Feeding by age · Month 12
How much should a 12-month-old eat?
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
At 12 months, most formula-fed babies drink around 14 oz (400 ml) of milk a day across 2–3 feeds of about 6–8 oz (180–240 ml), alongside solid meals. Breastfed babies nurse on cue, often 2–5 times a day. This is the month many families switch from formula to whole milk. Follow your baby's cues.
- Per feed
- 6–8 oz (180–240 ml)
- Feeds / 24h
- 2–3
- Daily formula
- Around 14 oz (400 ml)
On this page
How much should a 12-month-old eat?
| Formula | Breast milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Per feed | 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) | 4–6 oz (120–180 ml) per bottle of expressed milk; at the breast, your baby leads |
| Feeds in 24 hours | 2–3 | 2–5 breastfeeds |
| Daily total | Around 14 oz (400 ml) before the switch | Varies; breastfeeding can continue alongside family foods |
| Typical gap | 2–3 milk drinks around meals | On cue |
What's different at 12 months?
At 12 months, the CDC says you can switch from infant formula to plain, unsweetened, pasteurized whole cow's milk, and the switch can be gradual.
The WHO recommends continuing breastfeeding up to two years or beyond, alongside family foods, for as long as you both want.
Food is now the main event: three meals a day plus snacks, with milk as a drink rather than the main source of nutrition.
Sample 12-month-old feeding schedule
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Milk feed: 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 8:00 am | Breakfast |
| 10:00 am | Snack |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 3:00 pm | Snack |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:00 pm | Milk feed: 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
Two milk drinks (morning and bedtime) around three meals and two snacks is a common shape at 12 months. Responsive feeding (offering milk when your baby shows hunger cues) matters more than the clock.
What are hunger and fullness cues at 12 months?
Hungry
- Reaches for or points to food
- Opens mouth when a spoon or food comes close
- Gets excited when food appears
- Uses sounds or hand motions to ask for more
Full
- Pushes food or the bottle away
- Closes mouth when food is offered
- Turns head away from food
- Uses sounds or hand motions to say they're done
What comes after 12 months?
After the first birthday, milk becomes one drink among many. Your pediatrician will guide amounts at the 12-month checkup.
Looking back: How much should an 11-month-old eat?
When to call your pediatrician
- A fever along with poor feeding, unusual sleepiness or fewer wet diapers, or any fever lasting more than a day.
- Far fewer wet diapers than usual (the AAP notes at least 4 wet diapers a day is reassuring), dark urine, a dry mouth or no tears.
- Refusing milk and food for most of a day, or feeding much less than usual for several days.
- Forceful or green vomiting, or vomiting with a swollen, hard belly.
- Red, black or white/pale gray poop, or large amounts of blood, mucus or water in the stool.
- Not gaining weight, or your pediatrician has asked you to watch intake and it's dropping.
- Trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, or your baby is limp or very hard to wake: call 911 (or your local emergency number) now.
If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and call. You never need a reason beyond worry.
Questions parents ask
How much milk should a 12-month-old drink?
Before the switch, the NHS guide for formula at 10 to 12 months is around 400 ml (about 14 oz) a day. After switching to whole cow's milk, ask your pediatrician how much is right, since too much milk can crowd out food.
How do I switch from formula to whole milk?
The CDC says the switch can be gradual. Many families swap one bottle or cup at a time over a week or two, or mix formula and whole milk for a few days.
Should I keep breastfeeding after 12 months?
If you both want to, yes. The WHO recommends continuing breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond, alongside safe family foods.
How do I know my 12-month-old is eating enough?
Steady growth at checkups, regular wet diapers and a baby with energy to play are the best signs. Intake varies from day to day as solids grow. If milk and food both drop for several days, or wet diapers do, call your pediatrician.
Related guides
- Baby feeding chart by age: ounces and mlA baby feeding chart from week 1 to 12 months: ounces and ml per feed, feeds per day and daily totals for formula and breast milk, with sources.
- How to tell if your baby is getting enough breast milkSigns a breastfed baby is getting enough: wet and dirty diapers by day, weight gain, swallowing and contentment after feeds, plus the warning signs to act on.
- Formula vs breast milk amounts: why the numbers differWhy breastfed babies take smaller bottles than formula-fed babies: daily totals by age, the 25 oz (750 ml) breast milk guide, and combo-feeding bottle sizes.
Free tools
Sources
Last reviewed November 2026. Numbers are ranges from these public health sources; 1 oz ≈ 30 ml.
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Feed Infant Formula
- World Health Organization: Breastfeeding
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Fever and Your Baby
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
Feedoo Baby shares general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. If you're worried about feeding, weight gain, diapers or your baby's health, call your pediatrician, midwife or health visitor.