Building a Recipe
Make a bottle at a Target concentration by hand, from whole Scoops and water to the nearest 5 mL. The calculator does the same sums.
You need the formula's Kcal per scoop and Displacement. Reading labels shows how to get them from the label.
Advertisement
Step 1 How many Scoops
kcal/mL = Target concentration ÷ 30
kcal needed = Target volume × kcal/mL
Scoops = kcal needed ÷ Kcal per scoop, rounded up
You can only use whole Scoops, and rounding up makes sure there's enough energy.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
kcal/mL: 24 ÷ 30 = 0.8
kcal needed: 150 × 0.8 = 120
Scoops: 120 ÷ 22.3 = 5.38 → 6
Aptamil Gold+ 1
kcal/mL: 24 ÷ 30 = 0.8
kcal needed: 150 × 0.8 = 120
Scoops: 120 ÷ 38.0 = 3.16 → 4
Step 2 How much water
Actual kcal = Scoops × Kcal per scoop
total Displacement = Scoops × Displacement
water = Actual kcal ÷ kcal/mL − total Displacement, rounded up to the nearest 5 mL
The powder takes up room too, so the water is the volume that dilutes the energy back to target, less the powder's Displacement.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
Actual kcal: 6 × 22.3 = 133.8
Total Displacement: 6 × 3.33 = 20.0 mL
Water: 133.8 ÷ 0.8 − 20.0 = 147.3 → 150 mL
Aptamil Gold+ 1
Actual kcal: 4 × 38.0 = 152.0
Total Displacement: 4 × 5.00 = 20.0 mL
Water: 152.0 ÷ 0.8 − 20.0 = 170.0 → 170 mL
Step 3 What you actually get
Actual volume = water + total Displacement
Actual concentration = Actual kcal ÷ Actual volume × 30
Rounding means the bottle isn't exactly what you asked for; this tells you what it is.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
Actual volume: 150 + 20.0 = 170.0 mL
Actual concentration: 133.8 ÷ 170.0 × 30 = 23.61
Aptamil Gold+ 1
Actual volume: 170 + 20.0 = 190.0 mL
Actual concentration: 152.0 ÷ 190.0 × 30 = 24.00
Recipe for NAN OPTIPRO 1
6 Scoops + 150 mL water
170.0 mL at 23.61 kcal/30 mL
Label accessed 29 Sep 2026. Check against your tin.
Recipe for Aptamil Gold+ 1
4 Scoops + 170 mL water
190.0 mL at 24.00 kcal/30 mL
Label accessed 29 Sep 2026. Check against your tin.
Rounding
- Water is rounded to 5 mL because that's the smallest amount you can measure reliably on bottle markings.
- If Scoops comes out exactly whole, don't round up; the same goes for water already on a 5 mL mark.
- Working is shown to 1 decimal place for kcal and volumes, and 2 for Concentration.
Why is it slightly under?
Rounding Scoops up adds extra energy. The water is then sized to dilute that energy back to the target, and rounding the water up to 5 mL dilutes it a little more. So the Actual concentration is always at or just below the Target concentration, and the Actual volume at or above the Target volume.
The calculator warns when the result is 0.5 kcal/30 mL or more below target.
Optional final check: the Fewer-Scoops suggestion
Try one fewer Scoop: redo “How much water” and “What you actually get” with one fewer Scoop.
Use it if its Actual volume is closer to the Target volume and within 10 mL of it.
This Recipe can make slightly less than the Target volume. Two fewer is never worth checking: the main Recipe overshoots by less than one Scoop's worth of volume, so two fewer always lands further away.
NAN OPTIPRO 1
One fewer Scoop: 5 Scoops + 125 mL → 141.7 mL at 23.61
Used: 8.3 mL short vs 20 mL over.
Aptamil Gold+ 1
One fewer Scoop: 3 Scoops + 130 mL → 145.0 mL at 23.59
Used: 5 mL short vs 40 mL over.
Short example: no suggestion
Aptamil Gold+ 1, 150 mL at 20 → 3 Scoops + 160 mL → 175.0 mL at 19.54. One fewer (2 Scoops + 105 mL → 115.0 mL) is 35 mL short, so it isn't used.
This page covers quantities only. Preparation and hygiene (water first, level Scoops and so on) follow the tin's instructions and your local feeding protocols.
Advertisement
Advertisement