How Many Ounces of Formula for a 10 Month Old?

Most 10-month-olds need 24 to 30 ounces of formula per day, split into 3 to 4 feedings, with solid foods providing the rest of their calories.

Your baby is probably grabbing at your plate, gumming crackers, and eyeing your water glass. It’s easy to wonder if formula still matters as much as it did at 6 months.

The short answer: yes, formula is still an important source of iron, calcium, and vitamin D. But as solids become a bigger part of meals, the total amount of formula usually drops. Most 10-month-olds settle into 24 to 30 ounces per day, though individual needs vary.

How Much Formula Does a 10-Month-Old Need?

Stanford Medicine’s feeding guide suggests 24 to 30 ounces of formula per day for babies 10 to 12 months old, spread across 3 to 4 feedings. That’s fewer bottles than earlier months, when a younger baby might take 5 or 6.

UC Davis Children’s Hospital recommends 6 to 7 ounces per feed, offered every 4 to 6 hours, with no night-time feeds. A typical schedule might look like morning, midday, afternoon, and early evening.

These numbers are guidelines, not rules. Your baby’s appetite can shift from day to day based on teething, colds, or how much solid food they ate at lunch.

Why Formula Amounts Change at 10 Months

At earlier stages, formula or breast milk was the primary source of nutrition. Around 10 months, babies start eating more textured foods — soft chunks, finger foods, and small portions of family meals. That naturally reduces the volume of milk they need.

• More solids, less formula: The CDC notes that as babies gradually eat more solid foods, they gradually need less formula. Most 6- to 12-month-olds eat or drink about 5 to 6 times in 24 hours.
• What solids look like now: By 10 to 12 months, babies should be enjoying a wide variety of food textures — mashed veggies, small soft fruits, scrambled eggs, and well-cooked pasta. Self-feeding becomes easier.
• Calorie split: Formula still provides roughly half of daily calories at this age. The other half comes from solids, which supply new flavors and textures.
• No more night bottles: Most babies this age can sleep through without a feeding. Night feeds are not recommended for 10- to 12-month-olds, as they can interfere with sleep training and dental health.
• Cup introduction: UC Davis suggests offering formula in a cup 1 to 2 times per day to start the transition away from bottles. That helps prepare for the 1-year mark when whole milk can replace formula.

Every baby moves at their own pace. Some lean heavily into solids and drop formula quickly; others still prefer a good-size bottle before naps. Both patterns can be fine as long as growth and wet diapers stay on track.

Balancing Formula and Solid Foods

Aim for three solid meals a day plus two or three formula feedings. A typical day might look like: breakfast with a few ounces of formula on the side, lunch with a small bottle, dinner with another small bottle, and maybe a top-up before bedtime.

If your baby is getting 32 ounces or more of formula daily, they don’t need extra vitamin D — infant formula is already fortified. The CDC explains this in its 32 ounces and vitamin D guidance. Once formula drops below 32 ounces, a vitamin D supplement may be appropriate, so it’s worth checking with your pediatrician.

Babies this age should also be offered a small amount of water with meals — no more than 4 ounces (120 mL) per day, up to 8 ounces on very hot days, per Seattle Children’s Hospital.

Some babies skip the afternoon bottle entirely; others still want one before a nap. The total per day usually falls within that 24–30 ounce range regardless of the exact timing.

Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough

You don’t need to measure every drop. Instead, watch for these cues that formula and solids together are meeting your baby’s needs.

1. Steady weight gain: Most 10-month-olds gain about 1 to 1.5 pounds per month. Your pediatrician tracks this on growth charts.
2. Wet diapers: At least 4 to 6 wet diapers in 24 hours suggests good hydration.
3. Contentment after feeds: A baby who seems satisfied (not fussy or frantically hungry) after a meal is probably getting enough.
4. Normal poop patterns: Stools can vary from once a day to every other day with solids. Consistency matters more than frequency.

If your baby consistently refuses formula or seems hungry after a full bottle, it may be time to adjust the balance of solids. Some babies also go through short phases of reduced appetite when teething, which usually passes in a few days.

Tips for Transitioning to a Cup

Around 10 months, many parents start introducing an open cup or a straw cup with formula. This helps wean from the bottle and supports oral motor development. Start with just one cup feeding per day, then gradually increase.

UC Davis Children’s Hospital recommends offering formula in a cup 1 to 2 times daily at this age. Their feeding schedule PDF outlines the shift clearly: “6 to 7 ounces every 4 to 6 hours, with no night-time feeds.”

Expect some mess at first. Babies learn to sip rather than suck, and they may dribble or spill. Stick with it — by 12 months, many babies can handle a cup well enough to use it as their primary drinking vessel.

If your baby rejects the cup initially, try offering water first (within the daily limit) so they get used to the feel, then switch to formula. Some babies prefer a straw cup over an open cup; both work fine.

The Bottom Line

Most 10-month-olds need 24 to 30 ounces of formula per day, divided into 3 to 4 feedings, alongside three solid meals. As solids increase, formula naturally decreases. Watch for hunger and fullness cues rather than forcing a specific number.

Your pediatrician can help you tailor these guidelines to your baby’s growth curve and whether a vitamin D supplement is needed once formula drops below 32 ounces. If your baby consistently refuses bottles or seems hungry after feeds, a quick check-in with your doctor can rule out any underlying concerns.