Feeding by age · Week 6
How much should a 6-week-old eat?
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
Most 6-week-olds take about 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) of formula or expressed breast milk per feed, 6–8 times in 24 hours, for roughly 22–32 oz (660–960 ml) a day. Breastfed babies usually nurse 8–12 times a day. Around 6 weeks many babies have a growth spurt and feed more for a few days. Follow your baby's cues.
- Per feed
- 3–5 oz (90–150 ml)
- Feeds / 24h
- 6–8
- Daily formula
- 22–32 oz (660–960 ml)
On this page
- How much should a 6-week-old eat?
- What's happening at 6 weeks?
- How much formula does a 6-week-old need by weight?
- Sample 6-week-old feeding schedule
- What are hunger and fullness cues at 6 weeks?
- Is there a growth spurt at 6 weeks?
- What changes next week?
- When to call your pediatrician
- Questions parents ask
- Sources
How much should a 6-week-old eat?
| Formula | Breast milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Per feed | 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) | 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) per bottle of expressed milk; at the breast, your baby leads |
| Feeds in 24 hours | 6–8 | 8–12 breastfeeds |
| Daily total | 22–32 oz (660–960 ml) | About 700–900 ml (23.5–30 oz) |
| Typical gap | Every 3–4 hours (closer during a spurt) | Every 2–3 hours, sometimes hourly in a spurt |
What's happening at 6 weeks?
Around six weeks many babies have another growth spurt, so expect a few days of extra feeds and shorter gaps. It passes.
Babies are more alert now. Feeds can get distracted as your baby looks around, so a quieter room helps, especially during the day.
Formula-fed babies commonly take 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) per feed. Breastfed babies still nurse often; extra nursing during a spurt is how supply keeps up.
How much formula does a 6-week-old need by weight?
The AAP's rule of thumb uses weight instead of age: about 2½ oz of formula per pound of body weight a day, and no more than about 32 oz (960 ml). In the UK, the NHS uses a similar guide of 150–200 ml per kg a day after the first week. Both are rough checks, not targets.
| Baby's weight | Per day (AAP, 2½ oz per lb) | Per feed at 6–8 feeds |
|---|---|---|
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | About 22.5 oz (675 ml) | 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | About 25 oz (750 ml) | 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) |
| 11 lb (5 kg) | About 27.5 oz (825 ml) | 3.5–4.5 oz (105–135 ml) |
Sample 6-week-old feeding schedule
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2:00 am | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 5:00 am | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 8:00 am | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 11:00 am | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 2:00 pm | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 4:30 pm | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 6:30 pm | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 9:30 pm | Milk feed: 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
During the 6-week spurt, add a feed or two wherever your baby asks, often late afternoon and evening. Responsive feeding (offering milk when your baby shows hunger cues) matters more than the clock.
What are hunger and fullness cues at 6 weeks?
Hungry
- Rooting toward your chest or the bottle
- Fists to mouth and sucking sounds
- Puckering or smacking lips, clenched hands
- Fussing that builds; crying comes later
Full
- Closes mouth or pushes the nipple out with the tongue
- Turns head away from the breast or bottle
- Relaxed, open hands
- Fidgety or easily distracted once the edge is off
Is there a growth spurt at 6 weeks?
Growth spurt notes
USDA WIC lists 6 weeks as one of the common growth-spurt times (with 2–3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months). Spurts usually last a few days, and your baby may not follow the dates exactly.
What changes next week?
By week 7 many bottle-fed babies move to 4–5 oz (120–150 ml) per feed with fewer feeds a day.
Read next: How much should a 7-week-old eat?
When to call your pediatrician
- A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby 3 months or younger. The AAP says to call right away, even if your baby seems otherwise well.
- Fewer wet diapers than expected for their age (fewer than 6 a day from about day 5), or dark yellow urine.
- Very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, floppy, or unusually quiet.
- Refusing feeds, or feeding poorly several times in a row.
- Signs of dehydration: dry mouth, no tears, or a sunken soft spot on the head.
- Forceful or green vomiting, or vomiting after most feeds.
- Red, black (after the first meconium poops) or white/pale gray poop.
- Yellow skin or eyes that spread or deepen, or any yellow color in the first 24 hours.
- 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 should a 6-week-old eat?
Usually 3–5 oz (90–150 ml) per feed, 6–8 times a day, or roughly 22–32 oz (660–960 ml) in total. Breastfed babies nurse 8–12 times in 24 hours, sometimes more during a growth spurt.
Is there a 6-week growth spurt?
Many babies have one. USDA WIC lists growth spurts around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, usually lasting a few days. Your baby may not follow these dates exactly.
Should I add formula during the 6-week growth spurt?
Not necessarily. For breastfed babies, extra nursing is how supply catches up. If you're worried about intake (fewer wet diapers or slow weight gain), talk with your pediatrician or a lactation consultant before changing the plan.
How do I know my 6-week-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.
- Newborn feeding schedule: what a day really looks likeSample newborn feeding schedules for breastfed, formula-fed and combo-fed babies, from the first week to 3 months, with feeds per day and gaps between feeds.
- Paced bottle feeding, step by stepHow to pace a bottle feed: positioning, a horizontal bottle, breaks every few sucks and fullness cues. Works for breast milk and formula, and for every caregiver.
Free tools
Sources
Last reviewed November 2026. Numbers are ranges from these public health sources; 1 oz ≈ 30 ml.
- USDA WIC Breastfeeding Support: Cluster Feeding and Growth Spurts
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How Much Formula Does My Baby Need?
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Breastfeed
- 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.