Baby Feeding Schedule by Age: 0 to 12 Months

Most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Formula-fed babies go from 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 mL) per feed in the first week to 6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 mL) at 4 or 5 feeds a day by 6 months. Solids start around 6 months, once a day at first, and build toward three meals by 12 months, with breast milk or formula still the main drink.

All of these are ranges from the AAP, CDC, WHO and NHS, not targets. They’re written for healthy babies born at term. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition or is slow to gain weight, your pediatrician may give you a different plan, and you should follow theirs.

Feeding schedule by age at a glance

Age	Feeds per 24 hours	Formula per feed (typical)	Solids
First days	8 to 12 (CDC)	Half an ounce (15 mL) at first, then 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 mL) (AAP, CDC)	None
Weeks 1 to 4	Breastfed: about 8 to 12, every 2 to 4 hours (CDC). Formula: every 2 to 3 hours at first, about every 3 to 4 hours by the end of the month (AAP)	Up to at least 3 to 4 oz (90 to 120 mL) by the end of the month (AAP)	None
1 to 3 months	Breastfed: still about 8 to 12 (CDC). Formula: about every 3 to 4 hours (CDC)	At least 3 to 4 oz (90 to 120 mL) from the end of the first month. About 2½ oz (75 mL) a day per pound of weight, usually no more than 32 oz (960 mL) a day (AAP)	None
4 to 6 months	Formula: 4 or 5 feeds by 6 months (AAP)	6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 mL) by 6 months (AAP)	Most babies wait until about 6 months. The AAP says some are ready around 4 months
6 to 9 months	Milk or solid food about 5 to 6 times (CDC)	Around 600 mL (about 20 oz) a day at 7 to 9 months, as a rough guide (NHS)	Small amounts once a day at first, moving toward 3 meals (NHS). WHO: 2 to 3 meals at 6 to 8 months
9 to 12 months	About 3 milk feeds plus meals (NHS)	Around 400 mL (about 13 oz) a day at 10 to 12 months, as a rough guide (NHS)	3 meals a day (NHS). WHO: 3 to 4 meals from 9 months, plus 1 to 2 snacks if needed

The sources split the year differently, so each number names the source it comes from.

Follow the cues, not the clock

Feed when your baby is hungry, stop when they’re full. The NHS formula page says to feed your baby when they show signs that they want it, and that the amount varies from baby to baby.

The CDC lists these hunger and fullness signs for babies up to 5 months:

Hungry: hands to the mouth, turning toward the breast or bottle, puckering, smacking or licking lips, clenched hands.
Full: closing the mouth, turning the head away, relaxed hands.

From 6 months, hungry babies reach for food and open their mouth for the spoon. Full babies push food away or turn their head.

Crying is a late hunger sign, and the AAP and NHS both suggest feeding before it gets there. The AAP adds that babies also suck for comfort, and that with a bottle it’s better to offer less, since you can always give more. A baby who gets fidgety or distracted halfway through a bottle is probably done.

Newborn: the first weeks

The CDC says a newborn may want to eat as often as every 1 to 3 hours, and that their belly is tiny, so each feed is small.

If you’re breastfeeding, the CDC puts it at about 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours. The AAP says breastfed newborns usually nurse about every 2 hours, and calls 10 to 12 sessions the norm. Some babies cluster feed, nursing as often as every hour for a while, and some then sleep 4 to 5 hours. The CDC describes both.

For formula, the CDC suggests 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 mL) every 2 to 3 hours in the first days. The AAP says some babies take only half an ounce (15 mL) for the first day or two, that first-week feeds should be no more than about 1 to 2 oz, and that 8 feeds in 24 hours is generally the minimum.

Giving pumped milk in a bottle? The AAP says most breastfed babies take about 1 oz (30 mL) in the first few weeks, an amount that rises slowly and tops out at roughly 4.5 oz (about 130 mL) by a year. Our guide on how to store breast milk has the fridge and freezer times.

