How Many Cans Of Formula Per Month Does A Newborn Need?

How Many Cans Of Formula Per Month

Are you thinking of feeding your baby canned formula? The measured amount of nutrients available in the canned formulas can be convincing enough to feed your baby. But be careful as too much of the amount can be harmful to your baby. When I was a new mother I triple checked everything to make sure I did it correctly. Rest assured, all my kids are fine. Do not be too hard on yourself, take your time and everything will be okay.  Just be patient.

So how many cans of formula per month is good for a baby? 6-7 cans of 12.5 oz formula are enough for a 1-3 months old baby. Your baby will be needing 8-9 cans during 3-6 months of age. After crossing 6 months your baby may need up to 10 cans per month.

However, the entire calculation may vary depending on your baby’s weight, health condition, and even nutrient needs. So to give you a brief idea, today’s talk will be everything about the right amount of  formula consumption and how you should maintain it. Later on, we will talk about the good and bad sides of milk formulas as well. Let’s hop right into it! 

Table of Contents

How Many Cans Of Formula Per Month Should You Feed Your Baby?

Although there are many brands of baby formula, almost all of them offer the same amount of formula per can. But depending on the can type, the calculation may vary as well. For instance, if you get an infant can then you might need 13-14 cans per month as an infant can last for 2-3 days when your baby is 2-4 months old. 

So we will answer depending on the common amount of formula and the baby’s age. We found out that pediatricians suggest, on average you will need 6-7 cans of 12.5 oz formula per month for a baby who is 1-3 months old. Your baby will be needing 8-9 cans during 3-6 months of age. After crossing 6 months to 1 year, your baby may need up to 10 cans per month.

Actually, a 12 oz or 354 ml formula goes for 2-3 days generally as a baby hardly eats anything other than the formula during 6 months to 1 year of age. As babies leave breastfeeding when they become 6 months old, the need of having the formulated food gets bigger.

However, there are 30 oz, 35+ oz, and bigger cans of baby formula out there that are offered by some brands. If you get one of those then you will need 1 can per week as in 4 cans per month on average for your 6-12 months old baby. They can last even longer, presumably depending on your baby’s age. You can get 120-130 ounces of baby formula or 4 bulk-sized baby formula containers, you won’t be needing more than 5 per month if you get one of those. 

How Many Cans Of Formula Per Week Does My Baby Need?

If you get a 12.5 oz baby formula can for your newborn-3 months old baby then you will need 2 cans per week. If your baby is 3 to 6 months old then you may need 2-3 cans per week. As we previously said, the can size can differ the amount of the required formula. 

So hereby, if you get infant baby formula for your baby then you may need 2-3 cans per week for a baby who is 2-6 months old. You may need 3-4 cans per week of infant baby formula for your baby for the next 6 months respectively as a can of infants won’t last longer than 2 days for a baby who is 6 months to 1 year old. 

On the other hand, if your baby has crossed the age of 6 months, then you will need 3-4 cans of baby formula per week! But if you get bigger cans like 30 oz or 35+ oz cans then you won’t be needing more than 1 can per week of a baby of any age. 

Calculation On The Amount Of Formula Your Baby Needs:

If you make a chart of your baby’s formula requirements depending on his age and the cans you get then it will be much easier for you to sum many things up. So here we present a general calculation depending on pediatrician advice: 

Baby’s AgeNumber of feedings per dayAmount of formula per feedFormula cans you need per weekFormula cans you need per month
Birth-1 week6-10 Times2-3 ounces1-2 cans6 cans
1 week-1 month7-8 Times2-4 ounces2-3 cans6-7 cans
1-3 months5-6 Times4-5 ounces3 cans7-8 cans
3-6 months4-5 Times6-7 ounces3-4 can9-10 cans
6-9 months3-4 Times7-8 ounces4 cansUp to 10 cans
9-12 months3 Times7-8 ounces4 cansUp to 10 cans


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much formula is healthy for kids?

2-4 ounces of baby formula per feeding will do enough for most of the babies who are 1 month old. You can raise one ounce every month until the amount reaches 7-8 ounces. Maximum 7-8 ounces of baby formula per feeding is healthy for a baby. 

Can formula fed babies be healthy?

Baby formula or infant formula is the only option for those moms who can’t breastfeed their babies or do not prefer to breastfeed. Baby formulas provide the babies with the nutrients they need for growing up. They work as an alternative to breast milk. So formula-fed babies can be healthy and that’s not harmful at all. But it’s wise not to use it as an alternative to breast milk. 

Do formula fed babies get sick more?

If you compare with breast milk-fed babies then there are a few risks for a baby who is formula fed. Mostly the risk is infection morbidity in the first year of life. But if the baby overcomes the specific risks then the formula won’t be a cause of the baby’s often getting sick. 

Do formula fed babies grow taller?

No report says formula-fed babies grow taller. Although some high protein formulas are capable of making the baby taller and heavier, they often bring some bad side effects along with them. So it’s better to go with the regular ones. 

Wrapping Up

It’s pretty wise that you always stay stocked up when it’s the matter of your baby’s formula. You may need the formula at any time, even in the middle of the night. So whether you are planning monthly expenses or anything else, it’s always appropriate that you have a calculation of how many cans of formula your baby needs per month.

So now that you know how many cans of formula per month are healthy for your baby, you might not have any questions left.

Even if you have a question, feel free to ask me (Sharon) via eMail.  Also, check out my article on the benefits of Pedialyte.

Note that these tables do not refer to any amount of breast milk. Be sure to determine that amount through a separate calculation.

However, if you still prefer canned formula, then follow up on our given amount and consult with a pediatrician.

Thanks for reading and I hope my advice hits home!

Sharon