and heat over medium heat.
3. Once the skillet is hot, reduce to medium-low and add ¼ cup dollops of pancake batter.
4. Let the batter cook for 2 minutes and then flip and cook the other side for another 2 minutes.
5. Once each side is golden brown, remove from skillet.
6. Repeat process with the rest of the batter. And, add more vegetable oil to skillet as needed.
7. Serve with cut blueberries.

The pancakes can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for 1 month and reheat with a toaster.

Fruity Tofu Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 mango, chopped
• 1 banana, chopped
• 1/3 container of silken tofu

How To

1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
2. Blend.
3. Increase the amount of tofu for a thicker consistency (great for scooping as a desert).
4. Serve.

Salmon, Asparagus, & Peas

Ingredients

• 1 small wild salmon fillet, pin bones removed
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 4 spears asparagus, trimmed and finely chopped
• ¼ cup frozen petite peas
• 1 slice lemon, for squeezing (optional)

How To

1. Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel.
2. Warm the oil in a small skillet over medium high heat.
3. Add the salmon into the skillet with the skin side down and reduce heat to medium low.
4. Cook while gently pressing on the fish until the skin is crisp for about 6 minutes.
5. Turn the salmon over and cook it until it is opaque.
6. Transfer the salmon to a paper towel and remove the skin.
7. Let the salmon cool.
8. While the salmon is cooking, bring a small saucepan half full of water to a boil.
9. Add peas and asparagus and cook for 4 minutes or until tender.
10. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
11. Flake salmon into small pieces, so they are small enough for your baby.
12. Place on plate and sprinkle lemon juice.
13. Serve.

Place the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate up to one day.

Raspberry Pear Oatmeal

Ingredients

• ¼ cup of old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 ripe pear
• Handful of washed raspberries

How To

1. In a small saucepan, bring ¾ cup of water to boil over high heat and add oats.
2. Lower the heat to medium and let the oats cool for 5 minutes, stirring frequently until all the water is absorbed.
3. While the oatmeal is cooking, place the pear and raspberries into blender and blend until smooth.
4. Combine cooked oats and the pear and raspberry blend in a bowl.
5. Serve.

Pasta with Spinach & Ricotta

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of small-shaped whole-wheat pasta, such as mini shells or macaroni
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1 cup of baby spinach
• 1/3 cup of whole-milk ricotta
• 1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest

How To

1. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to boil.
2. Add the pasta and cook according to the package’s directions.
3. Drain and reserve some of the cooking water.
4. In a small frying pan, warm olive oil over medium heat.
5. Add the spinach and cook for two minutes or until the spinach is wilted and tender.
6. Transfer to a chopping board and chop finely.
7. Place spinach, ricotta, and lemon zest and stir.
8. Add the pasta and stir to combine.
9. If the mixture is too thick, add a little bit of the cooking water.
10. Cool and serve.

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate up to 3 days.

Chicken Curry with Green Beans & Zucchini

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup of finely chopped green beans
• 1/2 small zucchini, finely diced
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1 green onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger
• 1 cup of unsweetened canned coconut milk (well shaken)
• 1/2 cup of cooked, shredded, and finely chopped chicken
• 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh basil leaves
• 2 teaspoons of fresh lime juice, or to taste

How To

1. Place the zucchini and green beans in a pan with a fitted steamer basket.
2. Pour in 1 inch of water into the pan.
3. Over medium-high heat, cover and bring to boil.
4. Steam the vegetables for 5 minutes or until tender.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and remove the steamer basket.
6. Rinse the vegetables under cold water.
7. Set aside.
8. In a saucepan, warm up the oil over medium-low heat.
9. Add onion, garlic, and ginger and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until vegetables are tender.
10. Add the coconut milk and simmer.
11. Cook for about 5 minutes to let the flavors blend.
12. Add the chicken and vegetables.
13. Simmer uncovered until sauce thickens.
14. Stir in basil and lime juice.
15. Remove from heat and cool.
16. Serve.

With the leftovers, you can store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

These are just 10 recipes that you can try out for your little one. For more great suggestions, check out these 8 reviewed baby foods. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different healthy ways of preparing your baby’s food. If you have any questions and concerns, contact your child’s pediatrician. And, if you notice your child has a rash or reaction to any food, contact their pediatrician or go to the hospital right away. Check out more food, nursery, toys, and more for baby here.

Bio: Clara Doyle is a writer, She is motivated by exploring the varying mechanisms of writing to explain trending fashion, beauty, and child products, lifestyles, travel, and more to people of all ages.

The post 10 Homemade baby food recipes for 10 to 12 months appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

As newborns, babies seem to eat, sleep, and poop all day – every day. But, as your baby gets older, you may be wondering how much your baby should be eating, how often, and how many ounces by age. Keep in mind that milk should be your baby’s primary form of nutrition for the first year. Even after you’ve begun to offer solid foods, your baby’s milk intake should not decrease much, if at all. Also, babies are very good at self-moderation, so it is usually unnecessary to limit your baby’s milk intake for fear of him or her becoming overweight. Your baby’s growth and development depend on a large consumption of fat and calories.

