How much milk does my baby need?

A formula-fed baby needs roughly 166 ml per kilogram of body weight per day — the AAP's figure of about 75 ml for every 453 g — spread over however many feeds they ask for. That climbs with weight up to an average of about 960 ml in 24 hours, and then stops climbing. It is a guide for a whole day, not a target for any one feed.

Source: AAP · Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings

How much per day, by weight?

• 3 kg — about 497 ml a day
• 4 kg — about 662 ml a day
• 5 kg — about 828 ml a day
• 6 kg — about 960 ml a day (the ceiling: more weight does not mean more milk)
• 7 kg — about 960 ml a day (the ceiling: more weight does not mean more milk)
• 8 kg — about 960 ml a day (the ceiling: more weight does not mean more milk)

Work it out from the most recent weight you have, and read it across the whole day rather than per feed — babies cluster some evenings and skip others, and the day is what counts.Source: AAP · Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings

Does this apply if I am breastfeeding?

No. There is no number to hit at the breast, and trying to measure one is a good way to become anxious about a baby who is doing fine. What tells you it is working is nappies, weight gain and a baby who settles after feeds — not millilitres.Source: NHS · Is my baby getting enough milk?

What if my baby takes less than this?

A day under the figure is ordinary. What matters more than any total is the pattern over a week, steady weight gain, and enough wet nappies. If those are right, the millilitres can be wrong. Feed to your baby's cues rather than to the clock or the bottle.Source: AAP · How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?

See also the signs that mean call a doctor.

This is general information, not a substitute for your own doctor, midwife or health visitor — they know your baby, and this page does not.