How to Formula Feed

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Planning on Using Formula? You’re Not Alone How to Choose the Right Formula What Bottles and Nipples Do I Need for Formula Feeding? Can I Bond with My Baby While Formula Feeding? How to Prepare Baby Formula Bottle Basics Every Parent Needs to Know How Much Formula Do I Need to Feed My Baby? Formula Feeding Chart How to Burp Your Baby How to Know When Your Baby Is Full Baby Hunger vs. Fullness Cues More Formula Feeding Tips How to Store Powdered, Liquid and Ready-to-Feed Baby Formula Safely Powdered Baby Formula Storage Guidelines Ready-to-feed & Concentrated Liquid Baby Formula Storage Guidelines

Article Summary:

Formula feeding is a common and supported choice—many parents choose it to supplement breastfeeding, share feeding duties, or ease their return to work after maternity leave.
Choosing the right formula matters—look for options with DHA, a brain-nourishing nutrient found in breast milk, and be prepared with various bottles and nipples to match your baby’s preferences.
Proper preparation and storage are key—follow label instructions precisely, maintain hygiene, and use safe storage practices based on the type of formula you choose.
Feeding amounts, cues, and routines vary—use feeding charts as a guide, watch for hunger and fullness signals, and let your baby’s appetite lead the way.

Planning on Using Formula? You’re Not Alone

Breastfeeding is best for babies and is preferred whenever possible.¹ However, if you choose formula, you’re not alone. Many parents choose it over breastfeeding, and there are many pros to formula feeding. A 2024 study showed that only 38% of parents exclusively breastfed for at least 6 months.¹ The truth is, today's infant formulas are closer to breast milk than ever before and contain the nutrients your baby needs to grow and thrive.

How to Choose the Right Formula

Look for a formula with DHA. DHA is a brain-nourishing nutrient and an important nutrient in breast milk. A panel of experts recommend^* that infant formula contains approximately 0.2%–0.5% (~7.2–18 mg) of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) per 100 mL.

^*Koletzko B et al. J Perinat. Med. 2008;36:5-14

What Bottles and Nipples Do I Need for Formula Feeding?

Babies can be picky, so buy a few different styles of bottles and nipples and see which ones your baby likes best.

Can I Bond with My Baby While Formula Feeding?

Cuddle, snuggle, and sing to the baby just as you would during nursing, and enjoy the love fest. Bonus: bottle feeding gives Dad, Grandma and even siblings a chance to bond as well.

How to Prepare Baby Formula

Making formula isn’t hard. Just follow the directions on the label, consider these important tips, and in no time, you’ll be an expert. But remember—accuracy matters. Too much or too little water and your baby won’t get the right mix of nutrients.

Bottle Basics Every Parent Needs to Know

Follow these guidelines when preparing baby formula:²

Follow label directions carefully
Always use formula before the expiry date
Wash your hands and your work area
Scrub the inside of bottles and nipples with a brush that’s exclusively used for your baby’s feeding equipment
For healthy term babies less than 4 months old, boil the water you use to make formula for 2 minutes. Let the water cool down before use.
Test the formula temperature by pouring a few drops on the inside of your wrist. If it’s too hot, cool it by running the bottle under cold water. If it’s too cold, place the bottle in a bowl of hot water for no more than 15 minutes.
NEVER microwave a bottle—you could seriously burn your baby

How Much Formula Do I Need to Feed My Baby?

Formula feeding. How much? How often? Is your baby getting enough to eat?

Generally, formula-fed babies eat every 3-4 hours during their first weeks.³One way you can tell if your baby is getting enough to eat is by checking their wet diapers.⁴ Newborns will have about 3 wet diapers per day in their first few days after birth.⁴ If you get six or more per day in their first few months, they’re likely getting plenty to eat.⁴ Don’t try to force your baby to continue feeding when they’re not hungry.⁵

If you are exclusively formula feeding, here’s a guide to how much and how often you should feed formula to your baby. But remember, these are just averages—your baby’s appetite is always the best guide.

