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Estimate how much formula your baby needs The amount of formula your baby needs each feed depends on his age, size, his present rate of growth and how many feeds he has each day. As a guide ONLY, from 1 week to 5 or 6 months of age, formula requirements for a full term infant (i.e. not premature) can be calculated as follows:
OR 150ml per kilo of body weight per day Divide this figure by the number of feeds your baby has each day to provide an estimate on how much to offer at each feed. It's always a good idea to add a little extra. Sometime around the age of 5 or 6 months, because of a natural slowing in the rate of growth, the amount of milk your baby requires will decrease and the above calculation is no longer applicable (the table below can then provide a guide). It is at this age, solid foods can be introduced. A further decrease in the amount of formula required can be seen at approx 9 months of age. This occurs as a baby's rate of growth naturally slows further, along with an increase in the amount of solid foods eaten. Although solid foods add value to a baby's diet from 6 months, milk remains very important until 12 months, so care should be take to maintain the right balance between solids and milk.
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