How much formula should my 9 month old drink per day?

Question

My daughter just turned 9 months today. She seems less interested in formula every day. How much does she need to consume?? She eats cereal for breakfast, applesauce for lunch, and two jars of baby food for dinner. Help!

Answer 1

It sounds like she's doing great with the solid food. I would only give her about 24 oz of formula a day. You can give her water in a sippy cup with meals if she seems thirsty.

Answer 2

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I feed my guys nurse-solids-bottles (back to back) 3 times a day, and give a bottle before bed also. They will be 8 months on Monday. Your daughter is about right. Maybe a bit high on the formula side (18 -32 is average), but still in the average range. Perhaps offer water instead of formula with just one of the meals? Water with lunch or dinner? If she isn't overweight then don't worry about it. Older infants eat ALOT, but it slows down ALOT when they become toddlers. It shocks people how much a baby eats, and how little a toddler does. Just be prepared for the slow down coming in a few months, and don't give her junkier foods instead. A toddler should start to eat less and become more slender, but a baby is growing fast and should be chunky.

Answer 3

The rule I have seen on several sites is that if your baby between 6months - 1year is eating less than 20 oz per day you need to decrease the amount of solids, and if that doesn't work go to the doctor. However these same sites often say that babies should eat 2 - 3.5 oz for each lbs of body weight per day up to a maximum of 32oz a day. I just don't see why a larger baby couldn't eat more than that.

However formula (or preferably breastmilk) should make up the majority of calories for the first year and beyond as it has more nutrition than any other food, more calories than most foods, and the right ratio of protein to carbs for a growing body, and the perfect percentage of fat.

Answer 4

Feedings: Your breast fed infant is often breast feeding only 3 to 4 times per day and formula fed infants are usually taking 3 or 4 6 to 8 oz bottles per day. This age group usually wants baby food 3 times a day and is ready for finger foods (Cheerios, crackers). If your child has mastered finger foods, it is also okay to begin offering more and more table food after 9 months of age. Make sure the pieces of normal table food meats, veggies, fruit, and breads are tiny enough to be swallowed whole. Water and 50% diluted juice with water can be offered via sippee cups at this age.

Some choking hazards include: peanuts, popcorn, hard candy, raw vegetables, sausages, hot dogs, grapes, and raisins.

Answer 5

If she doesn't want it anymore then I would mix it in with her cereal, applesauce and baby food dinners. My oldest daughters were eating table food at nine months and didn't have an interest in formula anymore. They turned out to be very bright, intellegent young ladies despite their lack of formula before they turned 1. Now my youngest daughter lived on formula and cereal until she was a year old. She would barely touch food. My point is that all babies are different. They develop differently and at different times. If your child would prefer to get her nutrients from food then I would let her. You'll see that she'll turn out just fine. Good luck and God bless!

Answer 6

I got this pamphlet from my WIC office and it seems pretty decent as far as information is concerned.

End of 8th mo- 26-32 oz
End of 9th mo- 22-30oz

I know you didnt ask about solids..but im throwing it in there as well!
1/3-1/2 cup cereal once a day
1/2-1 stage 2 jar strained veggies or 1/4 cup well cooked mashed veggies twice a day
1/2=1 stage 2 jar strained or 1/4 cup soft mashed fruit twice a day
1/4-1/3 stage 2 strained meat or poultry
1-2 oz juice from a cup
2-4 saltine squares.

You can also start offering her soft tender food cut in tiny pieces to see how she does..and even yogurt and cheese.
Hope this helps!

Answer 7

How much formula you should give your baby depends on his age, weight, and whether you're feeding him only formula or using it in combination with breast milk or solids. But here are some guidelines you might find helpful:

Take your baby's cues
The most important guideline is your baby's behavior. Babies will eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. Don't expect a newborn — or any baby, for that matter — to follow a schedule or mathematical rule.

Needs and appetites vary with each baby, and most babies change from day to day and month to month. The important thing is that you learn to read your baby's cues.

While it might seem easy to respond to your baby's every need with a bottle, for example, you'll want to make sure that he isn't crying for some other reason. If your baby's hungry, he might show signs like lip smacking, rooting (turning his head toward your hand when you stroke his cheek), and putting his hands to his mouth. You'll develop a sense that your baby wants more than you're giving him when he finishes the feeding quickly and looks around for more. (If your baby seems hungry after his initial bottle, prepare just an ounce more at a time, because if you make a larger amount, he may not finish it and it'll go to waste.)

Multiply your baby's weight times 2.5 ounces
If your baby isn't eating any solids (as he shouldn't before 4 to 6 months of age), the general rule of thumb is to offer him 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. So if your baby weighs 6 pounds, you'll give him about 15 ounces of formula in a 24-hour period. If he weighs 10 pounds, he should drink 25 ounces in a 24-hour period.

Consider your baby's age
How much formula your baby needs depends not only on his weight but also on his age. If you're starting a newborn on formula, try giving him only an ounce or two at each feeding for the first week. Let his hunger guide you.

By the time he's about 1 month old, he'll probably be up to 3 or 4 ounces at each feeding and will consume 18 to 32 ounces in one day. From the age of 2 months to 6 months, you should be feeding your baby 4 to 6 ounces at a feeding, and he'll take in 23 to 32 ounces a day. (Some parents find that an increase of about one ounce per month works out about right.)

Once your baby reaches 6 months, you can feed him 6 to 8 ounces at a feeding, up to around 32 ounces of formula per day. At this point you should start adding solid foods to his diet, if you haven't already. You'll find that as your baby gets older, he will drink fewer bottles with more formula.

If you're worried that your baby isn't eating enough, take a look at his weight gain and talk with his doctor. She can tell you whether your baby's intake is appropriate for his size and age, and advise you about changes you should make to adapt to your baby's individual needs.