Tools · Nutrition
Formula & Milk Intake Calculator
How much formula or expressed milk does a baby need? Enter the weight for daily and per-feed amounts under NHS and AAP guidance, with tables by weight and age.
Enter your baby's weight to see the daily amount under both guidelines.
For babies under about 6 months who are not yet eating solids, after the first week. In the first week babies take much less per feed. Always follow your paediatrician, especially for premature babies or medical conditions.
Published:
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician or doctor about your child.
Sources: WHO, CDC, AAP and NHS guidance. Recommendations differ between countries — for local advice see the NHS or CDC.
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Where the numbers come from
Two national guidelines are shown side by side. The NHS (UK) says that after the first week babies need around 150–200 ml per kg of their weight a day until about 6 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics says about 2½ ounces (75 ml) a day for every pound of body weight — roughly 165 ml per kg — and that babies should usually drink no more than an average of about 32 ounces (960 ml) in 24 hours.
Both are averages. Healthy babies regulate their own appetite, so growth and wet and dirty nappies tell you more than any single number. Divide the daily amount by the number of feeds to get an amount per feed.
Daily amount by weight
| Weight | NHS (150–200 ml/kg) | AAP (~165 ml/kg, max ~960 ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 450–600 ml | 495 ml |
| 4 kg | 600–800 ml | 660 ml |
| 5 kg | 750–1000 ml | 825 ml |
| 6 kg | 900–1200 ml | 960 ml * |
| 7 kg | 1050–1400 ml | 960 ml * |
* AAP: usually no more than about 960 ml a day.
Amount per feed by age (AAP)
| Age | Per feed | How often |
|---|---|---|
| First week | no more than about 30–60 ml | on demand |
| End of the first month | about 90–120 ml | about every 3–4 hours |
| 6 months | 180–240 ml | 4–5 feeds in 24 hours |
Sources: NHS — Formula milk: common questions · AAP (HealthyChildren.org) — Amount and Schedule of Baby Formula Feedings
Once you know roughly how much your baby drinks in a day, the formula tin calculator shows how many days a tin of formula lasts and how many tins you need a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the daily formula amount calculated?
This page shows two national guidelines side by side instead of one number. The NHS (UK) says around 150–200 ml per kg of body weight a day after the first week, until about 6 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics says about 2½ ounces (75 ml) a day for every pound — roughly 165 ml per kg. Divide the daily amount by the number of feeds for an amount per feed.
Is there a maximum amount per day?
The AAP says babies should usually drink no more than an average of about 32 ounces (960 ml) of formula in 24 hours, and to talk to your paediatrician if your baby consistently wants more. From about 6 months solid foods start to provide part of the day's nutrition, so milk usually decreases rather than keeps rising.
My baby is eating solids now — does this number still apply?
Once solids are introduced (usually around 6 months), milk or formula intake typically decreases gradually as food intake increases, rather than both increasing together. Treat the calculated range as a rough ceiling rather than a target once solids are a regular part of meals.
What if my baby wants more or less than this range?
Babies regulate their own appetite well when healthy — some feed slightly above or below typical ranges and grow completely normally. Use growth and wet/dirty diaper counts, not just volume, as the real markers of adequate intake, and bring any concerns to your pediatrician.
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That number is a guide, not a rule. Whispie logs what your baby actually drinks, one feed at a time — formula or expressed milk.
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