A 5-month-old typically drinks 24 to 36 ounces of milk per day, whether that’s formula or breast milk. The exact amount depends on your baby’s weight, feeding method, and individual appetite, but most babies at this age are taking 5 to 7 ounces per feeding across 5 or 6 sessions in a 24-hour period.
Formula-Fed Babies at 5 Months
Formula-fed 5-month-olds generally drink 6 to 7 ounces per bottle, spread across five to six feedings per day. That works out to roughly 30 to 42 ounces total, though most babies land somewhere in the middle of that range.
A helpful rule of thumb from the American Academy of Pediatrics: babies need about 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. So a 15-pound baby would need roughly 37.5 ounces, while a smaller 13-pound baby would need closer to 32 ounces. The recommended daily maximum is 32 ounces for most babies. If your baby consistently wants more than that, it’s worth checking in with your pediatrician rather than simply increasing the volume.
Breastfed Babies at 5 Months
Breastfed babies at this age typically nurse about 6 times a day. If you’re offering pumped milk in a bottle, expect your baby to take 3 to 5 ounces per feeding. That puts the daily total somewhere around 18 to 30 ounces, with most babies falling in the 24- to 28-ounce range.
One thing that surprises many parents: breast milk intake stays relatively flat from about one month to six months of age. Unlike formula-fed babies, who gradually increase their volume as they grow, breastfed babies don’t necessarily drink more milk over time. The composition of breast milk changes to meet their evolving nutritional needs, so the volume doesn’t need to keep climbing.
How to Tell if Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Weight gain is the most reliable indicator. At 5 months, babies typically gain around 20 grams (about two-thirds of an ounce) per day. That’s slower than the roughly 1 ounce per day during the first few months, and it will continue tapering to about 10 grams per day by 6 months. If your baby is following a steady curve on their growth chart, their intake is almost certainly fine.
Your baby also gives real-time feedback at every feeding. Hunger cues at this age include putting hands to mouth, turning toward the breast or bottle, and smacking or licking lips. Clenched fists can also signal hunger. When your baby is full, they’ll close their mouth, turn away from the breast or bottle, and relax their hands. These cues are more reliable than any fixed ounce target, because appetite varies from feeding to feeding. Some sessions will be short and light, others long and heavy.
What About Starting Solids?
Many parents of 5-month-olds are thinking about purees and first foods. Current guidelines recommend waiting until around 6 months to introduce solids, though some babies show readiness signs a bit earlier. Even if your baby has started tasting small amounts of food, those early bites are measured in teaspoons, not ounces. They won’t meaningfully reduce how much milk your baby needs.
Breast milk or formula remains the primary source of nutrition for the entire first year. When you do begin introducing solids, offer milk first and solids afterward. That way your baby fills up on the most nutritionally complete food before experimenting with new tastes and textures. At 5 months, though, milk alone is typically all your baby needs if they seem satisfied after feedings.
Why the Range Varies So Much
A baby at the 10th percentile for weight might weigh 13 pounds at 5 months, while a baby at the 90th percentile could weigh over 18 pounds. Using the 2.5-ounces-per-pound guideline, that’s a difference of more than 12 ounces per day between two perfectly healthy babies. This is why rigid ounce targets can be misleading. Your baby’s size, activity level, and growth trajectory all shape how much they actually need.
Feeding patterns also shift around this age. Some babies start sleeping longer stretches at night, which means they consolidate their intake into fewer, larger daytime feedings. Others still wake to eat overnight and take smaller bottles during the day. Both patterns can add up to the same 24-hour total. Focus on the full day’s intake rather than any single feeding.
Signs Your Baby May Need More or Less
A baby who finishes every bottle and immediately roots for more, or who seems unusually fussy between feedings, may need a slight increase in volume per bottle or an extra feeding. On the other hand, a baby who consistently leaves an ounce or two in the bottle is telling you the portion is too large. Pouring less into each bottle reduces waste and lets your baby set the pace.
Spitting up large amounts after most feedings can sometimes mean a baby is taking in more than their stomach comfortably holds. Offering slightly smaller, more frequent feedings often helps. Persistent spit-up, poor weight gain, or a dramatic change in how much your baby wants to eat are all worth mentioning to your pediatrician, but normal day-to-day fluctuations in appetite are expected and not a concern.