A 5-month-old typically drinks 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula per day, spread across five to six feedings. The exact amount depends on your baby’s weight, whether they’re breastfed or formula-fed, and their individual appetite, but that range covers the vast majority of healthy babies at this age.
Formula-Fed Babies
At 5 months, most formula-fed babies take 6 to 7 ounces per bottle, five to six times in a 24-hour period. That puts the daily total somewhere between 28 and 32 ounces. A useful rule of thumb: babies need about 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. So a 14-pound baby would need roughly 35 ounces in theory, but the practical ceiling is about 32 ounces. Most pediatricians recommend capping intake around that mark because babies who consistently drink more than 32 ounces daily may be overfed.
Not every feeding will be the same size. Your baby might drain a full 7-ounce bottle after a long nap and only take 4 ounces an hour later. That’s normal. What matters is the total over a full day, not any single bottle.
Breastfed Babies
Breastfed 5-month-olds typically consume 24 to 30 ounces per day, taking in about 3 to 4 ounces per feeding. The number of feedings tends to be higher than with formula, often 6 to 8 times in 24 hours, because breast milk digests faster.
If you’re nursing directly, you obviously can’t measure ounces. Instead, you’re watching for signs your baby is eating enough (more on that below). If you’re pumping and bottle-feeding expressed milk, the 3-to-4-ounce-per-feed range is a good starting guide, and you can adjust based on whether your baby still seems hungry or leaves milk in the bottle.
One thing that surprises many parents: breast milk intake stays relatively flat from about 1 month to 6 months of age. Unlike formula intake, which gradually increases, breastfed babies tend to hover in that 24-to-30-ounce window for months because the composition of breast milk changes over time to meet their growing needs.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Getting Enough
The most reliable sign is steady weight gain at your pediatrician’s checkups. Between appointments, diaper output is your best daily indicator. A well-fed 5-month-old produces at least six wet diapers per day. Fewer than that can signal they’re not taking in enough fluid.
Hunger and fullness cues also help you gauge whether you’re on the right track. A baby who is still hungry will root toward the bottle or breast, suck on their hands, or fuss shortly after a feeding ends. A baby who’s had enough will close their mouth, turn their head away from the bottle or breast, and relax their hands. Following these cues, rather than pushing a baby to finish a set number of ounces, helps prevent both underfeeding and overfeeding.
What About Solids?
Some babies start solid foods around 5 months, and parents often wonder whether that changes how much milk they need. At this age, the answer is: not really. Breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition for the entire first year. Any solids your baby eats at 5 or 6 months are for exploration and practice, not calories. If your baby has started trying purees or cereal, offer milk first and solids afterward so they fill up on the most nutritionally complete food before experimenting with new textures.
As babies move toward 9 months, the order flips and solids take on a larger role. But at 5 months, don’t reduce milk volume to make room for solid food. The daily ounce targets stay the same whether or not your baby is sampling a spoonful of sweet potato.
When Intake Seems Too High or Too Low
Babies who consistently drink well over 32 ounces of formula per day may be using the bottle for comfort rather than hunger. Offering a pacifier between feedings, or slowing the flow with a slower-nipple bottle, can help. On the other end, a baby who regularly takes less than 24 ounces and seems fussy, isn’t producing enough wet diapers, or is falling off their growth curve may need a feeding evaluation.
Temporary dips in appetite are common during teething, minor illnesses, or developmental leaps. A day or two of lighter eating usually isn’t a concern as long as your baby bounces back and stays hydrated. A pattern of low intake over several days is worth discussing with your pediatrician.
Quick Reference by Feeding Type
- Formula-fed: 6 to 7 ounces per feeding, 5 to 6 feedings per day, 28 to 32 ounces total
- Breastfed (pumped bottles): 3 to 4 ounces per feeding, 6 to 8 feedings per day, 24 to 30 ounces total
- Weight-based estimate: 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight per day, up to about 32 ounces
- Adequate hydration sign: at least 6 wet diapers in 24 hours