Formula Intake for a 10-Month-Old Eating Table Food
A 10-month-old infant eating table food should receive approximately 24-32 ounces of formula per day, distributed across 3-4 feedings, as solid foods increasingly contribute to nutritional needs but formula remains the primary source of nutrition until 12 months of age.
Daily Formula Volume
The recommended daily formula intake is 24-32 ounces over 24 hours, which represents the standard guideline for infants in the second half of the first year of life 1, 2, 3.
As solid food intake increases at 10 months, formula volume may naturally decrease toward the lower end of this range (closer to 24 ounces), but should not fall below this threshold to ensure adequate caloric and nutritional intake 1.
Feeding Pattern and Distribution
Formula feedings should be distributed across 3-4 feedings per day at this age, with each feeding providing approximately 6-8 ounces 1, 3.
Continue to follow the infant's hunger cues rather than rigid schedules, allowing demand-based feeding to guide both frequency and volume 1, 2, 3.
Complementary Feeding Considerations
Solid foods (table foods) at 10 months should complement, not replace, formula as the primary nutrition source until 12 months of age 1.
Iron-rich complementary foods including meat, fish, and eggs should be well-established in the diet by this age to prevent anemia and support development 4.
Standard infant formulas provide 20 kcal/oz, which remains appropriate for healthy 10-month-olds 1, 3, 5.
Critical Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not introduce cow's milk, juice, or other beverages before 12 months of age, as these displace needed calories and nutrients from formula 1, 3.
Avoid overfeeding formula at the expense of solid food introduction, but equally avoid underfeeding formula (below 24 ounces daily) as this can lead to inadequate caloric intake and poor growth 1, 2, 3.
Monitor weight gain patterns and developmental milestones to ensure the balance between formula and solid foods is appropriate for the individual infant 3.
Special Circumstances
For infants with chronic medical conditions or growth concerns, caloric density may need adjustment beyond standard 20 kcal/oz formulas, but this requires medical supervision and individualized calculation 6.
Infants showing signs of inadequate intake (poor weight gain, decreased urine output, developmental delays) may require the full 32 ounces daily even with solid food intake 3.