Baby Formula by Age: Feeding From Birth Through the First Year

Those 2 a.m. feedings may be a familiar part of life with a new baby, but knowing how much and how often your baby should eat can take some time to figure out. A baby’s nutritional needs change quickly during the first year as they grow, develop, and eventually begin eating solid foods.

Babies cannot tell you exactly how much they need, but they do provide hunger and fullness cues that can help guide feedings. Your pediatrician can also help you understand how your baby’s feeding needs may change with age, growth, and development. Here is a closer look at what formula feeding can look like from birth through your baby’s first year.

Newborns

Newborns need to eat frequently because their stomachs are small and can only hold a limited amount at each feeding. For most healthy, full-term newborns, feeding should generally follow the baby’s hunger cues. Bottle-fed newborns commonly eat about every two to three hours, although individual feeding patterns can vary.

During the newborn stage, properly prepared infant formula should provide a baby’s nutrition and hydration. If you are formula feeding, follow the preparation instructions carefully and talk with your pediatrician if you are unsure how much or how often your baby should eat.

Newborns should not be given plain water, juice, solid foods, or other drinks unless specifically recommended by a healthcare provider. Additional foods and drinks are not needed at this age and may be unsafe or interfere with the nutrition a newborn needs from breast milk or formula.

After the First Month

During the first several months, breast milk or infant formula should remain your baby’s primary source of nutrition. Babies this age do not need juice, solid foods, or cow’s milk as a drink. Cow’s milk should not replace breast milk or infant formula before 12 months because it does not provide the right balance of nutrients for infants and can be harmful to their intestinal tract.

As babies grow, they typically begin taking more at each feeding and may go longer between bottles. By the end of the first month, many formula-fed babies take about 3 to 4 ounces per feeding every three to four hours. Feeding amounts generally increase gradually over the following months.

Rather than focusing on an exact number of ounces at each age, pay attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues. Some babies prefer smaller, more frequent feedings, while others take larger bottles less often.

What matters most is that your baby is feeding comfortably, producing an appropriate number of wet diapers, and gaining weight as expected. Your pediatrician can help you determine whether your baby’s feeding pattern and growth are on track.

Up to Six Months

Around six months, many babies begin showing signs that they are ready for solid foods. Readiness cues can include sitting with support, having good head control, showing interest in food, and opening their mouth when food is offered.

When solids are introduced, breast milk or infant formula should remain your baby’s primary source of nutrition. Solid foods are meant to complement milk or formula rather than replace feedings at this stage.

Good first foods can include soft or pureed fruits and vegetables, iron-fortified infant cereals, and pureed meats. Iron-rich foods are especially important around this age because babies’ iron needs increase as they grow.

Introduce foods in textures that are appropriate for your baby’s developmental stage, and talk with your pediatrician if you are unsure whether your baby is ready to begin solids.

The Second Six Months of Baby’s First Year

From about six to 12 months, solid foods gradually become a bigger part of your baby’s diet. As babies develop better head control, learn to sit, and become more comfortable swallowing different textures, they can begin trying a wider variety of foods.

Breast milk or infant formula should remain an important source of nutrition throughout the first year. Solid foods complement those feedings rather than replacing them all at once.

As your baby becomes more comfortable eating, you can gradually introduce foods with different tastes and textures, such as pureed or mashed fruits and vegetables, iron-rich meats and cereals, soft grains, and age-appropriate finger foods. The amount of solid food your baby eats will generally increase over time as their feeding skills develop.

There is no single feeding schedule that works for every baby. Some may eat several small meals or snacks along with formula, while others may take longer to become interested in solid foods. Continue paying attention to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues and talk with your pediatrician if you have concerns about how much your baby is eating or how they are growing.

By around 12 months, many babies are eating a wider variety of solid foods and beginning to transition away from infant formula. For most healthy children, whole cow’s milk can be introduced at 12 months, while breastfeeding can continue for as long as parent and child desire. Toddler formula is generally not necessary unless your pediatrician recommends it for a specific nutritional or medical reason.

Entering Toddlerhood

Around the first birthday, your child will likely be eating a wider variety of solid foods and becoming more involved in family meals. This is also a common time to begin transitioning away from bottles and encouraging drinking from an open or straw cup.

Toddlers can eat many of the same nutritious foods as the rest of the family, as long as foods are prepared in age-appropriate sizes and textures to reduce the risk of choking. Continue offering a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy foods as your child develops their eating skills and preferences.

After 12 months, most children can begin drinking whole cow’s milk. Fortified, unsweetened soy milk may be an appropriate alternative for some children, but other plant-based beverages may not provide the same amounts of protein and other nutrients. Talk with your pediatrician if your child cannot drink cow’s milk or has special nutritional needs.

Plain water and milk are the preferred everyday drinks for toddlers. Juice is not necessary, but if you choose to offer it after 12 months, use 100% fruit juice and keep portions small. Whole fruit is generally a better choice because it also provides fiber.

What to Watch as Feeding Changes

Babies develop feeding skills at different rates. Around six months, many show signs of readiness for solid foods, such as good head and neck control and interest in food. If your baby is not showing readiness or has difficulty with feeding, talk with your pediatrician.

As you introduce solid foods, there is no need to add sugar or salt to make them more appealing. Babies are still learning new tastes and textures, and foods without added sugars or excess sodium can provide the nutrition they need while helping them become familiar with a variety of flavors.

Some babies eagerly accept new foods, while others may need to be offered the same food several times before becoming comfortable with it. Follow your baby’s hunger and fullness cues, offer a variety of age-appropriate foods, and let your pediatrician monitor whether your baby is growing and developing as expected.

Throughout the first year, infant formula remains an important source of nutrition while solid foods are gradually introduced. If your baby uses formula, you should be able to trust that the product is safe. Premature infants can have different feeding needs and face a greater risk of NEC. If your baby was born at 36 weeks gestation or earlier, was fed qualifying infant formula or fortifier shortly after birth, and then developed NEC, Morgan & Morgan can review what happened and help you understand your legal options. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.