Baby Feeding Schedule by Month (Table)

Short answer: feeding intervals widen with age. The 2-3 hour (8-12 feeds a day) interval of the newborn period extends to 3-4 hours by month 3 and 4 hours by month 6; after 6 months, as solids come in, milk feeds drop to 4-5 a day. The table below gives the intervals, number of feeds and typical amounts month by month. These are averages — your baby's hunger cues always come before the clock.

"How often should my baby feed?" is the most asked question of the first year. The answer isn't a single number, because your baby's stomach grows every month, their sleep pattern changes, and from month 6 solids rebuild the picture entirely. This guide takes 0 to 12 months month by month, giving the typical interval, number of feeds and amounts for each age in a table.

An important frame: the figures below are averages, not rules. A healthy baby's feeding pattern can vary from one day to the next. Trust your baby's hunger cues — rooting, bringing a hand to the mouth, becoming restless — more than the clock. Crying is a late sign of hunger; feeding before you get there makes it easier for both of you.

Baby Feeding Table by Month

Age	Feeding interval	Feeds per day	Typical amount per feed	Night feeds
0-1 month (newborn)	2-3 hours	8-12	30-90 ml	2-3
1-2 months	2.5-3.5 hours	7-9	90-120 ml	1-2
2-3 months	3-3.5 hours	6-8	120-150 ml	1-2
3-4 months	3-4 hours	6-7	120-180 ml	0-2
4-6 months	3.5-4 hours	5-6	150-210 ml	0-1
6-8 months	4 hours + 2 solid meals	4-5 milk	180-240 ml	0-1
8-10 months	4 hours + 3 solid meals	3-4 milk	180-240 ml	0-1
10-12 months	4-5 hours + 3 main meals + snack	3-4 milk	180-240 ml	Usually none

The amount column is for formula-fed babies. With breastfed babies, amounts aren't measured; duration (10-20 minutes on one side) and fullness cues are what you follow.

An important note on formula amounts: the millilitre figures in the table are general ranges by age group, not a prescription. Always prepare formula according to the scoop and dilution instructions on the tin; don't increase or reduce the measure on your own judgement. The daily amount your baby needs depends on their weight, rate of weight gain and health — your doctor determines that amount. Don't force-feed your baby; take note of the signs they're full (coming off the feed, turning the head away, hands relaxing).

0-1 Month: the Newborn Period

A newborn's stomach is the size of a cherry in the first days and about the size of an apricot by the end of the first week. So they feed little and often: 8-12 times a day, every 2-3 hours. Nights included.

There's one clear rule in this period: until your baby is back to birth weight, don't allow gaps longer than 3 hours in the day or 4 hours at night — wake them if necessary. Once past birth weight, healthy babies start setting their own rhythm.

We've covered newborn feeding in detail, including how to tell milk intake is adequate and the common problems, in our article on how often a newborn should feed.

1-2 Months: the Interval Widens Slightly

In the second month the interval extends to 2.5-3.5 hours and the number of feeds drops to 7-9. Because your baby can take more at each feed, the total number falls while the total amount rises.

Two things surprise parents in this period:

• Cluster feeding. Especially in the evening, your baby may want to feed repeatedly at short intervals. This is normal and helps increase milk supply.
• Longer sleep blocks at night. Some babies start giving a 4-5 hour stretch. That isn't an achievement but an individual difference — a baby who doesn't is equally normal.

2-3 Months: a Pattern Starts to Settle

The third month is when most parents get to breathe. The interval is 3-3.5 hours and the number of feeds 6-8. Your baby now behaves more predictably at certain times of day.

But there's a question that comes up often this month: "my baby suddenly wants to feed more — has my supply dropped?" Usually no. Growth spurts around month 3 cause a temporary increase lasting a few days. More frequent feeding increases supply alongside it; within a few days the rhythm returns to normal.

3-4 Months: Towards a 4-Hour Interval

The interval extends to 3-4 hours and feeds drop to 6-7. Night feeding stops entirely for some babies and continues once for others — both are normal.

The four-month sleep regression is common in this month and shakes up the feeding pattern too. A baby waking more often at night isn't necessarily hungry at every waking; they may be learning to return to sleep on their own. We've covered this period in detail in our baby sleep routine guide.

4-6 Months: the Last Stretch Before Solids

The interval is 3.5-4 hours and feeds 5-6. The most common mistake in this period is starting solids early. The World Health Organization recommends starting solids once 6 months are complete. A baby watching you eat or smacking their lips at 4 months doesn't mean they're ready; the readiness signs are sitting unsupported, losing the tongue-thrust reflex and reaching for food.

How often should a 5-month-old feed? The typical interval for this month is 3.5-4 hours, 5-6 feeds a day. The frequent waking and constant demand to feed seen at five months usually signals a developmental leap rather than a need for solids.

6-8 Months: Solids Come In

The sixth month changes the picture. Milk is still the main food — it stays that way through the first year — but solid meals are added alongside.

A typical 6-8 month pattern:

• 4-5 milk feeds, roughly 4 hours apart
• 1-2 solid meals (midday to start, then breakfast added)
• Solid meals go between milk feeds, not in place of them

We've set out how to start solids, the month-by-month food list and introducing allergens step by step in our starting solids guide.

8-10 Months: Moving to Three Meals

Solid meals go up to three (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and milk feeds drop to 3-4. The daytime interval is roughly 4 hours.

Is night feeding normal at 8 months? Yes. At this age some babies go through the night without feeding and others wake once. If daytime intake is adequate and weight gain is on track, night feeding doesn't have to stop. If you want to reduce it, strengthening daytime meals works better than cutting the night feed directly.

10-12 Months: Approaching Family Meals

The interval extends to 4-5 hours. The pattern now resembles an adult rhythm: three main meals, 1-2 snacks and 3-4 milk feeds. Your baby starts picking up finger foods themselves and drinking water from a cup.

A reduction in milk feeds is normal in this period and isn't cause for concern — as long as total daily milk stays around 500-600 ml and weight gain continues steadily.

Breast Milk and Formula: Why Are the Intervals Different?

Breast milk is digested faster than formula. So breastfed babies generally feed more often and formula-fed babies slightly less often. Both rhythms are healthy; there's no need to make one resemble the other.

	Breast milk	Formula
Digestion time	Shorter	Longer
Typical interval (first 3 months)	2-3 hours	3-3.5 hours
Measuring amounts	Not measured; fullness observed	Can be measured in ml
Night feeding	Usually continues longer	Can reduce earlier

How Do You Know Your Baby Is Feeding Enough?

You can't measure the milk by eye, but there are three reliable indicators:

1. Number of wet nappies. After the first week, 6 or more wet nappies a day is the most practical indicator of adequate intake.
2. Weight gain. Birth weight regained within the first 2 weeks, then steady progress along the percentile curve.
3. Behaviour after a feed. A satisfied baby settles, their hands relax, and they often drift off to sleep.

When one of those three changes — fewer wet nappies, a falling weight curve, or a baby who stays unsettled after feeding — see a doctor without waiting.

Is Keeping a Feeding Log Worth It?

In the early months, yes. Holding "what time was the last feed, which side did I start on, how many nappies today" in your head stops being possible after the second week. Keeping records has two concrete benefits:

• At check-ups. Giving the daily number of feeds and wet nappies as actual figures is far more useful than "I think it was normal."
• Seeing the pattern. Only a few days of records will show you when your baby genuinely gets hungry and whether night waking is related to feeding.

In Baby Wallie you can log feeds, sleep and nappies with a single tap, both parents can see the same records simultaneously, and you can produce a PDF summary before an appointment. We've written in detail about what to look for when choosing an app in our baby tracker app comparison.

When Should You See a Doctor?

In the situations below, the question of feeding intervals becomes secondary — see a doctor:

• Fewer than 6 wet nappies a day
• Not back to birth weight after two weeks, or continuing weight loss
• Marked reluctance to feed, lethargy, difficulty waking
• Projectile vomiting after every feed
• Going blue or struggling to breathe during a feed

This content is for general information. Always make decisions about your baby's feeding pattern together with your own doctor.