🍼Baby Formula Calculator

About this tool

Enter your baby's weight and age, and how much water one scoop of your formula is for (it's on the tin). The tool shows a typical daily range, the usual number of feeds for that age, a rough amount per feed and the number of scoops, in mL or fl oz. From six months it reminds you that solid food changes the numbers. Nothing is stored.

How much formula babies need

For babies under about six months who are fed only formula, the NHS suggests around 150–200 mL per kg of body weight a day. The American Academy of Pediatrics' rule of thumb is about 2.5 fl oz per pound, with most babies needing no more than about 32 fl oz (950 mL) a day. A 5 kg baby therefore drinks roughly 750–950 mL a day. Feeds get bigger and less frequent with age: newborns often feed 8–12 times a day in small amounts, falling to about 6–7 feeds by two months and 5–6 by four to six months, so a 5 kg two-month-old takes about 120–140 mL a feed. From around six months, solid food gradually takes over and formula amounts fall. Scoop sizes are not standard. Many UK formulas use one level scoop per 30 mL of water and many US formulas one per 2 fl oz (60 mL), so always check your tin. Never add extra powder or extra water, because the wrong concentration can make a baby ill. Honest limits: these are averages, and babies vary from feed to feed and day to day. Responsive feeding (watching for hunger and fullness cues rather than finishing every bottle), plenty of wet nappies and steady weight gain matter more than hitting a number. Ask your health visitor, midwife or doctor if you're worried. Not medical advice. The baby tracker logs feeds and the baby age calculator works out your baby's age.

Frequently asked questions