How much milk for your baby?
Enter their weight and age, or read the two tables: by age, using French AFPA guidance, and by weight, using Appert’s rule. These are broad reference ranges, not amounts your baby must reach.
Estimate an amount
Milk amounts by age
General references for a healthy, full-term, bottle-fed baby. Individual needs vary. These tables cannot assess your baby’s feeding or health.
| Baby’s age | Bottles over 24 h | Per bottle | Total over 24 h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth to 1 month | 6 to 8 | 60 to 90 ml | 420 to 720 ml |
| 1 to 2 months | 5 to 7 | 90 to 120 ml | 540 to 840 ml |
| 2 to 3 months | 5 to 6 | 120 to 150 ml | 600 to 900 ml |
| 3 to 4 months | 5 | 150 to 180 ml | 750 to 900 ml |
| 4 to 6 months | 4 to 5 | 180 ml | 720 to 1000 ml |
| 6 to 12 months | 3 to 4 | Varies with complementary feeding | Around 500 to 800 ml |
Source: mpedia (AFPA) — Milk amounts by age (in French), source updated 29 September 2026, checked 2 October 2026. After 6 months, the total includes milk and equivalent dairy foods. The daily ranges are AFPA’s separate approximate references, not the exact products of the other columns.
Milk amounts by weight
Appert’s rule starts with weight: one tenth of weight in grams, plus 200 to 250 ml, gives a rough 24-hour amount. It is intended as a reference while milk is the only food, before complementary feeding starts.
| Baby’s weight | Milk over 24 h |
|---|---|
| 3 kg | 500 to 550 ml |
| 3.5 kg | 550 to 600 ml |
| 4 kg | 600 to 650 ml |
| 4.5 kg | 650 to 700 ml |
| 5 kg | 700 to 750 ml |
| 5.5 kg | 750 to 800 ml |
| 6 kg | 800 to 850 ml |
| 6.5 kg | 850 to 900 ml |
| 7 kg | 900 to 950 ml |
Source: mpedia (AFPA) — Feeding from 0 to 4 months (in French), source updated 2 June 2025, checked 2 October 2026. For a weight between two rows, use the calculator.
How the calculator works
Two independent references are shown side by side because they use different methods.
Appert’s rule starts with weight. It is only a rough reference while milk is your baby’s sole food.
Age-based references from AFPA use the number of bottles and usual volume per feed. They do not account for weight: two babies of the same age may be very different sizes.
These estimates may overlap or differ. Their agreement does not show whether your baby is getting enough milk; growth, wet nappies, alertness and professional advice matter more. These tables cover up to 12 months. Once complementary feeding has started, the weight-based estimate is no longer suitable.
Read about fullness cues in our milk amounts by age guide.
What this tool cannot do
It does not account for individual circumstances: prematurity, low birth weight, reflux, cow’s milk protein allergy or concerns about weight gain. In these situations, follow advice from your paediatrician rather than a calculation.
It cannot tell you whether your baby drinks “enough”. Consider wet nappies, alertness and growth over time on their growth chart. Seek medical advice immediately if your baby is unusually drowsy, difficult to wake, less responsive or passing very little urine.
It does not apply to exclusive breastfeeding: you do not need to measure millilitres at the breast. Our guide to breastfeeding frequency provides relevant information.
PetitNid is not a medical device. If you have concerns, consult your paediatrician.
Frequently asked questions
How can I estimate a baby’s milk amount?
Appert’s rule estimates a 24-hour amount: one tenth of your baby’s weight in grams, plus 200 to 250 ml. For 4 kg, this gives 600 to 650 ml a day across their bottles. It is a rough reference while milk is the only food, not a target.
How much milk for a 5 kg baby?
Around 700 to 750 ml over 24 hours according to Appert’s rule, spread across the day’s bottles. This is a rough reference only while milk is the sole food, before complementary feeding starts. The weight table shows the same calculation from 3 to 7 kg. Follow hunger and fullness cues and seek advice if you have concerns.
How many bottles and how much at 1 month?
Between 1 and 2 months, AFPA’s general reference for healthy, full-term babies fed formula is 5 to 7 bottles of 90 to 120 ml, with a separate approximate daily reference of 540 to 840 ml over 24 hours. Needs vary between babies; these figures cannot assess whether an individual baby is getting enough milk.
How many bottles and how much at 3 months?
Between 3 and 4 months, AFPA’s general reference for healthy, full-term babies fed formula is 5 bottles of 150 to 180 ml, with a separate approximate daily reference of 750 to 900 ml over 24 hours. Growth over time is more informative than a single volume.
How much milk after 6 months?
Between 6 and 12 months, bottle amounts depend on complementary feeding. AFPA gives around 500 to 800 ml of milk or equivalent dairy foods a day, often with 3 to 4 bottles. AFPA describes milk as the main food until age 1.
Should I make my baby finish a bottle?
No. Turning away or leaving milk may mean your baby is full or needs a pause. Respect hunger and fullness cues. A persistent refusal to feed calls for medical advice.
Track feeds without counting everything again
Over time, the record can be more useful than a one-off estimate: what your baby drank yesterday and last week, alongside their growth and appetite.
PetitNid records bottles and breastfeeds, tracks milk stock in the fridge and freezer, and plots measurements on WHO percentile charts. The other parent sees the same information at the same time.
