One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “How much formula should my baby be having?”
The NHS provides helpful guidelines based on weight and age — but here’s the truth I always come back to:
👉 Your baby is not a robot.
Feeding isn’t just about maths. It’s about tuning in to your baby.
🍼 What Do the NHS Guidelines Say?
The NHS recommends that babies under 6 months have 150–200ml of formula per kilogram of body weight per day.
For example, if your baby weighs 4kg:
- That’s around 600–800ml per day, usually split into 6–8 feeds.
- That works out to about 100–135ml per feed.
From around 6 months, once your baby starts eating solids, formula gradually decreases to around 500–600ml per day.
These figures are a helpful starting point — but they’re not a rulebook.
💡 My Feeding Philosophy: Responsive, Always
Rather than sticking rigidly to a number, ask yourself:
- Is my baby content between feeds?
- Are they settled and happy — or restless and still rooting?
- Are they consistently draining their bottle?
If your baby is finishing every bottle, that’s a sign they may be ready for an extra ounce per feed.
✅ Aim to always have a little dribble of milk left in the bottle. That’s a good cue they’re full — without being overfed.
🌀 What If My Baby Guzzles Their Milk?
Some babies feed quickly because they’re natural guzzlers — but this doesn’t always mean they need more milk.
In fact, offering more too soon can lead to:
- Digestive discomfort
- Increased wind or reflux
- Overfeeding
Instead, consider:
- Switching to a slower flow teat
- Using paced bottle feeding, where you let your baby pause and take breaks to mimic breastfeeding
🧠 A Real Life Story – When Guidelines Miss the Bigger Picture
Recently, I visited a mum whose baby screamed day and night. He was agitated, couldn’t settle to sleep (even when held), and was having odd jerking movements. Understandably, she was terrified something was seriously wrong.
All his medical checks came back fine — but she’d been told strictly not to exceed the NHS formula calculation. She was following the rule to the millilitre.
I gently encouraged her to offer a bit more milk and let her baby decide when he was full.
✨ The result? He relaxed, stopped crying, and fell asleep peacefully in her arms. No more jerking, no more distress — just a baby who had been hungry.
🧡 The Takeaway: Trust Your Baby. Trust Your Gut.
Guidelines are helpful — but they’re not gospel. Your baby’s needs will change from day to day and week to week. The most important thing you can do is respond to them.
You are the expert on your baby. And when in doubt — always trust your gut.
If you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed, I’m here to help. I offer a free 15-minute call to support parents just like you with baby feeding support, bottle refusal, silent reflux, and general newborn support..
📞 Reach out or connect with me @thehappybabyexpert on instagram.
You don’t have to do this alone.