How Many Cans of Formula Should My Baby Drink Per Month?
Being a new mom is not easy with all the responsibilities you now have. Has my baby had enough sleep? When will my baby smile? Why is my baby crying?
All of these are all valid concerns, but perhaps one of the biggest concerns of new parents is how much you should be feeding your baby. Nursing is pretty straightforward, but when it comes to formula, it’s a bit more tricky.
How many cans of formula should I be giving my baby per month?
This entirely depends on your baby’s age. They will need more formula as they grow, so each case is different.
Read on to find out how many cans of formula you should give your baby, depending on her age.
Table of Contents
- How Many Cans of Formula Should I Be Giving My Baby Per Month?
- Formula Feeding by Age
- How Do I Know When My Baby is Hungry?
- How Do I Know My Baby is Getting Enough Formula?
- How Do I Know if My Baby is Drinking Too Much Formula?
- When Can I Start Feeding My Baby Solid Food?
- Extra Tips for Bottle Feeding
How Many Cans of Formula Should I Be Giving My Baby Per Month?
Children’s demand for nutrients and the amount required will change as children grow. Not all babies are born equally, so your baby’s needs and preferences will vary.
Baby formulas are also manufactured in different quantities, so it comes down to ounces, not cans. For each pound, your baby will generally need two and a half ounces of formula each day.
So if your baby weighs 10 pounds, that is around 25 ounces a day. However, your baby’s age can change things once you start to introduce solid foods.
Formula Feeding by Age
These numbers are approximate but always consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns.
- Full-term newborns should get two ounces of formula three to four hours
- One-month-olds should get three to four ounces of formula every three to four hours
- Two-month-olds should get four to five ounces of formula every three to four hours
- Three-month-olds should get four to six ounces of formula every three to four hours
- Four-month-olds should get four to six ounces of formula four to six times a day
- Five-month-olds should get four to six ounces of formula four to six times s day
- Six-month-olds should get four to six ounces of formula four to five times a day
- Seven-month-olds should get six to eight ounces of formula three to five times a day
From your baby’s 8th month to their twelfth month, they will usually take seven or eight ounces of formula three to four times a day. Remember that your baby’s tummy will grow right along with her, so she will drink fewer times a day but with much more formula each time. Think of it as having three full meals a day as opposed to 6 small meals a day.
It’s also not to give your baby too much formula, so they grow at an appropriate rate. You don’t want to feed more than 32 ounces to your baby in a 24-hour period.
How Do I Know When My Baby is Hungry?
Newborns should really be fed on demand whenever they show signs of hunger. Since babies can’t tell you when they want to be fed, you will need to look out for their cues. Other than the obvious cue of hunger, some of these other cues will help you understand when your baby is looking for food:
- Looking more alert
- Smacking and licking their lips
- Sucking on things, such as your finger
- Moving their jaw or head in search of food
- Fussiness
- Shoving their hands in their mouth
How Do I Know My Baby is Getting Enough Formula?
It can be stressful for any parent if they aren’t sure if their baby is eating enough. The following are some signs that all is going well:
Baby is Happy and Relaxed
We all know the feeling. Many call it a food coma. After a big meal, when our bellies are full, we are generally content and relaxed. The same goes for your baby.
Baby is Gaining Weight Steadily
A baby’s weight can fluctuate a little in the first ten days of life, but after that, their weight should continue to go up.
Baby Has Wet Diapers
In the first few days of life, most newborns will have two to three wet diapers a day, and before you know it, it will be at least five to six!
How Do I Know if My Baby is Drinking Too Much Formula?
Most babies are pretty good at self-regulating and getting the correct amount of food their little bodies need. But sometimes they can over endulge. Here are some signs that your baby may be overeating:
Tummy Trouble
Does baby seem to have belly pain or gas after eating? It could mean they are taking in too much formula. Babies will usually draw their legs towards their stomachs and tense up if they are in pain.
Vomiting
If your baby regurgitates after meals, this could be a sign they have had too much formula. While spit-up is normal in babies, vomiting isn’t.
When Can I Start Feeding My Baby Solid Food?
In addition to their daily formula, you can expect to start giving your baby solid foods around six months old. Once a baby is seven or eight months, you can expect them to try food from each food group.
Solid foods for babies include baby cereals, chicken or other meats, vegetables, fruits, bread, yogurt, cheese, and more.
Extra Tips for Bottle Feeding
For the most part, babies will stop eating when they are full so try not to encourage them to finish a bottle if they seem disinterested. Overfeeding your baby can lead to health problems for her in the future.
Watch out for growth spurts. These usually happen around ten to fourteen days old, around weeks 3 and 6, and again at 3 and 6 months old. At these times, your baby may seem to be more hungry than normal.
Crying may not always mean your baby is hungry, so resist the temptation to give them a bottle every time they cry. They could be too hot or too cold, need a diaper change, need to be burped, or just want to be held. Sometimes simply picking your baby up and holding them against your body is all that is necessary.
