When it comes to feeding a newborn baby, parents often wonder how much milk or formula is appropriate at each feeding. At 1 month old, many babies take between 2-4 ounces (60-120 ml) per feeding, but some may want more or less. So is 4 ounces too much for a 1 month old to drink at once? Here is a look at general guidelines, factors to consider, and signs your baby may be getting too much per feeding.
General Feeding Guidelines for a 1 Month Old
As a general rule of thumb, the recommended amount of milk or formula for a 1 month old baby at each feeding is:
- 2-4 ounces (60-120 ml)
- Feed 8-12 times per day
- 24-32 ounces (720-960 ml) total per day
However, every baby is different. Some 1 month olds may only want 2 oz at a time, while others have bigger appetites and can easily polish off 4 oz or more. Growth spurts are also common around 4 weeks, where a baby may seem hungrier than usual and want larger volumes at each feeding.
So while 4 oz may be on the higher end of the typical range, it’s not necessarily too much if that is what your 1 month old is demanding and they are showing signs of good appetite satiation afterwards. The key is responding to your individual baby’s hunger and fullness cues.
Factors to Consider
When deciding if 4 oz is too much for your 1 month old, here are some factors to take into account:
- Birth weight – Smaller, low birth weight babies generally need smaller feeding volumes. Larger babies may have bigger appetites.
- Time of day – Babies tend to be hungrier at certain times of day, like early morning and evening, so may drink more then.
- Stage of development – Growth spurts, developmental milestones, and activity level can all impact appetite.
- Hunger cues – Rooting, hands to mouth, increased alertness signal hunger demanding larger volumes.
- Fullness cues – Turning away, decreased sucking, hands pushing bottle away are signs of fullness.
Paying close attention to these factors and your baby’s unique patterns will help determine if 4 oz per feeding meets their needs or is too much at once for their tiny stomach to handle comfortably.
Signs Baby is Getting Too Much per Feeding
While all babies are different, here are some common signs that your 1 month old may be getting too much milk or formula at one time if fed 4+ ounces:
- Spitting up – Wet burps, vomiting, or spitting up more than usual could signal overfeeding.
- Gassiness or stomach discomfort – Fussiness, drawing legs up, arching back may indicate feeding volume is too much.
- Overly full belly – A very firm, distended tummy after feeds.
- Constant hunger – Frequently acting hungry again shortly after feeding larger volumes.
- Difficulty latching – Refusing breast or bottle, bobbing on and off, may indicate overly full stomach.
- Sleep disruption – Spitting up or discomfort waking baby frequently.
- Slow weight gain – Weighing baby regularly helps identify patterns.
If your baby shows several of these signs consistently, it may be worth trying a lower volume of 3 or 3.5 oz per feeding instead. Then you can observe if the symptoms improve or not to determine ideal feeding amounts.
Tips if Baby is Drinking 4+ oz per Feeding
If your 1 month old consistently drinks 4 oz or more at feedings without any signs of discomfort, here are some tips:
- Watch for cues of fullness so you don’t overfeed.
- Allow pauses during the feeding to burp and settle stomach.
- Hold baby upright for 10-15 minutes after eating to prevent reflux.
- Make sure nipple flow isn’t too fast causing gulping.
- Feed smaller volumes more frequently if needed.
- Discuss options with baby’s pediatrician.
Getting the feeding balance right can take some trial and error. Don’t hesitate to ask your pediatrician for input if you are concerned your 1 month old is drinking too much per feeding. Track patterns over a few days and make adjustments as needed.
When to Speak to a Doctor
While 4 oz may be perfectly fine for some hungry 1 month old babies, contact your pediatrician promptly if you notice any of the following:
- No weight gain for 2+ weeks.
- Extreme irritability or colic symptoms.
- Projectile vomiting after many feeds.
- Choking or coughing during feeds.
- Difficulty having a bowel movement.
- Blood in spit up or stool.
These can be signs of an underlying condition, food allergy or intolerance, or overfeeding problem requiring medical assessment. Never hesitate to check with your baby’s doctor if anything seems off.
Changing Number of Feedings
To better handle larger 4+ oz feeds, you may need to reduce the number of feedings over 24 hours. At 1 month old, babies typically eat 8-12 times per day. If dropping down from 12 to 10 feedings allows adequate intake while preventing discomfort, that may work better.
Just keep the total daily ounces the same – 24-32 oz is standard at 1 month old. Spreading this over fewer feedings with more hours between can accommodate larger volumes per feeding. But be sure to split days and nights into equal feedings.
Formula vs Breastmilk Volumes
The recommended feeding amounts are the same whether your 1 month old is taking formula or breastmilk. However, some things to keep in mind:
- Formula portions are measured while breastmilk varies.
- Overfeeding breastmilk is less likely as baby self-regulates.
- Breastfed babies may need more frequent feeds.
- Paced bottle feeding helps prevent overfeeding formula.
