It is common for infants to lose up to 10 percent of their birth weight within the first few days after birth, with breast-fed infants losing slightly more than formula-fed infants. After regaining their birth weight, babies should gain approximately three-fourths of an ounce to one ounce per day for the first three months of life, one-half to three-fourths of an ounce per day for the next three months, and one-third to one-half an ounce per day for the next six months. Since most parents do not weigh their infants every day, the best way to check the growth of an infant is to follow the weight at the well-baby checks and to ask the physician to show the child's growth chart, which is updated at each visit. If there is a concern prior to the infant's next doctor visit, make sure to schedule a visit for a weight check before then. As a general rule, formula-fed infants will eat, on average, three ounces of formula per pound, per day, for the first three months of life and between 26 and 32 ounces (total) per day from three to 12 months. Breast-fed infants' intake is harder to measure at home, but as long as they appear to be growing and are gaining weight at their well-baby checks, they are getting enough breast milk.
After starting solids, like baby cereals, fruits and vegetables, at four to six months of age, continue to offer breast milk or formula first, because this will continue to be the most important part of the baby's diet until he or she is 12 months. Although breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, formula feeding is an appropriate substitute and both methods will allow the baby to grow.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.armymedicine.army.mil)
