How Much Formula Should a Baby Drink Per Feed?
The commonly used starting guide in Australia is about 150mL of prepared formula per kilogram of body weight per day, divided across the number of feeds. A 5.5kg baby works out to roughly 825mL a day, which across six feeds is about 138mL per feed.
That's a planning number, not a target to hit. Babies vary, appetite changes day to day, and a baby who's feeding well and gaining weight is doing fine even if the arithmetic disagrees.
This is general information, not medical advice. Always follow the preparation instructions on your formula tin exactly, and talk to your GP, child health nurse or midwife about your baby's specific feeding. If you're worried about feeding or weight gain, get advice rather than adjusting amounts yourself.
Use the Formula Calculator to get a per-feed and per-day estimate from your baby’s weight and the number of feeds.
Daily formula by weight
Using the 150mL per kilogram per day guide.
| Baby's weight | Daily total at 150mL/kg | Across 8 feeds | Across 6 feeds | Across 5 feeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0kg | 450mL | 56mL | 75mL | 90mL |
| 3.5kg | 525mL | 66mL | 88mL | 105mL |
| 4.0kg | 600mL | 75mL | 100mL | 120mL |
| 4.5kg | 675mL | 84mL | 113mL | 135mL |
| 5.0kg | 750mL | 94mL | 125mL | 150mL |
| 5.5kg | 825mL | 103mL | 138mL | 165mL |
| 6.0kg | 900mL | 113mL | 150mL | 180mL |
| 6.5kg | 975mL | 122mL | 163mL | 195mL |
| 7.0kg | 1,050mL | 131mL | 175mL | 210mL |
| 7.5kg | 1,125mL | 141mL | 188mL | 225mL |
| 8.0kg | 1,200mL | 150mL | 200mL | 240mL |
A guide only. Individual babies need more or less, and your formula tin's own feeding table takes priority.
Typical feeds per day by age
The daily total gets split across fewer, larger feeds as a baby gets older.
| Age | Typical feeds per day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn to 1 month | 8 to 12 | Small volumes, frequent, including overnight |
| 1 to 3 months | 6 to 8 | Volumes climb, gaps stretch out |
| 3 to 6 months | 5 to 6 | Often a longer overnight stretch |
| 6 to 9 months | 4 to 5 | Solids start covering some of the energy needs |
| 9 to 12 months | 3 to 4 | Formula volume drops as solids increase |
Ranges vary a lot between babies. Feeding on demand is normal and expected in the early months.
Worked example
A 4.5kg baby at eight weeks:
- 4.5kg × 150mL = 675mL per day
- Across 7 feeds = about 96mL per feed
- Across 6 feeds = about 113mL per feed
In practice you'd make up bottles a bit larger than the calculated amount and let the baby decide when to stop. Making 120mL and having 20mL left over is normal and fine. Forcing the last 20mL isn't.
Preparation safety, which matters more than the amount
Getting the concentration wrong is genuinely dangerous, in both directions.
- Use the scoop that came in the tin. Scoops differ between brands and even between tins of the same brand. Never swap them.
- Level scoops, not heaped. Level them with the back of a clean knife or the leveller on the tin.
- Water first, then powder. Measure the water to the mark on the bottle, then add scoops. Adding powder first changes the final volume.
- Never add an extra scoop to make it "more filling". Over-concentrated formula can cause dehydration and puts strain on a baby's kidneys.
- Never water it down to make a tin last longer. Diluted formula can cause serious problems including water intoxication and poor growth. If cost is the issue, talk to your child health nurse or GP, because there is support available.
- Use water that's been boiled and cooled. Follow the tin's instructions on temperature, since some formulas specify water at 70°C to kill bacteria in the powder.
- Discard leftovers. Formula left in a bottle after a feed should be thrown out within an hour, not saved for later.
- Don't microwave bottles. Microwaves heat unevenly and create hot spots that can scald. Stand the bottle in warm water instead.
Is my baby getting enough?
The amount in the bottle is a weaker signal than what comes out the other end. Reassuring signs:
- Six or more heavy wet nappies in 24 hours once feeding is established
- Steady weight gain tracking along a percentile line on the growth chart in the blue book, rather than a specific weekly number
- Alert and reasonably settled for at least some periods between feeds
- Pale, odourless urine
Signs worth getting checked promptly: fewer wet nappies than usual, a baby who is very difficult to rouse, persistent refusal to feed, ongoing vomiting, or weight that's crossing downward across percentile lines.
Growth spurts and why the maths stops working
Feeding often jumps around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. A baby who was happily taking 120mL will suddenly want 150mL and be hungry an hour early. This usually settles within a few days.
The other direction happens too. Babies who are unwell, teething or just distracted by the world feed less for a stretch. As long as wet nappies and weight are holding up, a light day is not a problem.
The daily ceiling
Most babies plateau somewhere around 1,000mL to 1,200mL a day. If your baby seems to want consistently more than that, it's a conversation with your child health nurse rather than a reason to keep increasing bottles. From around six months, solid food starts covering more of the energy needs and formula volume gradually comes down.
Cost, since nobody warns you
Formula is a real line item in an Australian household budget. Work out your own number:
Tins per month = (daily mL ÷ 1,000) × 30 × (grams of powder per litre) ÷ tin size in grams
Most standard tins make a set number of prepared bottles, which is printed on the tin. Divide the tin price by that number to get your cost per feed, then multiply by feeds per day. Prices and tin sizes change often, so use the label in front of you rather than a figure off the internet.
Where to get proper advice in Australia
- Your child health nurse at the local community health centre. Free, and they weigh and measure.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby helpline on 1800 882 436, 7 days a week.
- Australian Breastfeeding Association helpline on 1800 686 268 if you're mixed feeding.
- Raising Children Network, the government-funded parenting site, for written guidance.
- Your GP for anything about weight, reflux, allergy or formula changes.
Related tools
- Formula Calculator for per-feed and per-day estimates
- Due Date Calculator if you're still counting down
- Age Calculator for working out exactly how old your baby is in weeks and days
Frequently asked questions
How much formula should a baby have per day?
A commonly used guide is about 150mL of prepared formula per kilogram of body weight per day. A 5kg baby works out to roughly 750mL a day. This is a starting estimate only, and your formula tin's feeding table and your child health nurse take priority.
How much formula per feed for a 5kg baby?
At 150mL per kilogram per day, a 5kg baby needs about 750mL daily. Across six feeds that is about 125mL per feed, and across eight feeds about 94mL. Babies rarely take exactly the same amount at every feed.
Can I add an extra scoop of formula to make it more filling?
No. Over-concentrated formula can cause dehydration and puts strain on a baby's kidneys. Always use level scoops from the tin the powder came in, and follow the tin's instructions exactly. Never water formula down either.
How do I know my baby is getting enough formula?
Six or more heavy wet nappies in 24 hours, steady weight gain tracking along a percentile line on the growth chart, pale odourless urine, and periods of being alert and settled. If wet nappies drop off or weight crosses downward across percentile lines, see your GP or child health nurse.
How much formula is too much?
Most babies plateau around 1,000mL to 1,200mL a day. If your baby consistently wants more than that, talk to your child health nurse rather than continuing to increase bottle sizes. From around six months, solids begin replacing some formula volume.