🍼📏 How Much Should Baby Eat?
🍼📏 How Much Should Baby Eat?
Understanding Milk and Solid Food Quantities from Birth to Toddlerhood
One of the most common — and sometimes stressful — questions for new parents is:
"Am I feeding my baby enough?"
The answer depends on your baby's age, growth stage, and whether they're exclusively breastfed, formula-fed, or on mixed feeding. As your baby grows, their feeding needs shift from milk-only nutrition to a balanced mix of breast milk or formula, solids, water, and snacks.
This guide breaks down feeding quantities by age and feeding type — so you can nourish your baby confidently at every stage.
👶 0–6 Months: Exclusive Milk Feeding
Feeding Type:
✅ Exclusive Breastfeeding OR ✅ Formula Feeding
⏱️ Frequency & Quantity:
| Age | Breastfed Baby | Formula-Fed Baby |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 month | 8–12 feeds/day (on demand) | 60–90 ml every 2–3 hours (8–10 feeds/day) |
| 1–2 months | 7–10 feeds/day | 90–120 ml every 3–4 hours |
| 2–4 months | 6–8 feeds/day | 120–150 ml every 4 hours |
| 4–6 months | 5–7 feeds/day | 150–180 ml every 4–5 hours |
🍼 Breastfed babies vary in intake and feed duration. If baby is gaining weight, has 5–6 wet diapers/day, and seems satisfied after feeds, they’re getting enough.
🧪 Formula-fed babies may need slightly more volume per feed but feed less frequently. Avoid overfeeding.
🍽️ 6–8 Months: Transition to Solids
Feeding Type:
✅ Mixed Feeding (Milk + Solids)
Daily Intake Guidelines:
| Nutrient Source | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Breastmilk / Formula | 4–6 feeds/day (600–900 ml total) |
| Solid Meals | 1–2 meals/day (1–4 tablespoons per meal) |
| Water | A few sips after meals (2–4 tablespoons total) |
Examples:
-
Breakfast: 2 tbsp oats porridge + milk feed
-
Lunch: Mashed yam + flaked fish (2 tbsp) + milk feed
-
Dinner (optional): Rice cereal + mashed pawpaw + milk feed
🌟 Milk is still the main source of nutrition — solids are for skill-building and exploration.
🍲 8–12 Months: Increasing Solids
Feeding Type:
✅ Milk + Solids
Daily Intake Guidelines:
| Nutrient Source | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Breastmilk / Formula | 3–5 feeds/day (500–750 ml total) |
| Solid Meals | 3 meals + 1–2 snacks (2–5 tbsp per meal) |
| Water | 60–120 ml/day (offered with meals and snacks) |
Notes:
-
Include iron-rich foods daily (egg yolk, beans, fish, meat)
-
Introduce soft finger foods and textures
-
Encourage cup drinking and self-feeding
🍼 Night milk feeds may start to reduce. Appetite can vary due to teething or growth spurts — follow baby’s cues.
🧒 12–24 Months: Toddler Eating
Feeding Type:
✅ Family Foods + Reduced Milk Intake
Daily Intake Guidelines:
| Nutrient Source | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Milk (Breast or Whole) | 2–3 feeds or 360–480 ml/day |
| Solid Meals | 3 full meals (½ to 1 cup per meal) |
| Snacks | 2–3 per day (small fruit, yoghurt, biscuit) |
| Water | 120–240 ml/day (or more in hot weather) |
Sample Meal:
-
Breakfast: Oats + banana + cup of milk
-
Lunch: Rice + kontomire stew + fish flakes + water
-
Snack: Yoghurt or soft pawpaw
-
Dinner: Mashed yam + chicken + avocado + milk before bed
🍽️ Portion sizes vary. Let your toddler decide how much to eat — offer, don’t force.
🎯 Summary Table: “How Much Should My Baby Eat?”
| Age | Milk (ml/day) | Meals/Day | Solid Amount | Snacks | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 mo | 600–950 ml | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
| 6–8 mo | 600–900 ml | 1–2 | 1–4 tbsp/meal | Optional | 2–4 tbsp/day |
| 8–12 mo | 500–750 ml | 3 | 2–5 tbsp/meal | 1–2 | 60–120 ml |
| 12–24 mo | 360–480 ml | 3 | ½–1 cup/meal | 2–3 | 120–240+ ml |
Baby Feeding Tracker
Daily Record Sheet for Ages 6–24 Months
🗓️ Date: ________________ | Baby’s Name: _______________ | Age: _____________
| Time | Breastmilk / Formula (ml) | Solid Food (Type & Amount) | Water (ml) | Diaper Check (Wet/Soiled) | Sleep/Nap Time | Notes / Reactions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6:00 AM | ||||||
| 8:00 AM | ||||||
| 10:00 AM | ||||||
| 12:00 PM | ||||||
| 2:00 PM | ||||||
| 4:00 PM | ||||||
| 6:00 PM | ||||||
| 8:00 PM | ||||||
| Night Feeds |
✅ Daily Summary:
-
Total Breastmilk/Formula (ml): __________
-
Solid Meals Offered:
-
Breakfast: __________
-
Lunch: __________
-
Dinner: __________
-
-
Snacks: __________
-
Water Intake (ml): __________
-
Diaper Changes: Wet: ___ / Soiled: ___
-
Total Nap Time: __________
-
Allergy or Reaction Notes: ___________________________________________________
👩⚕️ How to Use:
-
Tick off or fill in during the day to stay on top of feeding routines
-
Track allergic reactions, food preferences, or constipation patterns
-
Use to share info with doctors, caregivers, or nutritionists
💡 Final Tips:
-
Watch your baby, not the clock — hunger and fullness cues matter more than fixed amounts
-
Growth spurts may increase appetite temporarily
-
Don’t compare your baby’s portions with others — every child is unique
-
Stay consistent, offer variety, and trust the process