How Much Formula?

The general rule of thumb is 2.5oz per LB per day. So if you daughter is 10lbs that is 25oz per day divided between her feedings.

The chart I have at home is:

2-3 months

5-6 (feedings in 24hrs) 5-6 fl oz.

3-4 months

4-5 (Feedings in 24hrs) 6-7 flo oz.

My daughter just turned 4 months and she drinks 5 - 7oz bottles a day.

I'm glad you asked this too. It depends on how much your daughter weighs. I've read that the rule of thumb is 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight. My daugher rarely reaches that goal. She is 4 months old and has never been a big eater. She takes about 25 oz. per day, usually 4 to 5 oz. at a time. She is 11 lbs., 9 oz. so she should be eating 28 to 30 oz. per day. I try to get her to eat more because she has always been on the small side but she usually just doesn't want more. Just this week, we started adding a little cereal to the formula, but make sure you get the OK from her pediatrician before you do that.

She should be taking as much as she wants. She will let you know if she wants more. Conversely, you cannot overfeed a baby they will stop when they are full. Babies naturally self regulate unless there is a medical problem. "How to get your kid to eat...but not too much" by Ellyn Satter is a great book on the parenting/feeding relationship from birth on up.

I have a 4 month old (today actually) and he has been drinking 7 oz every 4 hours. I have this chart from one of the many things I have gotten in the mail from the Welcome Addition Club and it says for 3-4 months, babies average amount per day is 24-35 oz, 4-5 average # of feedings in 24 hours and 6-7 oz average amount per feeding. I would gradually start giving her more, obviously not at once don't jump to 7 oz.

I'm so glad that you asked this, I have a new daughter as well. She will be three months old on the 12th. She's eating 5-6oz per bottle and has just started cereal since I can't keep up with her feeding. She's only taking maybe a tablespoon once daily before her 7pm bottle. My daughter averages 30oz per day. She was early for her her delivery by 14 days, and weighed 6.5oz at birth. She is now a very healthy 11lbs. I don't want to over feed her, so I'm very curious as to what people will give as advice. Thanks again for posting this question, you beat me to it!!

I think it really depends. My son is 3.5 months and he takes anywhere between 6-8 ounces about every 4 hours. Sometimes he goes longer between feedings. He no longer wakes during the night and sleeps about 12 hours now.

He jumped pretty quickly up to 6 ounces when he was a newborn and then was steady there until last week. My daughter (who is almost 3 now) also did the same thing. If they are still rooting and fussy after a few ounces, try a little more. We can clearly tell when he's full--he just starts chewing on the nipple and moving it around his mouth rather than sucking.

Oh, if she seems frustrated, you might want to play around with different nipple sizes--the opening might be too small and she has to work too hard, or it is too big and the flow is too fast which can cause more gas and discomfort making her not want as much.

She should be taking more formula than that. But, remember all kids are different. She may just have a really small stomach. Ish she growing and developing fine? If so, I wouldn't worry too much about it. You can gradually increase the amount of formula you give her in each feeding. She's probably just grown accustomed to eating only a small amount at each feeding. I bet if you increase her available food, she'll start to eat more.

My son is almost 7 months now and at times he's fine after only 4 oz. It really depends on your baby. If she is fine and happy in between feedings and growing at a rate your doctor likes then she may just not need as much. Every baby is different. Check with your doctor.

Every baby is different. If she is growing normally and isn't crying for more then you're fine. My daughter was an enthusiastic eater early on and my son who is now 4 months is the same way. For him he needs 7 oz every 4 hours. I think we'll soon be at 8 oz :D

I have an 8 month old. My PED advised me that she should have been eating 28-32oz of formula per 24hrs period when she was that age. I agree that it probably depends on the infants weight. I also agree that she will let you know if she is still hungry. In my opinion, as long as she's thriving well, let her be the judge of how much she wants. Their tummy's are so tiny! If you overfeed her, she's just going to throw it all back up. If she's still hungry, she'll fuss & cry. Babies are so complex, aren't they?

Now it's been a few years (3 1/2) since my children were on formula, but if I remember correctly they used to drink a lot more than that. I would say by 3 months they were taking 6-8 oz of formula per feeding, which was ~4 hours apart. You could always make more formula in each bottle and see if she takes it, but as long as she is growing okay there may not be a problem.
We also put a tablespoon of cereal in the night bottle to thicken it a little to help fill them up a little.
Check with your doctor and see, but to me it seems that is not a lot of formula.