How To Tell How Much Formula Your Baby Needs

How much formula you should give your baby depends on his age, weight, and whether you're feeding him only formula or using it in combination with breast milk or solids. But here are some guidelines you might find helpful:

Take your baby's cues
The most important guideline is your baby's behavior. Babies will eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. Don't expect a newborn — or any baby, for that matter — to follow a schedule or mathematical rule.

Needs and appetites vary with each baby, and most babies change from day to day and month to month. The important thing is that you learn to read your baby’s cues.

While it might seem easy to respond to your baby's every need with a bottle, for example, you'll want to make sure that he isn't crying for some other reason. If your baby's hungry, he might show signs like lip smacking, rooting (turning his head toward your hand when you stroke his cheek), and putting his hands to his mouth. You'll develop a sense that your baby wants more than you're giving him when he finishes the feeding quickly and looks around for more. (If your baby seems hungry after his initial bottle, prepare just an ounce more at a time, because if you make a larger amount, he may not finish it and it'll go to waste.)

Multiply your baby's weight times 2.5 ounces
If your baby isn't eating any solids (as he shouldn't before 4 to 6 months of age), the general rule of thumb is to offer him 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. So if your baby weighs 6 pounds, you'll give him about 15 ounces of formula in a 24-hour period. If he weighs 10 pounds, he should drink 25 ounces in a 24-hour period.

Consider your baby's age
How much formula your baby needs depends not only on his weight but also on his age. If you're starting a newborn on formula, try giving him only an ounce or two at each feeding for the first week. Let his hunger guide you.

By the time he's about 1 month old, he'll probably be up to 3 or 4 ounces at each feeding and will consume 18 to 32 ounces in one day. From the age of 2 months to 6 months, you should be feeding your baby 4 to 6 ounces at a feeding, and he'll take in 23 to 32 ounces a day. (Some parents find that an increase of about one ounce per month works out about right.)

Once your baby reaches 6 months, you can feed him 6 to 8 ounces at a feeding, up to around 32 ounces of formula per day. At this point you should start adding solid foods to his diet, if you haven't already. You'll find that as your baby gets older, he will drink fewer bottles with more formula.

If you're worried that your baby isn't eating enough, take a look at his weight gain and talk with his doctor. She can tell you whether your baby's intake is appropriate for his size and age, and advise you about changes you should make to adapt to your baby's individual needs.

source from http://www.babycenter.com