How Much Milk Does My Baby Need?
- gulfcoastlactation
- Mar 8
- 4 min read
I frequently get asked how much milk a baby needs. This will depend on the age and size of the baby. When I am doing a consult, I am looking at a baby’s growth curve and average daily or weekly weight gain. There are certain milestones most breastfed babies meet along the way. The first is to get back to birth weight around 2 weeks of age.
Weight Gain Milestones: The First 4 Months
Most babies will lose 5-10% in the first 3-4 days. When mom’s milk comes in, a baby should be getting more volume and start gaining about an ounce a day on average.
Weekly Goal: The average gain is about 6-8 ounces a week until 3-4 months old.
The 4-Month Mark: At 4 months, most breastfed babies double their birth weight (e.g., 6 pound newborn reaching 12 pounds). There are circumstances when a baby may not quite double their weight at 4 months, but a baby will certainly double their weight by 6 months.
Preparing for the Return to Work
For mamas who go back to work, it is important to have a starting point of how much milk to put in bottles and not waste breastmilk.
At 3 Weeks: Most newborns at 3 weeks will take 2.5-3 ounces per feeding, both breastfeeding and in a bottle.
There are exceptions. Some women make a large milk supply, and some babies are used to getting 4 ounces when they breast-feed. Their bottles may look different than another baby’s bottles at the same age.
At 12 Weeks: Most babies take 3-4 ounce bottles, as mom is going back to work. Occasionally, a baby may take 5 ounces. These are babies that are already getting that from their mothers when they nurse.
The "Small Bottle" Goal: The goal isn't to stretch feedings out to every 4–5 hours with a massive bottle (like an 8-ounce bottle); the goal is to feed them often enough (usually every 2–3 hours), so they gain according to their schedule.
Daily Volume: What is Normal?
Between 3 weeks and 12 months, all babies average about 24-30 ounces in a 24-hour period.
Exclusively Pumping: Mamas who are exclusively pumping may put a different amount in the bottles than a mom who is mostly latching. That’s ok as long as the baby is getting enough in 24 hrs to maintain weight gain.
The Individual Eater: Remember, there are some babies that only get 3 ounces on average when they nurse. That baby will need to breastfeed more often than a baby who is getting 6 ounces when breastfeeding. Adults are the same. We don’t all sit down and eat a large meal every time we eat. Some may eat a half a sandwich and others a whole sandwich and a side. We don’t all eat at the same rate. Some of us eat very fast, and some take their time and eat slowly. Babies are no different.
Transitioning to Solids
Breast milk remains the main source of nutrition for the first year; solid foods are simply complementary. Because the goal is exploration, not just calories, it is important to start slowly.
Start Small: Begin with just a few teaspoons at a time. This allows your baby to adjust to new textures and flavors at their own pace.
The Play Phase: In the beginning, introducing solids is mostly for play and practice. It should not significantly impact the total amount of milk your baby consumes.
Watch the Pace: Not all babies adjust to solids at the same rate. If your baby seems hesitant, it is perfectly okay to slow down.
Expected Milk Needs by Age
As your baby becomes more experienced with table foods, you will likely see their daily milk volume shift. When we look at the research, we see that at
6 Months: Most babies take in around 30 ounces a day.
9 Months: If they are eating extra food, they may drop to 20-24 ounces a day.
Note on Growth: If a baby is not gaining weight well around the 6-month mark, your pediatrician or IBCLC may recommend supplemental foods to help boost caloric intake.
Pro-Tips for Balancing Milk & Solids
Nursing in the early morning before giving breakfast is important. We want your baby to get a larger feeding in the morning after sleeping a bit longer (most breastfed babies eat 1-2 times a night through the first year of life).
Breastfeed on demand and make latching a priority over table foods.
If your baby naturally starts to drink less milk as they eat more solids, that is okay, as long as they are staying hydrated and are not becoming constipated.
Feeding Frequency by Age
How often your baby nurses will shift as they grow and incorporate solids:
Newborns: In the beginning, most babies need to eat 8+ times in 24 hours
Older Babies: As they get older, they may nurse only 6-8 times.
10 Months (Eating solids well): They may nurse only 3-5 times.
The Nursing Lovers: Some babies just love to nurse and may still nurse 8-10 times when they are older. This is normal.
Looking Beyond the First Year
After 12 months, milk intake varies wildly based on how much solid food and water a toddler is consuming:
12-24 Months: Average of 14-19 ounces a day.
2+ Years: A few ounces to 10 ounces a day.
The amount a baby takes in after a year will vary depending on the frequency of nursing and how much a baby may be getting solid foods and sippie cups with milk and water.
The Bottom Line
I tell parents all the time that it is not necessary to buy large 8-ounce bottles for breast-fed babies. Most will only take 4-5 ounces at a time. The goal isn’t to try to get a breast-fed baby to take an 8-ounce bottle. The goal is to feed them often enough so they gain according to schedule.
For more information on starting solid foods and breastfeeding, check out our class schedule and sign up today for the free class in April.
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