On average, a 2 month old baby will consume between 25-35 ounces of milk per day. This amounts to between 750-1050 ounces per month. However, each baby is different and may eat more or less than this range. Tracking your baby’s intake and growth is the best way to ensure they are getting the nutrition they need.
Key Factors That Influence Intake
Several factors play a role in determining how much a 2 month old eats:
Breastfed vs Formula Fed
– Breastfed babies tend to eat 25-35 oz per day on average. Their intake is more variable than formula fed infants.
– Formula fed infants often consume 25-32 oz of formula per day, which provides a more consistent amount of calories.
Baby’s Size
– Larger, faster growing babies require more calories and therefore more milk. They may eat 30-36 oz per day.
– Smaller babies may only need 20-25 oz per day to feel full and grow properly.
Number of Feedings
– Babies who eat smaller, more frequent feedings may consume more ounces per day than those who take larger, less frequent feedings.
– Typical feeding frequency is 8-12 times per 24 hours at 2 months old.
Solids Intake
– Babies who have started some solid foods may drink less milk as they get additional calories from solids. This usually doesn’t happen until 4-6 months old.
– Exclusively milk-fed 2 month olds will have higher milk intake needs.
Average Intake by Feeding Method
Here is a breakdown of the typical daily and monthly milk intake for a 2 month old:
Breastfed Babies
– 25-35 ounces per day
– 750-1050 ounces per month
Breastfed babies have variable intake since breast milk levels change during feedings and from day-to-day. Their intake is driven by appetite and satiety signals.
Formula Fed Babies
– 25-32 ounces of formula per day
– 750-960 ounces per month
Formula fed babies tend to take in consistent volumes at each feeding. Calorie levels in formula are standardized, leading to less variability.
Combination Fed Babies
– 25-35 ounces per day
– 750-1050 ounces per month
Babies fed both breast milk and formula have varying intake based on proportions of each. Their monthly intake falls within the breastfed and formula fed ranges.
Growth Patterns in 2 Month Olds
In addition to tracking intake, monitoring growth patterns can help determine if your 2 month old is eating the right amount.
Here are typical growth benchmarks:
Weight Gain
– Babies should gain 4-8 ounces per week. That’s 0.5-1 pound gained per month on average.
– Double birth weight by about 3-4 months old.
Length Increase
– Gain 1-1.5 inches in length per month.
– Grow about 3 inches total from birth to 2 months old.
Signs Your 2 Month Old is Eating Enough
If your baby is meeting growth goals and displaying the following signs, they are likely consuming adequate calories:
– Producing the expected number of wet and dirty diapers.
– Seems satisfied and content after feeding.
– Has good energy and is active when awake.
– Sleeping well and for age-appropriate durations.
– Maintaining a growth trajectory along their percentile line on growth charts.
Consult your pediatrician if your baby’s intake or growth patterns raise any concerns. They can help determine if your 2 month old is eating enough.
Factors That Impact How Much a 2 Month Old Eats
A number of factors influence your baby’s intake needs and feeding patterns at 2 months old. Being aware of these can help you respond appropriately if intake changes.
Growth Spurts
Babies experience bursts of rapid growth at intervals in the first year. During these spurts, they may eat more than usual for a few days. Offering extra feedings can help satisfy their increased hunger.
Illness
Colds, infections, and other illnesses may suppess your baby’s appetite. They may eat less while feeling unwell. Offer smaller frequent feeds until their appetite returns.
Teething
Emerging teeth can cause gum discomfort and reduced feeding. Make sure to offer extra feedings after bouts of fussiness or crying.
Milestones
As your baby gets more alert and active, their energy needs increase. Milestones like smiling, cooing, and improved head control burn more calories.
Introducing Solids
Starting solid foods around 4-6 months typically decreases formula or breast milk intake. Speak with your pediatrician before offering any solids.
Medications
Medicines like antibiotics may impact feeding habits, digestion, and hunger cues. Time medicines and feeds carefully.
Tips for Feeding a 2 Month Old
Here are some tips to help ensure your 2 month old baby eats enough:
– Feed on demand following their hunger cues like increased alertness, rooting, and sucking motions. Don’t wait for scheduled feeds if baby seems hungry.
