A 3-month-old usually eats every 3 to 4 hours, about 24 to 32 ounces of formula in a day. Follow your pediatrician’s advice.
Typical feeding
A 3-month-old formula-fed baby usually takes 4 to 6 ounces per feeding, every 3 to 4 hours, for a total of 24 to 32 ounces a day. A breastfed baby usually nurses 7 to 9 times per 24 hours.
Hunger cues
Rooting, sucking on hands, fussing.
Fullness cues
Turns away, slows down, relaxes hands.
Growth
Babies gain about 5 to 7 ounces a week.
Safe feeding
Never prop a bottle. No water, juice or solids before about 6 months (AAP).
Night feeds
Many babies still need one or two.
Call the pediatrician if
Baby is not gaining weight, has fewer than 6 wet diapers a day or refuses to eat.
Note
Each baby differs, so follow your pediatrician’s advice.
Typical feeding
At 3 months, most babies drink 4 to 6 ounces of breast milk or formula at each feeding, about every 3 to 4 hours, for a total of 24 to 32 ounces in 24 hours. That means around 6 to 8 feedings a day. Breastfed babies may feed 8 or more times in 24 hours, and the amount per feeding varies. Formula fed babies tend to have slightly longer gaps.
Hunger cues
- Putting hands to mouth.
- Rooting, turning the head and opening the mouth.
- Smacking lips or sucking on fists.
- Fussing or squirming.
- Crying is a late sign. Feed before the baby reaches the stage of crying.
Fullness cues
- Turning away from the nipple or bottle.
- Closing the mouth.
- Slowing down or stopping sucking.
- Relaxed hands and body.
Do not force a baby to finish a bottle. Responsive feeding supports healthy weight gain.
Growth and growth spurts
A 3 month old gains about 5 to 7 ounces a week. Growth spurts around 3 months and 6 weeks make babies hungrier for a few days, and they may feed more often. This is normal, and supply catches up.
Safe feeding
- Breast milk or iron fortified formula only. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, and solid foods are introduced around 6 months, when the baby can sit with support and shows interest.
- No water, juice, cereal or honey before 12 months for honey.
- Do not prop a bottle.
- Hold the baby semi-upright, and burp during and after feeds.
- Prepare formula exactly as directed, and discard leftover milk after 1 hour.
Night feeds
Many 3 month olds still wake once or twice at night to feed. Some sleep a 5 to 6 hour stretch. Do not drop night feeds without discussing with the pediatrician, especially if the baby is not gaining weight well.
Call the pediatrician if
The baby has fewer than 6 wet diapers a day, refuses feeds for more than a few feeds, vomits forcefully, has blood in stool, is very sleepy, has fever of 100.4 F or higher, or is not gaining weight.
Note
Every baby differs, so follow your pediatrician’s growth chart guidance.
Feeding amounts and routines
At 3 months, formula-fed babies usually take about 4 to 6 ounces per feeding every 3 to 4 hours, for 24 to 32 ounces per day. Breastfed babies typically nurse 8 to 12 times per day. Growth spurts occur around 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months and may bring more frequent feeding for a few days. Babies should not have solid foods until about 6 months, per the AAP and WHO, and signs of readiness include sitting with support and good head control. Never prop a bottle. Wet diapers (at least 5 to 6 per day) and steady weight gain show babies are getting enough. Check with a pediatrician for slow weight gain or feeding refusal.
Based on data from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC
