How Much Should My Baby Eat? A Simple Guide by Age
The worry about whether my daughter is eating enough has never really gone away.
From the very beginning, I found myself watching every feed, counting every spoonful, wondering if what she was taking was enough. She has always been on the smaller side with food. Some days she eats well, and I feel relieved. Most days she does not, and I spend the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out what else I can offer.
Now that she is older, she takes her milk fine. Cerelac — no problem. Give her a milkshake, and she is very happy. But solid meals? That is where we have always struggled. She eats small amounts, gets bored quickly, and needs variety, or she simply refuses. I have learned to offer things frequently and in small portions, whatever she is in the mood for, rather than pushing for a full meal.
When I started introducing solids, I kept wondering, “How much should my baby eat, and how much milk should she still be having alongside it?” I searched and asked around and got a dozen different answers. Nobody gave me a clear, simple picture of how the balance was supposed to shift.
I wanted the kind of guide I couldn’t find then — something that showed me how milk and solids usually fit together, and how that balance changes through the first year.
Before the Numbers — The Most Important Thing
The amounts below are ranges, not targets your baby has to hit exactly.
Your baby is not a chart. The amounts below are ranges based on what most babies need at each stage. Some babies eat more, some eat less, and both can be perfectly fine. What actually tells you whether your baby is getting enough is their growth over time — not any single meal.
I say this because I know how easy it is to fixate on numbers. I do it constantly. But your health visitor, looking at a growth curve over several weeks, will always tell you more than any individual mealtime’s worth of worry.
At a Glance: Feeding Guide by Age
| Age | Milk | Solid Food |
| 0–6 months | Breastfeed on demand OR formula on demand | Not yet |
| Around 6 months | Milk remains the main source of nutrition | Start with a few teaspoons, once a day |
| 7–9 months | Formula: around 600ml per day | Moving towards 3 small meals per day |
| 10–12 months | Formula: around 400ml per day | 3 meals per day |
| 12 months+ | Cow’s milk (full-fat) or breast milk continues | 3 meals + 2 snacks |
Breastfed babies cannot be measured by volume — feed on demand throughout.
All figures are approximate guides. Your health visitor’s advice takes priority.
0 to 6 Months — Milk Only
At this stage, milk is everything. Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, your baby does not need anything else — no solid food, no water, no juice.
If you are breastfeeding: Feed on demand. You cannot and do not need to measure the volume a breastfed baby takes. Signs they are getting enough include regular wet nappies, steady weight gain, and seeming settled after feeds.
If you are formula feeding: According to AAP guidance, newborns start with very small amounts — around 1 to 2oz in the first days — and gradually increase. By the end of the first month, most babies take at least 3 to 4oz per feeding, roughly every 3 to 4 hours. By 6 months, most formula-fed babies take around 6 to 8oz per feeding, 4 to 5 times in 24 hours. AAP guidance also notes that babies generally do not need more than 32oz of formula in total across the day — if your baby consistently wants more than this, mention it to your paediatrician.
One thing worth knowing at this stage: never push a baby to finish a bottle if they have stopped and seem satisfied. How much they take in a single feed will vary day to day, and that is normal.
Around 6 Months — First Tastes of Solid Food
When you begin introducing solid foods, the amounts are tiny — and that is exactly right.
NHS guidance is clear on this: at the beginning, how much your baby eats is less important than getting them used to the idea of eating. Start with just a few teaspoons of soft, pureed food — once a day to begin with. Their stomach is tiny, and milk is still their main source of nutrition at this stage.
What to offer first: iron-rich foods are a good starting point — pureed meat, lentils, or iron-fortified cereal alongside soft fruits and vegetables. Our guide on [iron-rich foods for babies] covers this in more detail.
If your baby tries a spoonful, pulls a face, and refuses the rest — that is fine. Some babies take to solid food immediately; others take weeks to warm up to it. NHS guidance notes it can take 10 tries or more before a baby accepts a new food. I know this from experience. My daughter has made me work for every new food we have introduced.
As your baby starts getting used to meals, you can begin offering milk after solids rather than filling them up first.
7 to 9 Months — Building Towards 3 Meals
This is where the structure of the day starts to take shape.
According to NHS guidance, from around 7 months babies gradually move towards 3 meals a day — breakfast, lunch, and tea — alongside their milk feeds. As a guide for formula-fed babies, NHS states around 600ml of formula per day is typical at this stage. Breastfed babies continue feeding on demand, and feeds naturally adjust as solid food increases.
Solid food portions are still small at this stage — a few tablespoons per meal is realistic. The goal is variety and exposure as much as volume. Keep offering a mix of iron-rich foods, vegetables, fruit, dairy products like yogurt, and protein sources.
Textures can start to develop now too. Moving from smooth puree towards mashed and lumpy food — or finger foods — helps your baby learn to chew and move food around their mouth. This is also where picky eating often starts to show itself properly. If your baby refuses something they previously ate, do not panic. It is extremely common and rarely permanent. Offer it again in a few days, in a slightly different form.
10 to 12 Months — Meals Taking the Lead
By this stage, solid food is playing a much bigger role and milk intake reduces further.
