How Many Oz of Milk???

For BF babies, here is how you can calculate how much they are/should be taking per feeding:

baby's weight * 2.5 / # of feedings per day.

So for example if you baby weighs 14 lbs and eats 8 times per day this is what you would want to give via bottle:
14*2.5 = 35
35/8 = 4.3 oz/feeding

The thing to keep in mind is that a baby cannot "turn off" a bottle like they can nursing. Hence the reason many people say my baby takes more when feeding from a bottle.

Hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi J.,

A rule of thumb is to feed half of their weight - for instance, if your baby weighs 8 lbs., then they should eat about 4 oz.

J. E.

1 mom found this helpful

When I was breastfeeding I ran into the same question so I visited the HEB Methodist Hospital Lactation department (Bedford, TX)...the women there were awesome! They helped me to figure out how much my son needed, how much he was eating in so many minutes of feeding, and gave me lots of advice so I could be confident with every aspect of breast feeding. It was the best $75 I could have spent for answers to all my breastfeeding questions.

At 2 months of age all 3 of my girls were eating every 3 to 6 hours. I tired to feed them every 3 to 4 hours. Sometimes it varies.

Just a couple of ounces at a time at this age, but it really depends on your baby. He will probably eat every 3 hours or so. You will know he is still hungry if he cries when the bottle is empty or fusses when he is done. Then just add an ounce and see if he takes it. If so, you need to up the amount at each feeding. Congrats!!

I would say start with 4 oz. She will let you know if that is too much or not enough.

B. H

the best resource i had while nursing my 2 daughters other than my midwife, was the la leche league. they are everywhere. you may find them in the phone book or on the net. they will list someone in your area directly for you to contact and speak with on the phone. they are women like us and they love to share advice. couldn't have done it without them, my midwife and my vet!
good luck!

they will let you know when they are ready to get more! right now you know he's done because he's satisfied and it is a few hours before he's ready again right? that simply won't be the case. he won't be satisfied and he will be hungrier sooner

I am sure you will get lots of responses, but your baby should stop eating when he is full. He will act as if he is still hungry if he wants more. Instinct is really what is used here. It is usually best to only add 1/2 to 1 ounce at a time till you figure our how much more he is actually going to eat. I recommend asking your pediatrician about how much a 2 month old actually should be eating (although it varies by child).

Becca (mother of 2)

Congrats on the baby! I know what you are going through. My son would nurse at night and take a bottle during the day for a while before switching to formula. She will let you know if she is still hungry. If she starts finishing the bottle for each meal then put one or two more ounces in there and see what she does then. My son was a little older when he was taking the bottle, there for a while he had to have the real thing and didn't want a bottle but eventually he went to the bottle. I'm not sure how much they take at two months. Babies are different in that. I know some that take about 6-8 ounces, some take more and some take less. My son was eating about 10-12 ounces when he was 4 1/2 months. It just varies. I would up the milk if she is finishing the bottle for every meal. They usually let you know if they are still hungry.

Congrats on the new baby! I would say start with 3 ounces and he will tell you if he wants more. also remember that breast milk is metabolized faster and so he'll probably want to eat more frequently. good luck!

I know lots of people will say "your body will know how much to make" and while that it 100% true it was never enough for me. So what I did was to time my son nursing for a few feedings to get an average, and then I would pump that long. SO if he average 15 min form one breast and 8 at the other before he was done that it how long I would pump. Of course i did finish pumping the other breast so it emptied but I would do that in a seperate bottle. It's always better to have too much available than not enough. he'll stop eating when he's full

I am a SSTAHM.... Single Stay at Home Mom... haha.. I am a registered home daycare provider. I have a mom who pumps for her baby.... and babies do "just shows signs" of being more hungry. She has given me some frozen milk, to keep for when he is ready to have more at his feedings. Usually around 2 months, they're around 3 ozs. But could be anywhere from 2 to 4. Every baby is different, so you just have to see what he does and when he's done. They really are good at letting you know!

I have 4 kids... my first 2 are 18 months apart! I loved it! They are 15 and 14 now and are the best of friends! (I also have an 11 and almost 3!)
Good Luck....

Start out with maybe 4 oz. and if the baby is content, o.k. but if it doesn't sleep very long etc. up the ounces. They will usually still act like they want more when finishing the bottle, or act hungry again real soon if they need for you to up the ounces. Enjoy every minute right now if you are expecting , I had two 15 months apart, and soon you are busy feeding, and changing diapers and won't have as much time to just play with , but what fun also. Good luck.