These baby feeding charts for breastfeeding babies, formula-fed babies, and solids will help guide you to know if your baby is eating enough and how to help your baby sleep through the night sooner rather than later. You may want to bookmark this page for future reference or pin it on Pinterest.

Breastmilk Feedings and Amounts by Age

All breastfed babies need between 20-35 ounces of breast milk per day, on average. In younger newborns and up to 2-3 months old, your baby should breastfeed on-demand, which usually means every 2-3 hours.

If you are pumping, breastmilk bottles vary in size from 3 to 6 ounces, usually, with 4 ounces being the average size once a baby is at least 3-4 months old. Keep in mind that some babies simply have larger appetites than others. The most important aspect is that your baby’s weight gain stays on his or her growth curve. Do not withhold milk from your baby in fear he or she will become overweight. Babies are very good at self-moderation and should be fed when hungry.

Keep in mind that the number of times your baby breastfeeds in a 24-hour period will depend on the combination of:
a) how much milk your baby can hold in their stomach (i.e. stomach capacity).
b) how much milk you can store in your breasts (which has nothing to do with breast size).
c) your baby’s personality as well as if they have any digestion issues such as reflux.

We find babies who have reflux tend to eat more frequent, smaller meals. Also, some baby’s personalities are to overfill themselves while others eat until content and stop. My two boys were different than one another. While my first son would only ever eat 4-ounce bottles when we weren’t breastfeeding, his brother would take up to 5 to 5 1/2 ounce bottles at times. They were just different and even as my first son got older, he would simply NOT overeat or overfill his stomach and is still this way to this day.

Here is a handy baby feeding chart with breastmilk amounts by age, though keep in mind that many breastfeeding mothers feed their babies on-demand throughout their breastfeeding journey. This is just a rough guide to consider, especially if you feel like you are having to feed your baby excessively given his or her age.

If you ever have any concerns about your baby and your baby’s feeding habits, please be sure to seek out a healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.

* If your baby goes longer than 4 hours without eating, be sure to wake him or her to feed them.

** Many newborns cluster feed in the evenings, which means they may nurse every hour for several hours or practically remain on the breast for several hours. Some say they are “tanking up” for the night.

You may also be interested in:

• Baby Night Feedings By Age Chart
• Baby Sleep and Breastfeeding Series
• Breastfeeding and Sleep Training – Can They Go Together?

Formula Feeding Amounts by Age

Formula fed infants typically need 2 1/2 ounces or 74 ml of formula for each pound of weight, on average. Some babies have larger appetites than others, though. I have worked with a lot of families, personally, and some babies take small bottles and consume around 24 oz a day total while others consume over 30 oz. The most important thing to remember is that your baby should stay on his or her own growth curve.

In the newborn days, it’s important to feed your baby on-demand whenever he or she shows signs of hunger. As your baby grows older, you can consider putting your baby on a schedule.

While some parents and babies thrive on schedules, some people prefer to allow the daily routine to be flexible. Keep in mind that the more your baby eats during the day, the sooner your baby will sleep through the night.

Here is a formula-feeding chart to tell you the average frequency and bottle sizes of formula by age, but keep in mind that some babies eat a variable amount at different times of the day. You should use this chart simply as a guide while also adapting your daily routine to fit your unique baby.

If you ever have any concerns about your baby and your baby’s feeding habits, please be sure to seek out a healthcare provider and/or lactation consultant.

* If your baby goes longer than 4 hours without eating, be sure to wake him or her to feed them.

** Not all babies get to 4 hours between milk feedings by this age or ever. Some babies will always eat every 3 hours until 9-10+ months old.

*** Some formula-fed babies still eat at night even past 6 months old, especially if they have reflux.

You may also be interested in:

• Baby Night Feedings By Age Chart
• Baby Feeding Schedule: Rigid, Flexible, or On-Demand?
• How to Put Your Baby on a Schedule

Solid Foods by Age

As you start solids, your baby’s milk intake should not decrease much, if at all, until 10+ months old when he or she is eating 3 solid meals per day plus one snack. For the first year, solid food is a lot about practice and introducing a variety of flavors and textures. Keep in mind that until your baby is consuming significant amounts of solid food, starting solids won’t necessarily help your baby sleep. In fact, so many sleep problems have nothing to do with hunger that starting solids doesn’t change sleep whatsoever.

Here is a baby feeding chart for solid foods. Keep in mind that if you are practicing baby led weaning, whether by choice or because your baby doesn’t like pureed foods, your baby will likely consume a lot less solid food than other babies his or her age. That is just fine as milk should still be your baby’s primary source of nutrition.

* 1 serving of “other grains” = 1/2 slice of bread, 2 crackers, 1/2 cup Cheerios, or 1/2 cup whole wheat pasta

You might also be interested in:

• When to Start Solids
• How to Feed Your Baby Solids
• Your Baby’s Start On Solid Foods: A Comprehensive Guide

Share your experience with feeding your baby!

The post Baby Feeding Chart – How Many Ounces By Age appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.