Some newborns sleep through feeds. The AAP’s formula schedule page says to wake a baby who sleeps longer than 4 to 5 hours in the first few weeks. The CDC suggests patting, undressing or a diaper change to help. For what else to note in these weeks, see what to track in the newborn weeks.

1 to 3 months

Feeds spread out a little. The CDC says most formula-fed babies now eat about every 3 to 4 hours, while breastfed babies still average about 8 to 12 feeds a day.

By the end of the first month, the AAP says most bottle-fed babies take at least 3 to 4 oz (90 to 120 mL) per feed. After that it gives a rule of thumb instead of a fixed amount: about 2½ oz (75 mL) of formula a day for every pound (453 g) of body weight, and usually no more than about 32 oz (960 mL) in 24 hours.

4 to 6 months

Formula-fed babies take fewer, bigger feeds. The AAP says that by 6 months, babies may take 6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 mL) at each of 4 or 5 feeds. Breastfed babies keep feeding on demand.

Then comes the solids question. The CDC, WHO and NHS all say about 6 months, and the CDC says not before 4. The AAP recommends breast milk alone for about 6 months but says some babies may be ready around 4 months, once they’ve doubled their birth weight and weigh about 13 lb. ESPGHAN, the European pediatric nutrition society, says in its infant feeding fact sheet to start after 17 weeks and no later than 26 weeks.

Readiness signs (good head control while sitting, bringing food to the mouth, swallowing instead of pushing it out) are in our guide on when to start solid foods.

6 to 9 months: starting solids

Germans call this stage Beikost, the British call it weaning. Solids join milk feeds here, without replacing them yet.

How much to start with

The NHS says your baby only needs a small amount of solid food, once a day at first, at a time that suits you both. The AAP suggests half a spoonful or less, with breast milk or formula before and after. The NHS suggests vegetables that aren’t so sweet, like broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, as early foods. The CDC suggests one single-ingredient food at a time, 3 to 5 days apart.

Iron-rich foods

The WHO says that around 6 months, a baby’s need for energy and nutrients starts to exceed what breast milk provides. The AAP’s solid foods page says to include iron-rich foods such as meat and iron-fortified infant cereal. ESPGHAN names iron, zinc, vitamin D and iodine as the key nutrients at this stage. The NHS lists meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, pulses and tofu as sources of iron and zinc.

Texture

The CDC says very smooth foods are easiest at first, then thicker, lumpier ones. The NHS says to offer lumpy textures from around 6 to 7 months, and that some babies skip smooth purees altogether. At 7 to 9 months, the NHS suggests mashed, lumpier food and finger foods such as soft cooked vegetables and ripe fruit in finger-sized pieces. ESPGHAN says babies should be eating lumpy foods by 8 to 10 months.

Allergens

The AAP says there’s no evidence that waiting past 4 to 6 months to give soft foods like egg, dairy, peanut products or fish prevents food allergy. Its allergen page suggests well-cooked egg (scrambled or hard-boiled) and a little peanut butter thinned into cereal, fruit puree or yogurt, then keeping these foods in the diet routinely. Whole nuts are a choking risk. The NHS says to introduce allergenic foods one at a time, in very small amounts, so you can spot a reaction. ESPGHAN says allergenic foods and gluten should be treated like any other food once solids begin.

Babies with severe eczema, an egg allergy or both are different. The NIAID-sponsored guidelines say these babies should have peanut as early as 4 to 6 months, with testing strongly considered first. Babies with mild to moderate eczema can start peanut at home around 6 months. If your baby is in either group, talk to your pediatrician before the first taste.

Milk and meals together

The sources don’t agree on order:

The AAP suggests breast milk or formula before and after the first spoonfuls.
The CDC says breast milk stays the most important source of nutrition after solids start, and suggests offering the breast first if your baby seems less interested in nursing.
The NHS says to offer milk feeds after solids at 7 to 9 months, without pushing your baby to finish the bottle.
ESPGHAN encourages solids before milk as babies eat more between 6 and 12 months, because milk first can blunt their appetite for iron-rich food.

