The same way daily calorie requirements are different for different people, babies need different volumes of milk. But, same as for adults, there is an average daily intake. While each baby will be different, that is a start. Observe how your baby behaves and grows with this volume and adjust accordingly. Your pediatrician, dietitian, or lactation care professional can help you find out how much (artificial or human) milk to give your baby.

Volumes remain fairly consistent

From about 1 to 6 months, babies need the same amount of milk. That helps a lot. On average, babies need about 25oz of (human or artificial) milk in a day. How much you are going to give per feed depends on how often you feed your baby. Younger babies need to feed more frequently.

• 4 to 6 weeks: 10-12 times per day (2-2 1/2 oz per feed)

• 6-8 weeks: 9-11 times per day (2 1/4 -2 3/4 oz per feed)

• 8+ weeks: 8-10 times per day (2 1/2 - 3oz per feed)

Again, this is a start. While most babies at 2 months will happily take 4oz, maybe that is not your baby's case, so start small and observe. That might also seem slow for you, but this is an average intake. Observe your baby's behavior after the bottle and maybe increase to the top range the following feed. Keep an eye on your baby's weight gain as well. A healthy weight gain for a newborn is about 5-7oz/week. Some babies might need a faster weight gain, so talk to your health care provider about how much you should be feeding your baby.

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