At that age babies usually take between two to four ounces of milk. It will vary from child to child. And it's not uncommon for a 2 month old to down 6 ounces either if he/she is on a growth spurt.

Babies know how much to take in and when to quit. Now there are an occasional few that keep on eating becuase they need the comfort of the sucking motion. However, general rule, your baby will know when he's full.

I say start will 3 oz, and up it 1/2 an ounce each time until he no longer shows signs of being hungry. Don't forget to burp!...him not you!:)

Best of luck!

The average is to feed between 2-3 oz per pound of weight in a single day till they reach a max of 31oz (at that point they usually begin solids to suppliment the milk.) example if your baby is 10 pounds then they should eat a total of 20oz through out the day. Just divide it by how many feedings they have in a day and go from there.

Congratulations, J.!

My little one was preemie, so when he was 2 months old, he was still just taking about 3 oz every 3 hours (sometimes 2). He started taking 4 oz when he was about 3 months old, IF I'm remembering right.

I have 2 boys, 14 years (that's right....YEARS) apart, but neither one of them ever took an 8 oz bottle of formula. (I was not able to breast feed either one.) However, when they started eating solid foods, I started having a hard time filling those hollow legs of theirs! (and still do!!!) During their first year, both of them seemed to "max out" at 6 oz per bottle.

If you think your son is not getting enough milk at a feeding, go ahead and try adding 1 oz of formula. But be prepared....one feeding he'll want it, and the next, his smaller amount will be enough. How the baby is feeling, his activity level, and (believe it or not) the weather (especially the temperature) will play big roles in how much he eats from feeding to feeding. When he starts teething, his feeding patterns will change; when he's in a growth spurt, his feeding patterns will change. With each hour that passes, his feeding patterns will change. :) Just always be prepared with more formula than you think you will need, and you'll be ok. That's why I always loved using the powdered formula ~ like mom's milk, it never spoils! (unless you've already mixed it) Made it a lot easier for days we weren't at home much, too!

Congratulations, again! (Feel free to call me or email me at ____@____.com if you want. My DH and I have a friend who "just" started at Parker this fall; he's from Stephenville!)

I think I remember its about 4 oz but it depends on the baby. If he gets done with the 4 and is still hungry go up 1/4 oz to 1/2 oz at a time per feeding until you find the right amount for him. but I think 4 oz is good at that age but he could be getting 6 from the breast you never know...
My baby was a haus and he ate 4 oz of breast milk but keep in mind breast milk does not last as long in the body as formula so the people who are saying 2-3 oz may have been feeding formula. Formula takes longer to digest and fills them up faster than breast milk even though the calories fer ounce are the same (if the formula is prepared according to directions)

good luck

At 2 months my son was drinking 2-3 ounces at a time. Afterwards he would have that I'm full body language. I upped the amount every month just to see if he wanted more. If he didn't finish his bottle then I knew to go back down. Hope this helps.

I did not nurse with mine. My youngest is 10mo. and if i remember correctly she took between 3 and 4 oz. I would do 3 first and if she spits up do about an ounce less. If she still seems hunger go up, trust me you'll know if she is still hungry or full. Hope this helps.
A. - mother of 4

Start out with 4 oz and see if the baby is still hungry. You can then move up a couple of ounces at a time. I seem to remember my son being on 8 ounces at 2 months...it's been awhile, though.

Hi J.,

I am a new mom of a 4.5 month old and trust me I know exactly what you are going through. I was feeding my daughter 4 oz at that time. The website I am attaching is a great resource for nursing mothers. http://www.kellymom.com/ you can go and do a search on how much expressed milk and there is a calculator to give you a guide. they are suppose to get 3.5-5 oz for six months. I just recently took my daughter to her 4 mo checkup and the pediatrician wanted me to up it to six. I took fenugreek to increase my supply, but it is working now. I work 9 hour days so I can have every other friday off, so I pump away from my daughter at lest 3 times a day. Also you can call Harris Methodist Hospital in Forth Worth, they have a breastfeeding resource center and they can help you deterime how much to feed that little girl. Good Luck and try not to let it bother you too much, I wish I could take that advice also.

J.,
just rememeber you aren't doing anything wrong just have patience.