NHS guidance states that formula-fed babies are typically taking around 400ml of formula per day from around 10 months. Breastfed babies continue feeding on demand alongside their solid meals. If your baby is having less than 500ml of formula a day, check current NHS vitamin guidance or ask your health visitor whether they need supplements.
Most babies at this stage are eating 3 meals a day. Lunches and teas can now include a main course and a fruit or dairy-based dessert. Finger foods are a good focus — they support independence and fine motor skills, and let your baby have more control over what and how much they eat.
My daughter was determined to feed herself from the moment she could manage a spoon. Yes, most of it ends up on the table. But she eats more when she has control over it, and the mess is worth it.
From 12 Months — Milk Steps Down
At 12 months, cow’s milk (full-fat, pasteurised) can be introduced as a main drink. NHS is clear that formula is no longer needed after 12 months. Breastfeeding can continue as long as you and your baby both want to.
From 12 months, the pattern is 3 meals a day plus 2 healthy snacks. Solid food is now the main source of nutrition.
Portion sizes are still small — a toddler’s portion is roughly a quarter of an adult portion. Do not be surprised if your toddler eats enthusiastically one day and barely touches food the next. Appetite varies enormously at this age, and a few small meals in a row rarely signals a real problem.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
If you have found yourself wondering “how much should my baby eat?” after yet another barely touched meal, this is probably the reassurance you are actually looking for.
Signs things are broadly on track:
- Steady weight gain over time when checked at well-baby visits
- Regular wet nappies throughout the day
- Alert, active, and generally content between feeds
- Growing and hitting developmental milestones broadly on track
- Seeming satisfied after feeds rather than immediately distressed
Signs worth discussing with your health visitor:
- Very few wet nappies over 24 hours
- Consistently not gaining weight, or losing weight, over time
- Refusing most solid food consistently past 9 to 10 months
- Very low energy or unusual lethargy
I want to be honest here: having a picky eater who regularly eats less than you feel she should is genuinely stressful. It does not automatically mean something is medically wrong. But you don’t have to accept it in silence. If you are worried, bring it up at your next health visitor appointment.
Common Mistakes Worth Knowing
Pushing a baby to finish a bottle or a meal. Overfeeding is a real thing at every stage. Watch for fullness cues — turning away, closing the mouth, losing interest — and stop there.
Offering milk before solid food. A baby who is full of milk has little appetite for the new food you are trying to introduce. Offer solid food first, then milk.
Giving up on a food after one or two refusals. It can take 10 or more exposures to a new food before a baby accepts it. One refusal does not mean they will never eat it.
Comparing portions to other babies. Some babies eat more. Some eat less. The growth curve over time matters far more than any individual portion.
When to Talk to Your Doctor or Health Visitor
Speak to a professional if:
- Your baby has not started showing interest in solid food by around 8 to 9 months despite consistent offering
- Your baby is losing weight or dropping on their growth curve
- You are following a vegetarian or vegan weaning diet and want guidance on meeting nutritional needs
- Your baby’s feeding feels consistently distressing for either of you
- You are unsure whether the transition from formula to cow’s milk at 12 months is going smoothly
You do not need to have a dramatic concern to ask. If feeding consistently worries you, that is reason enough.
Questions Parents Actually Ask
My baby eats so little. How do I know they are getting enough?
Look at the full picture. Is your baby gaining weight steadily? Having regular wet nappies? Active and generally content? If those things look okay, a small appetite at individual meals is usually less concerning than it feels in the moment. If growth is also slow, bring it to your health visitor’s attention.
My baby ate well for weeks and now refuses everything. What happened?
This is very common and usually temporary. Teething, illness, or developmental leaps all affect appetite. Keep offering food calmly and without pressure, and give it a week or two before drawing any conclusions.
How do I know when to reduce milk as solids increase?
The milk amounts in the guide above reflect how this typically reduces naturally as solid food increases. You do not usually need to deliberately cut milk — the balance shifts gradually on its own. Use the rough figures above as a guide and let your baby’s appetite lead.
My baby only wants milk and refuses most solid food. Is this a problem?
From 6 to 7 months, this is common — solid food is new. Keep offering a variety of foods without pressure alongside milk. If your baby is still refusing most solid food consistently at 9 to 10 months, mention it to your health visitor so they can check growth and advise.
You Are Doing Better Than You Think
I have been worried about my daughter’s food intake since the day we started solids. Most of the time, the worry has been louder than the actual problem.
She eats less than other children her age. She is picky and particular and changes her mind without warning. But she is growing, she is energetic, and she is healthy. Her health visitor has never flagged a concern.
That is the reassurance I keep coming back to on the harder days. And I hope it helps you on yours.
So on the difficult days, I try to keep offering, change things up when I need to, and not turn every small meal into a bigger problem than it is.
Keep Reading
Save this guide for reference as your baby moves through each feeding stage.
These guides sit alongside this one well:
→Iron-Rich Foods for Babies — knowing how much to feed is one part; knowing what iron-rich foods to include from 6 months is the other
→ How to Introduce the Top 8 Allergens to Your Baby — fits naturally into the 6-month starting solids stage
Sources
NHS — Your Baby’s First Solid Foods | American Academy of Paediatrics — Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings | American Academy of Paediatrics — How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat? | CDC — How Much and How Often to Feed Infant Formula
