Feeding your baby the right amount at the right times is one of the most important aspects of early parenthood. As your baby grows, their feeding needs change significantly. This guide covers what to expect from birth through the first year.
Newborn (0 to 1 Month)
Breastfeeding
- Frequency: 8 to 12 times per day (every 2 to 3 hours)
- Duration: 10 to 20 minutes per breast
- Signs of enough: 6+ wet diapers per day, steady weight gain, content between feedings
Formula Feeding
- Frequency: 6 to 8 times per day (every 3 to 4 hours)
- Amount: 2 to 3 ounces (60 to 90 ml) per feeding
- Daily total: 16 to 24 ounces (480 to 720 ml)
1 to 3 Months
Breastfeeding
- Frequency: 7 to 9 times per day
- Feedings become more efficient: Your baby gets better at extracting milk, so sessions may shorten
Formula Feeding
- Frequency: 6 to 8 times per day
- Amount: 4 to 5 ounces (120 to 150 ml) per feeding
- Daily total: 24 to 32 ounces (720 to 960 ml)
3 to 6 Months
Breastfeeding
- Frequency: 5 to 7 times per day
- Longer gaps between feedings: Some babies begin sleeping longer stretches at night, naturally reducing night feeds
Formula Feeding
- Frequency: 5 to 6 times per day
- Amount: 5 to 7 ounces (150 to 210 ml) per feeding
- Daily total: 24 to 32 ounces (720 to 960 ml)
6 to 9 Months (Introducing Solids)
Around 6 months, most babies are ready to start solid foods. Milk (breast or formula) remains the primary nutrition source. See our starting solids guide for a week-by-week plan.
Milk
- Breastfeeding: 4 to 6 sessions per day
- Formula: 24 to 32 ounces (720 to 960 ml) per day
Solid Foods
- Start with: 1 to 2 tablespoons of single-ingredient purees, 1 to 2 times per day
- Build to: 2 to 4 tablespoons per meal, 2 to 3 times per day by 8 to 9 months
- Best first foods: Iron-fortified cereal, pureed sweet potato, avocado, banana, peas
9 to 12 Months
By this age, solid foods play a bigger role in nutrition, though milk is still important.
Milk
- Breastfeeding: 3 to 5 sessions per day
- Formula: 20 to 28 ounces (600 to 840 ml) per day
Solid Foods
- 3 meals per day plus 1 to 2 snacks
- Variety: Introduce a wide range of flavors and textures including soft finger foods
- Water: Offer small amounts of water in a cup with meals (2 to 4 ounces per day)
Hunger and Fullness Cues
Hunger Cues
- Rooting (turning head toward breast or bottle)
- Sucking on hands or fingers
- Opening mouth when food is near
- Reaching for food or the spoon
- Fussiness or crying (a late hunger cue)
Fullness Cues
- Turning head away from breast or bottle
- Closing mouth when offered food
- Pushing food away
- Slowing down or stopping sucking
- Becoming distracted or losing interest
Track Feeding with BabyInsight
Keeping track of feeding times, amounts, and types can feel overwhelming, especially in those early, sleep-deprived weeks. BabyInsight's feeding tracker lets you log each feeding with a tap, including a built-in timer for breastfeeding sessions.
The calorie tracking feature, powered by a 100+ food database, shows you daily nutrition totals and compares them against age-and-weight-based goals. You will always know if your baby is getting enough nutrition, without the guesswork. Once solids begin, you may also want to learn about how solids change baby poop.
