An 8-month-old typically drinks 24 to 32 ounces of formula per day, split across four to six feedings of 6 to 7 ounces each. Breastfed babies consume a similar total volume but regulate their own intake across nursing sessions. At this age, milk is still the primary source of nutrition, but solid foods are starting to play a bigger role in your baby’s diet.
Formula Amounts at 8 Months
Most 8-month-olds take 6 to 7 ounces of formula per feeding, spaced about three to four hours apart during the day. That works out to roughly four to six bottles in a 24-hour period. Some babies drink closer to the lower end of this range because they’re eating more solids, while others still rely heavily on formula and stay near the top.
A sample day from HealthyChildren.org (the American Academy of Pediatrics’ parent resource) shows 4 to 6 ounces of formula at breakfast, lunch, a morning snack, an afternoon snack, and dinner, plus 6 to 8 ounces before bedtime. That bedtime bottle tends to be the largest because it bridges the overnight stretch.
Breastfed Babies: What to Expect
Breastfed 8-month-olds generally nurse on demand, and the total daily volume is harder to pin down because you can’t measure what comes directly from the breast. Research on lactating women suggests most babies this age consume somewhere around 24 to 30 ounces of breast milk per day, though individual variation is wide. If you’re pumping and bottle-feeding breast milk, those numbers give you a reasonable target.
The CDC recommends continuing to breastfeed on demand, watching for hunger cues rather than sticking to a rigid schedule. Many 8-month-olds nurse four to six times a day, but some nurse more frequently for shorter sessions, especially if they’re teething or going through a developmental leap.
How Solids Change the Equation
Breast milk or formula remains the main source of nutrition through age one, but at 8 months, solids are gradually making up a larger share of your baby’s calories. The CDC recommends offering something to eat or drink about every two to three hours, which typically works out to three meals and two to three snacks per day.
In practice, most parents pair a milk feeding with each meal and offer solids alongside it or shortly after. You don’t need to replace bottles with food on a one-for-one basis. Instead, the balance shifts naturally: as your baby eats more table food, they’ll gradually drink a little less milk at certain feedings. Some feedings (like that bedtime bottle) may stay the same size for months.
A realistic 8-month-old day might look like this:
- Breakfast: cereal or scrambled egg with mashed fruit, plus breast milk or 4 to 6 ounces of formula
- Mid-morning snack: breast milk or 4 to 6 ounces of formula with diced cheese or soft vegetables
- Lunch: yogurt or pureed beans with cooked vegetables, plus breast milk or 4 to 6 ounces of formula
- Afternoon snack: soft fruit with a teething biscuit and a few ounces of water
- Dinner: diced meat or tofu with cooked vegetables and pasta, plus breast milk or 4 to 6 ounces of formula
- Bedtime: breast milk or 6 to 8 ounces of formula
Water at 8 Months
Once babies start solids, small amounts of water are fine. The CDC recommends 4 to 8 ounces of water per day for babies between 6 and 12 months. That’s just a few sips with meals, not a full bottle. Water at this age helps with digestion and gets your baby used to drinking from a cup, but it shouldn’t replace breast milk or formula.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Ounce counts are useful guidelines, but your baby’s hunger and fullness cues are more reliable than any chart. At 8 months, babies are expressive enough to show you when they’ve had enough. Signs of fullness include pushing the bottle or food away, closing their mouth when more is offered, turning their head, or using hand motions to signal they’re done.
Steady weight gain along your baby’s growth curve is the best long-term indicator that milk and food intake are on track. If your baby is gaining weight appropriately, producing six or more wet diapers a day, and seems satisfied after feedings, the exact ounce count matters less than the overall pattern. Babies who are going through a growth spurt may temporarily drink more, while a baby fighting a cold or cutting teeth might drink less for a few days. Both are normal.