Read together, they describe a shift over these months: milk around the first tastes, then meals first as solids grow, with milk still offered on demand. The CDC says most babies from 6 to 12 months need formula or solid food about 5 to 6 times in 24 hours. The NHS puts formula at around 600 mL (about 20 oz) a day at 7 to 9 months, as a guide only. The NHS says your baby will gradually move toward 3 meals a day in these months. The WHO says 2 to 3 meals a day at 6 to 8 months.

For drinks, the NHS suggests sips of water with meals from an open or free-flow cup. The AAP says a little water is fine once solids start, up to 1 cup (8 oz, 240 mL) a day.

9 to 12 months

The NHS says your baby should now be used to 3 meals a day plus milk feeds, with lunch and tea each having a main and a pudding such as fruit or plain yogurt. Milk feeds often drop to about 3 a day, around 400 mL (about 13 oz) of formula. Breastfed babies adjust on their own.

Food gets chunkier, and babies pick up small pieces to feed themselves. ESPGHAN says babies should be mainly drinking from a cup or training cup by around 12 months, following their readiness cues.

On snacks, the WHO and NHS differ. The WHO recommends 3 to 4 meals a day from 9 months, with 1 to 2 extra snacks as required. The NHS says babies under 12 months don’t need snacks, and suggests an extra milk feed if your baby seems hungry between meals. Ask your pediatrician if you’re unsure which fits your baby.

What to wait on until 12 months

Our solids guide covers this in detail. The short version:

Honey. The CDC says honey before 12 months may cause botulism, a severe food poisoning.
Cow’s milk as a drink. The CDC says it may put babies at risk of intestinal bleeding before 12 months, and the NHS and ESPGHAN say it shouldn’t be the main drink before then. The NHS says it’s fine in cooking or mixed into food from about 6 months, and the CDC says yogurt and other dairy without added sugar can come before 12 months. ESPGHAN notes one exception: where formula isn’t available, affordable or safe, full-fat animal milk may be used from 6 to 12 months.
Juice. The CDC and AAP say no fruit or vegetable juice before 12 months.
Added salt and sugar. The NHS says salty food isn’t good for babies’ kidneys and sugar can cause tooth decay.

At 12 months, the CDC says you can start moving from formula to plain whole cow’s milk or a fortified, unsweetened dairy alternative.

Example days (examples, not rules)

These are made-up days that show how feeds and meals can fit together. Your baby’s day will look different.

Time	4 months, formula	7 months, breastfed	10 months
Early morning	Bottle	Nurse on waking	Milk feed on waking
Morning	Bottle	Breakfast: iron-fortified cereal or mashed egg	Breakfast
Midday	Play and nap	Nurse	Lunch with a main and fruit
Afternoon	Bottle	Nurse	Milk feed
Evening	Bottle	A few spoonfuls at family dinner	Tea (dinner)
Bedtime	Bottle	Nurse	Milk feed
Night	Maybe one feed, maybe none	Some babies still feed once or more	Some babies still wake for one

Newborns don’t get a column. Expect 8 to 12 feeds spread across day and night, some bunched together, with the odd longer stretch. Naps shape the day too, and our nap schedule by age shows how feeds and sleep tend to line up.

Night feeds

How long night feeds last varies a lot from baby to baby.

The NHS says newborns wake at night because they need to be fed.
The AAP says most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed between 2 and 4 months, or once they weigh more than 12 lb (5.4 kg).
The NHS says that between 3 and 6 months babies need fewer night feeds, and some sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer, though not all. From 6 to 12 months, some babies may not need night feeds at all.

If you’re splitting nights, see our guide to sharing night feeds with your partner.

Signs your baby is getting enough

You can’t see how much a breastfed baby drinks, but you can count diapers:

Age	AAP	NHS (breastfed)
First few days	2 to 3 wet diapers a day	Often only 2 or 3 wet diapers in the first 48 hours
From day 4	At least 4 stools a day	At least 2 soft, yellow poos a day for the first few weeks
From about day 5	At least 5 to 6 wet diapers a day	At least 6 heavy, wet diapers every 24 hours

The two disagree on stools, so treat both as rough guides. For formula-fed babies, the NHS says to expect around 6 wet diapers a day from a few days after birth.

Then there’s weight. The AAP says all newborns lose weight in the first 7 days, should be back to birth weight by about 2 weeks, and gain almost an ounce (28 g) a day on average. After that, leave weighing to the doctor. The CDC says a baby who’s had enough should seem content and drowsy after a feed. If you’re worried about how much milk your baby gets, the NHS says to ask for help early.

When to call the doctor

Call your pediatrician if:

Your baby has fewer wet diapers than usual, a dry mouth, fewer tears or a sunken soft spot. The AAP lists these as signs of dehydration, including fewer than 6 wet diapers a day in infants, and says to call right away. It also lists being very fussy or very sleepy.
Your baby isn’t back to birth weight by about 2 weeks.
Your baby is younger than 3 months and has a temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher. The AAP says to call right away.
A new food is followed by a rash, vomiting or diarrhea.

The NHS says a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) starts quickly and can cause breathing problems, a swollen throat or tongue, or a raised, itchy rash. That’s an emergency: call 911 or your local emergency number.

Keeping a feeding log

A log isn’t required. A few days of notes do show you the real pattern, though, and they help at checkups when the doctor asks how often your baby eats. Write down the start time of each feed, the side or the bottle amount, and for solids, any new food and how your baby reacted. Our guide to preparing for your baby’s checkup lists what else to bring.

Vivi Baby is a newborn and parents companion app for iPhone (iOS 18 or later) and Apple Watch (watchOS 26 or later). It logs breastfeeding with side timers, bottles of breast milk or formula, solids and pumping, all for free. There’s no account, and the log is stored as plain files in your family’s own iCloud Drive. You can start a feed from your wrist with the Apple Watch feeding tracker, and the Apple Watch feeding guide walks through it.

Everything is free except three advanced features in Vivi Plus ($4.99 per month or $44.99 per year, with a 14-day free trial). Checkups gathers growth, medical notes, recent stats and your questions before a pediatrician visit. Sleepy Time estimates the next nap and bedtime. Insights spots patterns in what you log and compares them with WHO, CDC and AAP guidance, linking each source. The pricing page has the terms. Get Vivi Baby.

Frequently asked questions

How much formula should a 2 month old drink?

The AAP says most babies take at least 3 to 4 oz (90 to 120 mL) per feed by the end of the first month, about every 3 to 4 hours. Its rule of thumb is about 2½ oz (75 mL) a day per pound (453 g) of body weight, and usually no more than about 32 oz (960 mL) in 24 hours. Your baby's hunger and fullness cues matter more than the number.

How many times a day should a 6 month old eat?

The AAP says that by 6 months many formula-fed babies take 6 to 8 oz (180 to 240 mL) at each of 4 or 5 feeds a day. The CDC says most 6 to 12 month olds need formula or solid food about 5 to 6 times in 24 hours. Solids start small, often once a day at first, per the NHS.

Should I give my baby milk or solids first?

The sources differ. The AAP suggests offering breast milk or formula before and after the first solid foods, while ESPGHAN encourages offering solids before milk feeds as your baby eats more between 6 and 12 months. The NHS says to offer milk feeds after solids at 7 to 9 months. Ask your pediatrician what suits your baby.

When can my baby drink cow's milk?

Not as a main drink until 12 months. The CDC says cow's milk before 12 months may put babies at risk of intestinal bleeding. The NHS says whole pasteurized cows' milk can be used in cooking or mixed into food from around 6 months.

Do babies need snacks before 12 months?

The NHS says babies under 12 months do not need snacks, and suggests an extra milk feed if your baby seems hungry between meals. The WHO allows 1 to 2 extra snacks as required from 6 months.

When do babies stop needing night feeds?

It varies. The AAP says most formula-fed babies no longer need a middle-of-the-night feed between 2 and 4 months, or once they weigh more than 12 lb (5.4 kg). The NHS says some babies sleep 5 to 8 hours or longer at night between 3 and 6 months, but not all.