An 11-month-old typically needs 6 to 7 ounces of formula per bottle, with 3 to 4 bottles spread throughout the day. That puts the total daily intake somewhere around 18 to 28 ounces, though most babies at this age land closer to 24 ounces as solid foods take up a bigger share of their diet.
Daily Formula Amount and Schedule
At 10 to 12 months, babies generally drink 6 to 7 ounces every 4 to 6 hours, according to UC Davis Health guidelines. With 3 to 4 feedings per day, a typical schedule might look like a bottle at wake-up, one mid-morning or early afternoon, one in the late afternoon, and one before bed. Some babies naturally drop to three bottles a day by this age, while others still want four. Both are normal.
Formula remains the primary source of nutrition through age 12 months, but solid foods should be steadily growing into a bigger part of your baby’s diet. If your 11-month-old is eating three meals of solids plus a snack or two, you’ll likely notice they’re less interested in finishing every bottle. That’s a good sign. It means solids are doing their job.
Balancing Formula With Solid Foods
The biggest feeding mistake at this age is letting formula crowd out solids, or the reverse. Babies who fill up on too much formula often refuse meals, which can limit their exposure to the iron, zinc, and variety of nutrients they need from food. On the other hand, babies who eat plenty of solids but barely drink formula may not get enough calories or fat for growth.
A practical approach: offer solids at regular mealtimes and give formula between meals or alongside them, but let your baby’s hunger cues guide the portions. If they’re turning away from the bottle after 4 or 5 ounces, that’s fine. If they consistently drain 7 ounces and refuse food at the next meal, try offering a slightly smaller bottle to leave room for solids.
Water at 11 Months
Babies between 6 and 12 months can have 4 to 8 ounces of water per day in addition to formula. Offer it in a sippy cup or straw cup with meals. Water at this age is mainly for practice and hydration alongside solids, not a replacement for any formula. You don’t need to push it, but small sips throughout the day help your baby get comfortable with a cup before the transition off bottles.
Getting Ready for the Switch to Milk
Your baby is just weeks away from the point where whole cow’s milk can replace formula, so this is a good time to start preparing. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recommends trying about an ounce of whole milk in a sippy cup once a day after 11 months, just to test how your baby handles the taste and tolerates it. This isn’t replacing a feeding. It’s a small introduction.
If your baby doesn’t love the taste, you can mix equal parts whole milk and prepared formula, then gradually shift the ratio toward more milk over a couple of weeks. The goal is a full transition around the first birthday. Once your baby is on whole milk, the target is 8 to 10 ounces per day at a minimum (especially if they eat other dairy like yogurt and cheese), with an upper limit of 24 ounces per day. More than that can interfere with iron absorption and displace other foods.
Transitioning Away From Bottles
At 11 months, you can start offering formula in a sippy cup or straw cup at one or two feedings to build the skill. Most pediatric guidelines recommend moving away from bottles entirely as soon after the first birthday as possible. Prolonged bottle use is linked to tooth decay and overconsumption of milk, since babies tend to drink more from a bottle than a cup.
A gradual approach works best. Drop one bottle at a time, starting with the one your baby seems least attached to, usually a daytime feeding. The bedtime bottle is typically the last to go. Replacing it with a cup of milk and a comforting bedtime routine makes the shift easier for both of you.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Steady weight gain, 4 to 6 wet diapers a day, and an active, alert temperament are the clearest indicators that your baby’s formula and food intake is on track. At 11 months, growth naturally slows compared to the first six months, so don’t be alarmed if your baby’s appetite fluctuates from day to day. Teething, mild illness, and developmental leaps can all temporarily reduce interest in bottles or food. As long as the overall pattern looks consistent over a week or two, occasional off days are completely normal.