If your baby seems to want more than 4 oz from the breast, allow them to feed until content. With formula, stick within the recommended 2-4 oz per feeding unless otherwise directed by your pediatrician.
Breastfed Babies
Exclusively breastfed babies are less likely to overfeed because they self-regulate intake from the breast. If your baby wants to nurse longer or more often to get 4+ oz, follow their hunger cues.
Signs baby is getting enough breastmilk at 1 month old include:
- 6-8+ wet diapers daily
- 3-4+ dirty diapers daily
- Weight gain of 4-8 oz per week
- Satisfied after most feeds
- Normal fussiness, not extreme hunger
Only start supplementing with formula if recommended by your pediatrician. Otherwise, let your baby breastfeed on demand day and night as needed.
Bottle-fed Babies
With formula feeding, it’s easier to overfeed by offering too much in the bottle. Signs to watch out for include:
- Gulping or forceful sucking on the bottle
- Draining the last drops quickly
- Rooting or acting hungry soon after finishing
- Preferring to suckle, not necessarily swallow
Paced bottle feeding helps prevent overfeeding. Go slowly, allow pauses, stop when you see signs of fullness. Don’t force baby to finish a certain volume.
Night vs Day Feedings
Babies 1 month old typically don’t need larger feedings at night. The total amount consumed over 24 hours should be split evenly between day and night.
If your baby seems excessively hungry at night, cluster feeds in the evening. Dream feeds before you go to bed can also help fill their belly.
Don’t increase night feeds in response to growth spurts. Instead, feed more frequently during daylight waking hours. This prevents overfeeding at night which can lead to unhealthy sleep associations.
Growth Spurts
Growth spurts are periods where babies eat more and nurse or take bottles more frequently. They often last 2-3 days and occur around:
- 1 week
- 2-3 weeks
- 4-6 weeks
- 3 months
During growth spurts at 1 month old, your baby may seem hungrier and want those 4+ oz feedings. Respond to their cues and allow them to eat more during the day. The total ounces over 24 hours doesn’t need to increase.
Growth spurts are temporary so don’t overfeed thinking your baby has increased their long-term appetite. Once the spurt passes in a few days, amounts can decrease again.
How to Know if Baby is Full
Learning your baby’s signs of fullness is key to knowing when they’ve had enough milk, even if they haven’t finished the bottle. Here are signs your 1 month old is full during or after a feeding:
- Decreased sucking or stops sucking
- Refusing bottle or breast by turning head away
- Pushing nipple out of mouth
- Spitting out or refusing to swallow milk
- Falling asleep
- Arm and hand movements showing disinterest
- Relaxed facial muscles and hands
End the feeding as soon as you notice any of these satiety signals. Don’t overfeed past fullness or force them to finish a certain amount.
FAQs
How much should a 1 month old eat in oz?
The typical 1 month old eats 2-4 ounces every 2-3 hours, or 24-32 total ounces per day. However some babies may eat more or less than the general guidelines.
How do I know if baby is eating enough oz?
Signs your 1 month old is eating enough ounces include:
- 6-8+ wet diapers and 3-4+ dirty diapers daily
- Weight gain of 4-8 oz per week
- Content after most feeds and between feeds
- Meeting developmental milestones
If weight gain or diapers fall short of these, increase ounces per feeding or number of daily feeds.
Is 4 oz too much at once for a newborn?
While 2-3 oz is more typical for a newborn’s stomach capacity, some may comfortably take 4 oz, especially bigger babies. Watch for signs of overfeeding like spitting up. As long as your baby seems content after 4 oz, it should be fine.
How often should a 1 month old eat at night?
At 1 month, most babies need 2-3 night feedings. Avoid overfeeding at night – the total ounces consumed should be split evenly between day and night feeds. Cluster feed in the evening and offer dream feeds to better sustain them through longer sleep stretches.
How do I know if baby is ready to drop night feeds?
Signs your 1 month old may be ready to start dropping night feeds include:
- Sleeping 5-6 hours at first stretch
- Eating more during the day
- Gaining weight well
- Waking less at night or self-settling
Try gradually spacing out night feeds further apart to see if baby continues sleeping. Wait until clearance from pediatrician before fully night weaning.
The Bottom Line
While 2-3 ounces is typical at a feeding for 1 month olds, some babies have bigger appetites and can comfortably handle 4 oz or more. Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues, not volume. As long as your baby seems content and is gaining weight well with good diaper output, 4 oz is likely fine.
But if you notice signs of overfeeding like fussiness, spit up, and stomach discomfort, try decreasing the amounts. Your pediatrician can help determine if 4 oz per feeding is appropriate for your baby or if adjustments need to be made.
With paced feeds, responding to satiety signals, and evenly splitting day and night feedings, you can satisfy your 1 month old’s needs while avoiding overfeeding if they routinely want those larger 4 oz bottles.
