Feeding by age · Month 6
How much should a 6-month-old eat?
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
Most 6-month-olds take about 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) of formula or expressed breast milk per feed, 4–5 times in 24 hours, for roughly 24–32 oz (720–960 ml) a day. Breastfed babies usually nurse 5–8 times a day. Solid foods usually start around now, but milk is still the main food. Follow your baby's cues.
- Per feed
- 6–8 oz (180–240 ml)
- Feeds / 24h
- 4–5
- Daily formula
- 24–32 oz (720–960 ml)
On this page
How much should a 6-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 | 4–5 | 5–8 breastfeeds |
| Daily total | 24–32 oz (720–960 ml) | Around 750 ml (25 oz), easing as solids grow |
| Typical gap | Every 4–5 hours | Every 3–4 hours, on cue |
What's different at 6 months?
The AAP describes six-month-olds taking 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) at each of 4–5 feeds in 24 hours. Solid foods usually start around this time.
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, then adding safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues. For formula-fed babies, formula stays the main drink alongside first tastes.
First foods are mostly practice. Expect a few spoonfuls or tastes once a day at first; milk still provides most of your baby's nutrition.
Sample 6-month-old feeding schedule
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00 am | Milk feed: 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 11:00 am | Milk feed: 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 12:00 pm | Solids practice: a few tastes |
| 3:00 pm | Milk feed: 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 7:00 pm | Milk feed: 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
Four milk feeds plus one short solids session is a gentle way to start. A fifth feed is fine if your baby wants it. Responsive feeding (offering milk when your baby shows hunger cues) matters more than the clock.
What are hunger and fullness cues at 6 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
Is there a growth spurt at 6 months?
Growth spurt notes
USDA WIC lists 6 months as another common growth-spurt time. A few hungrier days are normal.
What about solid foods?
The NHS describes three readiness signs that appear together, usually around 6 months:
- Can stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady
- Coordinates eyes, hands and mouth to look at food, pick it up and bring it to their mouth
- Swallows food rather than pushing it back out
Until your baby shows all three, milk is enough. Once you start, offer small amounts and let your baby decide how much to eat.
What changes next month?
At 7 months, many babies eat solids once or twice a day, and milk drops toward about 600 ml (20 oz) a day for formula-fed babies (NHS).
Read next: How much should a 7-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 formula does a 6-month-old need?
About 6–8 oz (180–240 ml) per feed, 4–5 times a day, according to the AAP. Most babies stay at or under 32 oz (960 ml) a day, and the total often dips slowly as solids increase.
Should I give milk or solids first at 6 months?
Many families offer milk first while solids are new, so your baby isn't too hungry to try food. The CDC suggests breastfeeding before offering solids if your baby seems less interested in the breast.
What are the signs my 6-month-old is ready for solids?
The NHS lists three: your baby can stay sitting and hold their head steady, can coordinate eyes, hands and mouth to look at food and bring it to their mouth, and can swallow food rather than spit it back out.
How do I know my 6-month-old is getting enough milk?
Look at diapers and growth more than ounces. Six or more wet diapers a day, regular poops, a baby who seems content after most feeds, and steady weight gain at checkups are the signs the AAP points to. If any of these slip, 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.
- Cluster feeding: what's normal and how to get through itCluster feeding is feeds bunched together, often in the evening. When it happens, how long it lasts, how to tell it from low supply, and how to cope.
- 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.
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Amount and Schedule of Formula Feedings
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?
- World Health Organization: Breastfeeding
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Breastfeed
- USDA WIC Breastfeeding Support: Cluster Feeding and Growth Spurts
- 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.