How much should my baby eat?

Your baby decides how much

The AAP puts it simply: your role is to offer healthy food in sensible portions, and your child’s role is to decide how much to eat. Babies are good at this. The CDC says your child doesn’t need to finish a bottle, a jar or a plate, and that food shouldn’t be used as a reward or punishment.

So the numbers below are a rough guide, not targets. Some days your baby will eat a lot, and some days hardly anything. The NHS says that’s perfectly normal.

Hunger and fullness cues

From about 6 months, the CDC says your baby may be hungry if they:

• reach for or point to food
• open their mouth when you offer a spoon or food
• get excited when they see food

They may be full if they:

• push food away
• close their mouth when food is offered
• turn their head away

When you see the full signs, stop. Don’t coax “one more bite.”

At 6 months: tastes, not meals

At first, the amount your baby eats matters much less than getting used to new tastes and textures. Breast milk or formula still gives them most of their energy and nutrients.

• Start with half a spoonful or less, building to a teaspoon or two, once or twice a day (AAP, NHS).
• The NHS describes first portions as “just a few pieces, or teaspoons of food.”
• Increase the amount gradually as your baby shows interest.

Formula-fed babies around 6 months typically drink 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) at each of 4–5 feeds in 24 hours, according to the AAP, and usually no more than about 32 oz (960 ml) a day. Breastfed babies feed on cue, and you don’t need to measure.

From 7 to 12 months: growing portions

Your baby will gradually eat more, moving toward 3 meals a day (see the baby feeding schedule). As they eat more food, they’ll want less milk.

The AAP’s sample menu for 8–12 months gives an idea of the range. At each meal it suggests a few foods, each about 2–4 oz (¼–½ cup, or 4–8 tablespoons), for example:

• Breakfast: 2–4 oz of iron-fortified cereal or 1 mashed or scrambled egg, plus 2–4 oz of mashed or diced soft fruit
• Lunch: 2–4 oz of yogurt, mashed beans or finely chopped meat, plus 2–4 oz of soft-cooked orange vegetables
• Dinner: 2–4 oz of diced, soft-cooked poultry, meat or tofu, with soft-cooked vegetables and pasta or potato

Treat these as examples, not minimums. The AAP’s advice is to watch for cues that your baby has had enough, and not to overfeed.

Milk is still important. The AAP says babies 8–12 months need about 750–900 calories a day, with about 400–500 from breast milk or formula, roughly 24 oz (710 ml) a day if formula fed.

From 12 months to 3 years: toddler portions

After the first birthday, many parents notice a sharp drop in appetite. The AAP says this is normal: growth slows down, so toddlers don’t need as much food as you might expect.

• How much a day: about 1,000 calories for a 1-year-old, spread across 3 meals and 2 snacks (AAP). For ages 1 to 3, another AAP rule of thumb is about 40 calories for every inch of height, so a 32-inch toddler needs about 1,300 calories a day. It varies with build and activity.
• How much on the plate: about a quarter of an adult portion (AAP). For cooked vegetables, the AAP’s rule of thumb is about 1 tablespoon per year of age. Other foods have their own sizes, such as about 1 oz of meat or 2 tablespoons of cooked beans or lentils.

The AAP’s example of an average toddler-sized meal:

• 1 oz (30 g) of meat, or 2–3 tablespoons of beans
• 1–2 tablespoons of vegetables
• 1–2 tablespoons of fruit
• ¼ slice of bread

Serve less than you think your child will eat, and let them ask for more. Toddler eating is famously uneven: the AAP notes a child may eat everything at breakfast and almost nothing for the rest of the day, and it usually balances out over several days.

Keep pieces safe for their age: soft, and cut small. Grapes and cherry tomatoes still need to be cut lengthwise into quarters.

Signs your baby is getting enough

The AAP’s rule of thumb: a child who is growing well is getting enough to eat. Your pediatrician or health visitor tracks growth at checkups.

Talk to your doctor if:

• you’re worried your child is eating too much or too little (CDC)
• your baby has fewer wet diapers than usual, seems unusually sleepy, or has no tears when crying: these can be signs of dehydration (AAP)
• your child has trouble chewing or swallowing

Where US and UK advice differs

• How much milk near 12 months. The AAP’s 8–12 month menu includes about 24 oz (710 ml) of breast milk or formula a day. The NHS gives lower guides for formula: about 600 ml (20 oz) a day at 7–9 months and about 400 ml (13½ oz) a day at 10–12 months.
• Portion guidance. The AAP gives measured portions in ounces and tablespoons. The NHS mostly avoids measured food portions beyond “a few pieces, or teaspoons” at the start, and focuses on going at your baby’s pace and stopping when they’ve had enough.

In the US, your pediatrician can help if you’re unsure about amounts.In the UK, your health visitor can help if you’re unsure about amounts.Your doctor or child health nurse can help if you’re unsure about amounts.

Want ideas for what to serve? See what to feed at 6 months and iron-rich first foods.