– Offer both breasts at each feeding for breastfed babies. Switch sides halfway through for more efficient drainage.
– Pace bottle feeds by tipping bottle horizontal to control the flow. Allow breaks to breathe. Watch for fullness cues like falling asleep, decreased sucking, or turning away.
– Avoid overfeeding. Stop when your baby loses interest or spits up often from too much volume.
– Hold your baby upright during and after feeds to prevent reflux or spitting up. Keep them upright 15-30 minutes afterwards.
– Burp frequently during and after feeding. Gentle patting can help release gas and allow baby to continue eating.
– Massage breasts or stroke cheek/jaw to encourage a sleepy baby to continue eating if needed.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s intake, growth, or feeding patterns. Some signs to discuss include:
– Very low intake (less than 20 oz daily) or no interest in feeding
– Excessive crying or fussiness during or after feeds
– Difficulty latching or sucking during breast or bottle feeding
– No diaper changes in more than 8 hours indicating inadequate intake
– Not gaining weight appropriately or dropping percentiles on growth chart
– Significant vomiting or spitting up after feeds
– Colic symptoms like intense crying bouts at regular intervals everyday
– Blood in spit up or stool
– Reflux symptoms like back arching, gagging, wheezing or coughing with feeds
– Dehydration signs like dry mouth, no tears, soft spot sinking in on head
– Excessive sleepiness, lethargy or decreased activity
Your pediatrician can check for any underlying issues interfering with feeding, recommend strategies to get more calories in your baby, or refer you to a lactation consultant or feeding specialist for additional support.
Tracking Intake
Keeping a detailed feeding log is helpful for monitoring your 2 month old’s intake patterns. Note:
– Time of each feed start and end
– Whether breast or bottle fed
– Number of ounces consumed if bottle fed
– Which breast used if breastfeeding (switch each feed)
– Baby’s signals at beginning and end of feed (sleepy, hungry, content etc)
– Any issues like coughing, excessive spit up, falling asleep
– Frequency of wet and dirty diapers
Share this log with your pediatrician. Look for any feeding trends and optimize the amount your baby eats. Apps like Feed Baby and Baby Tracker can automate logging to easily track daily and monthly ounce intake.
Sample Feeding Schedule
While babies don’t adhere to strict schedules, you can create a flexible routine with suggested feed times. Your pediatrician can advise on timing and volumes appropriate for your baby. Here is a sample outline:
| Time | Feeding |
|---|---|
| 7 AM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
| 10 AM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
| 1 PM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
| 4 PM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
| 7 PM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
| 10 PM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
| 1 AM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
| 4 AM | 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula |
Adjust schedule and amounts based on hunger cues, feeding efficiency, and weight gain goals. Feed your baby additional times if showing hunger outside of suggested feeds.
Bottle Feeding Tips
If formula feeding your 2 month old, here are some bottle feeding tips:
– Choose a slow flow nipple to control the pace of feeds. Size 1 or 2 nipples are recommended at this age.
– Hold your baby semi-upright in your lap or with their head elevated. Never prop the bottle and leave unattended.
– Alternate which side you hold baby on during feeds. This helps prevent a flat spot on one side of their head.
– Do paced bottle feeding by:
- Keeping bottle horizontal to avoid rapid gulping of milk
- Tip bottle so milk fills only nipple and base of neck
- Allow your baby to take short breaks when swallowing
- Break suction regularly by lowering bottle to offer breaks
– Look for signs of fullness like sealing lips together, turning head away, increased drowsiness.
– Burp halfway through and at end of each feed.
Following safe bottle feeding practices will allow your baby to consume an adequate volume while preventing overfeeding and swallowing too much air.
Conclusion
In the first months of life, babies thrive on milk feedings. For a 2 month old, their primary source of nutrition should be breast milk and/or formula. On average they consume 25-35 ounces daily, which equals 750-1050 ounces per month. However each baby is unique. Track your baby’s intake and pay attention to their hunger cues, satiety signals, and growth patterns. With your pediatrician’s guidance, you can determine if your 2 month old is eating the right amount to support their continued development. Maintaining detailed feeding logs and adhering to safe bottle feeding tips will help ensure your baby’s needs are met. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to seek input from medical providers. They can offer personalized strategies to help your baby eat well during this important growth stage.
