Growing baby - Same milk volume. Learn how this works!
“Is My Baby Eating Enough at 3 Months? What Every Breastfeeding Mom Needs to Know”
"My baby is 3 months old—do I need to increase how much they eat?"
This is one of the most common questions I hear from breastfeeding moms, especially around the 12-week mark when babies start to look more alert, grow out of that sleepy newborn stage, and seem hungrier.
Let’s break down what’s really happening with your baby’s intake—and what your amazing body is doing behind the scenes to keep up.
How Milk Intake Changes in the First Weeks
Most people assume that babies constantly need more and more milk as they grow—but the truth is, the most dramatic changes in milk volume happen in the first 10 days of life.
Here’s a visual to help:
Feeding Volume by Baby’s Age & Stomach Size
Day 1: Stomach is the size of a cherry 🍒 → 5–7 mL per feed
Day 3–4: Size of a walnut 🌰 → 15–30 mL per feed
Day 10: Size of a large egg 🥚 → 2-3 oz per feed
By the time your baby is about a month old, they’re taking in roughly 25–30 oz per day. After that? Intake levels off more than you’d expect.
Your Baby Grows—Your Milk Evolves
From 1 to 6 months (and even beyond), most babies continue to take about the same total amount of milk per day—even as their bodies grow rapidly.
How is that possible?
Because your milk changes with your baby.
It doesn’t just increase in volume—it increases in quality. Your body fine-tunes the nutrition in your milk to match your baby’s age, growth stage, and needs.
✨ What Changes in Your Milk Composition?
Between exclusive breastfeeding (0–6 months) and the introduction of solids (around 6 months+), here’s what shifts:
Nutrients in the Early Months (0–6 mo) Nutrients in Later Months (9–12 mo)
Fat ~3.5–4.5% Up to ~5%
Carbohydrates ~7% (mostly lactose) Similar
Protein ~0.9–1.2% Increases to ~1.2–1.6%
Calories/Oz ~65–70 kcal Remains consistent
This nutrient shift supports:
Brain development (with more fat)
Muscle growth (with more protein)
Immune protection (with antibodies & enzymes that remain high)
Even after your baby starts solids, breast milk remains their primary source of nutrition for the first year. It's not just enough—it's tailored.
But My Baby Seems Hungrier… What Does That Mean?
Babies go through developmental leaps, growth spurts, and sleep regressions—all of which can increase feeding frequency. But that doesn’t always mean they need more ounces.
Instead, they’re often signaling a temporary need (like comfort, hydration, or cluster feeding to boost supply) rather than long-term volume increases.
Trust your baby. Trust your body. Trust your intuition.
They’re working together beautifully—even if it doesn’t always feel like it in the moment.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Stress About Volume
Unless advised by a healthcare provider or you’re pumping and tracking exact amounts, you don’t need to increase feeding volume just because your baby is getting older.
You are already producing exactly what your baby needs—and your milk is adjusting for them daily.
Oftentimes, parents are comparing their breastfed infant to their formula-fed counterpart and these two just don’t match up. With formula, it is not a living substance and the volume needs to increase to increase nutrition but your body doesn’t work like this, instead, your body increases nutritional content of the milk without significantly increasing volume!
Many mothers are falsely made to feel that their supply is low when in actuality, your supply is just right for your baby.
So, if you’ve been wondering whether your 3-month-old needs more milk, here’s your reassurance:
No—they just need you. And what you’re already making is enough.
If you have questions about milk supply or infant feeding schedule a consult today to work through your concerns! 30 Minute Milk Checks are available to help you get started!
