An 8-month-old needs roughly 24 ounces (720 mL) of breast milk or formula per day, spread across four to six feedings. That milk still provides the majority of your baby’s calories, even as solid foods become a bigger part of the daily routine. The exact amount varies depending on whether you’re breastfeeding, formula feeding, or doing a combination of both.
Formula-Fed Babies
For formula-fed 8-month-olds, the typical pattern is 6 to 7 ounces per bottle, offered every three to four hours during the day. That works out to about four to six bottles in a 24-hour period, landing in the range of 24 to 32 ounces total. Most babies self-regulate well at this age and will turn away from the bottle when they’ve had enough.
Going much above 32 ounces consistently can crowd out solid foods, which becomes a problem because your baby needs the iron and other nutrients that formula alone can’t fully supply at this stage. If your baby seems to want more than 32 ounces and is refusing solids, it’s worth looking at whether some of those feeds are driven by comfort or habit rather than hunger.
Breastfed Babies
Breastfed 8-month-olds typically nurse about four to six times in 24 hours. Since you can’t measure ounces at the breast the way you can with a bottle, the best indicators are your baby’s weight gain and diaper output. A well-fed baby at this age should produce at least six wet diapers a day and continue following their growth curve at pediatric checkups.
The CDC recommends continuing to breastfeed on demand, following your baby’s hunger cues rather than watching the clock. As solids increase over the coming months, many babies naturally drop a feeding or two on their own.
How Milk and Solids Fit Together
At 8 months, your baby needs between 750 and 900 calories a day. About 400 to 500 of those calories should still come from breast milk or formula. That means milk accounts for roughly half to two-thirds of total daily nutrition, with solid foods filling in the rest.
The general rule at this age is to offer milk before solids. Giving your baby a breast or bottle feeding first ensures they get their most calorie-dense, nutrient-rich food before filling up on purees, soft finger foods, or cereals. Around 9 months, you can start flipping that order, offering solids first and then milk afterward. This gradual shift helps babies naturally transition toward a more food-based diet by their first birthday.
If you notice your baby is losing interest in the breast or bottle at certain feedings, that’s normal. Some 8-month-olds are enthusiastic eaters who start preferring solids earlier than expected. As long as total milk intake stays in the 24-ounce range and weight gain is on track, there’s no reason to push extra milk.
Night Feedings at 8 Months
Most 8-month-olds don’t need overnight feedings to grow normally. By this age, babies can typically get all the nutrition they need during the day. Breastfed babies may still wake for zero to three nighttime feeds, while formula-fed babies generally need zero to one.
Many pediatric experts suggest weaning off nighttime feedings by 8 to 9 months if your baby is healthy, gaining weight appropriately, and eating well during the day. Night feeds that persist past this point are often more about comfort and habit than caloric need. That said, every baby is different, and some take a bit longer to drop those feeds entirely.
Water and Other Drinks
Between 6 and 12 months, babies can have small amounts of water: 4 to 8 ounces per day. Water is fine to offer in a cup with meals, but it shouldn’t replace breast milk or formula. Juice, cow’s milk, and plant-based milks are not appropriate at this age. Breast milk and formula remain the only recommended milk sources until 12 months.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Counting ounces is helpful, but your baby’s body gives you the most reliable feedback. Look for these signals that milk intake is on track:
- Steady weight gain along their established growth curve at well-child visits
- At least six wet diapers a day, with urine that’s pale and not concentrated
- Active and alert behavior between feedings, with normal energy levels
- Satisfaction after feeds, meaning your baby seems content rather than fussy or still rooting
A sudden drop in milk intake paired with fussiness, fewer wet diapers, or stalled weight gain is worth bringing up with your pediatrician. But day-to-day fluctuations are completely normal. Some days your baby will drain every bottle; other days they’ll be more interested in smashing banana into the high chair tray. Over the course of a week, intake tends to even out.