How much should a 5 month old eat? 5 Month old babies eat an average of 24-32 ounces of formula, breastfeed 5-8 times a day, and eat up to one solid meal a day. Learn all about your 5 month old’s needs and review this baby feeding chart to help your baby grow happy and healthy!
In this article:
How Often Should a 5 Month Old Be Eating?
Most 5 month olds eat every 3-4 hours. How often your 5 month old eats will depend on their stomach size, how large their bottles are, and the size of their appetite. The larger the bottle, the fewer the feedings, usually.
How Long Can a 5 Month Old Go Between Feedings?
Most 5 month olds eat every 3-4 hours during the day. At night, most 5 month olds can go 5-8 hours without eating and then another 3-4 hours.
If you are doing 12 Hours by 12 Weeks, your baby will have to go 4 hours between feedings in order to sleep 12 hours straight without eating. However if your baby is unable to do that, they are not abnormal!
If your baby is going over 4 hours during the day without eating, consider night-weaning if you haven’t already. Also, be very cautious about solid food (see below.)
How Many Oz Should a 5 Month Old Eat?
As our baby feeding chart shows, 5 month olds typically drink 6-7 oz or 180-210 ml bottles. Babies with reflux will often drink smaller, more frequent bottles, though.
Is 5 oz enough?
Yes, 5 oz bottles can be enough if that’s all your baby wants. However, if they are ready to eat again in less than 3 hours, you might experiment with offering a larger bottle. If your baby won’t finish a larger bottle, they might have a smaller stomach, that’s okay!
Keep in mind that smaller bottles tend to mean more bottles during the day or night feedings for a longer period of time than some peers. There is no “right” or “wrong.” Find what works for your baby! Babies who drink 5-ounce bottles tend to take longer to sleep through the night.
Is 6-7 oz too much?
6-7 oz bottles are the most common bottle size at 5 months old and it is generally NOT too much. If your baby is spitting up a little, that’s considered normal. If you have any concerns, be sure to mention them to your healthcare provider.
Is 8 oz too much?
8 oz bottles are large and it could be too much, but not necessarily. Babies getting 8-ounce bottles tend to drink 4 per day and sleep through the night. For example, they might drink a bottle at 7 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM. If your baby is going longer than 4 hours during the day between bottles and NOT sleeping through the night, however, consider offering a smaller bottle.
How Much Solid Food Should a 5 Month Old Eat?
It’s considered best to start solid food at around 6 months old. But, if your healthcare provider has recommended you start solid food early, the following is recommended per day:
- Up to 1-2 Tablespoons of grains
- Up to 1-2 Tablespoons of fruit
- Up to 1-2 Tablespoons of vegetables
If your baby is eating less than this, please do not worry.
Can You Overfeed Solids?
Yes, you can overfeed solids! This typically happens when a baby loves solid food and has not yet learned their limits, yet. Most babies will self-regulate and shut their mouths or turn their heads away when they are done. But, since it takes 20 minutes to get the right signals, they can accidentally overeat.
When you start solid food, it should NOT reduce milk intake much, if at all. If your baby starts going longer than 4 hours between bottles or no longer finishes their bottle, you might want to reduce solid food. Total intake should remain 24-32 oz or 700-950 ml per day, on average. Most babies this age will eat one small jar of baby food (4 oz) once a day but if your baby keeps spitting up or vomiting up their food shortly after a feeding, consider cutting back.
What Purees Can a 5 Month Old Eat?
If you are offering your baby solids, you might wonder what purees your 5 month old can eat. Here are a few great starter foods:
- Applesauce
- Avocado
- Banana (though can cause constipation)
- Pear
- Green Beans
- Sweet Potato
- Squash
Is There a Growth Spurt at 5 Months?
No, growth spurts tend to happen around 6 months old but like everything else, each unique baby has their own timetable for development. Babies change a lot in the first year so be sure to look out for sleep regressions and growth spurts.
Baby Feeding Chart for 5 Month Old – Download, Print, or Pin
Here is a handy 5 month old feeding chart for you to download, print, or pin. Simply click on the image and then right-click to download and/or print it. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines but you know your baby best!
What Schedule Should My 5 Month Old Be On?
5 month olds sleep 10-12 hours at night and 3-4 hours during the day. A typical clock schedule isn’t common at this age unless it comes naturally. Most 5 month olds have wake windows around 2-3 hours long though some still have 90-minute ones. Be sure to check out our 5 month old sleep schedule to help your baby sleep best.