Formula Feeding Chart

Use this simple formula feeding chart to help you understand how much your little one needs to eat. Each baby is different, and your baby may eat more or less than what’s listed in the formula feeding chart below:⁶

Baby's Age	Amount of Formula per Bottle 1 ounce = 30 mL	Number of Bottles in 24 hours	Total Formula in 24 Hours
Birth-7 days	Your baby will need to be fed often. Expect your little one to eat small amounts at a time. Watch for signs of hunger and fullness.
1-2 weeks	2-3 ounces (60-90 mL)	6-10	14-26 ounces (420-780 mL)
3-8 weeks	3-5 ounces (90-150 mL)	5-8	17-35 ounces (510-1050 mL)
2-5 months	4-6 ounces (120-180 mL)	5-7	20-39 ounces (600-1170 mL)
6-8 months	4-8 ounces (120-240 mL)	4-5	16-37 ounces (480-1110 mL)

Note: At 6 months, your baby can begin to eat solid foods.6 When he or she begins eating solid foods, they’ll drink less formula.⁶

The amount of formula your baby needs, and how often he/she needs to eat it, depends on his/her stage of development. These are some general guidelines. Don't hesitate to get in touch with your healthcare provider to discuss any questions, as they know your baby best and are in the best position to guide you.³

How to Burp Your Baby

Sometimes, babies feel uncomfortable after feedings if they swallow air during it.⁷ Burping your baby helps them get rid of the air they swallowed.⁷ There are three ways you can burp your baby. Try these techniques:⁷

Hold them upright against your shoulder and pat their back gently.
Hold them upright on your lap, supporting their head and chest with your hands. Then rock them gently back and forth or pat their back.

Have a clean cloth ready in case a little formula comes up.

How to Know When Your Baby Is Full

If your baby closes their mouth, stops sucking, turns away or appears content and relaxed he or she may have eaten enough.⁸ Don't force him to finish a bottle if he is full. Your baby will be hungrier at some feedings than others - be sure to follow his cues to know how much he needs.

Baby Hunger vs. Fullness Cues

Hunger Cues⁸	Fullness Cues⁸
Rooting or turning head toward the person holding them	Slows down or stops sucking
Sucking on hands or fingers	Turns head away from bottle
Crying	Appears calm, relaxed or sleepy

More Formula Feeding Tips

Most parents find formula feeding easy—but introducing a bottle may take some trial and error. Here are four ways to make it easier:

Time it right. Try offering a bottle when your baby is hungry but not famished, so they're less likely to fuss.⁹
Start with breast milk in the bottle. This cuts down on the number of new experiences baby has all at once. Plus, the familiar taste may help them to accept the bottle faster—and once they befriend it, adding formula won’t seem like a big deal.⁹
Let Dad or Grandma offer the first bottle. This can work better because your baby may associate you with strictly breast milk at first.⁹
Try a slow-flow bottle nipple. Milk flows from your breast at different speeds but comes out of the bottle at the same rate.⁹

How to Store Powdered, Liquid and Ready-to-Feed Baby Formula Safely

While preparing formula for your baby is a relatively simple task itself, it’s also important to keep in mind a range of safety guidelines regarding baby formula storage to help avoid any potential issues. There are three kinds of baby formula: powder, ready-to-feed, and concentrated liquid, and below we have storage guidelines for each in order to help you safely provide your baby with the nutrition she needs, no matter which variety you choose to use. Read our formula storage highlights or get the complete guidelines below.

Powdered Baby Formula Storage Guidelines

Powdered baby formula is not a sterile product.² If you do choose powdered formula for your baby, to help keep them safe, prepare it according to the exact guidelines given on the product label, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.

Check the expiration date on your formula container before use. The container’s contents need to be used within one month after opening.² Meanwhile, store the powder at room temperature in a cool and dry place, with the lid tightly closed.²

Quick Tip: Write the date on which you opened it somewhere on the powdered formula’s container itself for future reference.²

Any prepared powder formula should be used immediately or covered and stored in the refrigerator for no more than 24 hours.² Do not use prepared formula if it is unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours.² Throw away any leftover formula.²

Ready-to-feed & Concentrated Liquid Baby Formula Storage Guidelines

Just like powdered formula, ready-to-feed and concentrated liquid formula varieties should be stored in a cool, dry place before being opened.² Similarly, you should discard any unused formula after two hours of being left unrefrigerated or after one hour of beginning feeding.² The main difference between these two types of formula and the powdered variety is that, once packages of ready-to-feed and concentrated formula have been opened, they can be stored safely in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.²

Here's a quick summary on how to store formula:

Formula Type	Unopened Shelf Life	After Opening	After Preparation
Powdered Formula	Until expiration date	1 month	Use immediately or refrigerate for 24 hrs
Ready-to-Feed Liquid	Until expiration date	48 hours (refrigerated)	Discard after 2 hrs unrefrigerated or 1 hr after feeding
Concentrated Liquid Formula	Until expiration date	48 hours (refrigerated)	Same as above

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