In the first week, most newborns take ~5–60 mL per feed, rising to 60–90 mL by days 4–7 (about 150 mL/kg/day across 24 hours).
Newborn intake grows fast over the first days. Small, frequent feeds match a tiny stomach and the rich makeup of early milk. Volumes vary, so use the ranges below and your baby’s cues, not a rigid clock.
Newborn Milk Intake In Milliliters: Day-By-Day
Early feeds are short and often. Colostrum comes in small amounts at first, then transitions to mature milk over several days. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that during the first week most babies take about 30–60 mL per feed, then move toward 90–120 mL over the first month (AAP guidance on amounts).
| Day Of Life | mL Per Feed | Feeds/24 h |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5–10 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 2 | 10–20 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 3 | 20–30 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 4–5 | 30–60 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 6–7 | 60–90 mL | 8–12 |
These numbers reflect common hospital teaching used in newborn care based on newborn physiology and the gradual rise in milk transfer seen in the first week. Some feeds land below or above the range, and that’s fine when diapers, comfort, and weight look good.
How Many Milliliters Of Milk A Newborn Needs: Putting The Day-By-Day Guide To Work
Use the table as a starting point, then adjust to your baby. Signs of hunger include stirring, rooting, hands to mouth, and short, rhythmic cries. Stop when swallowing slows, the body relaxes, or the baby turns away. A rigid “finish the bottle” approach leads to fussing and spit-up.
Breastfeeding Notes
Breastfed babies usually feed more often with smaller sips early on. The thick colostrum is packed with antibodies and energy, so a teaspoon or two can be enough on day one. As milk volume climbs, many babies settle near 60–90 mL per feed by the end of week one and keep a pattern of 8–12 feeds per day.
Formula And Expressed Milk
With bottles, pace the feed. Hold the bottle more horizontal, offer short pauses, and let the baby lead. This simple pacing helps match the natural stop-and-start rhythm and lowers the chance of overfeeding—advice also echoed in UNICEF Baby Friendly bottle-feeding guidance.
Daily Volume Targets By Weight (mL/kg)
By the end of the first week, daily intake often settles near 150–200 mL per kilogram of body weight across 24 hours. That range maps closely to the well-known “about 2½ oz per pound per day” rule for formula. Use the weight-based range to sense whether intake sits within a normal band.
How To Use Weight-Based Math
Pick your baby’s weight in kilograms. Multiply by 150 for a lower daily total, or by 200 for an upper daily total. Divide that number by the expected number of feeds in a day—eight to twelve early on—to get a rough per-feed amount. Babies will drift above or below at different times of day, which is normal.
Reading Cues Beats Chasing A Number
Feeding on cue matches supply to need. Hunger cues: waking, head turning, tongue flicks, lip smacking, soft fussing. Fullness cues: slower swallows, relaxed hands, longer pauses, pushing the teat or nipple out. When a baby stops, the tank is full for now even if a small amount remains in the bottle.
Diaper Counts And Growth Checks
Output tells a strong story. Expect 1–2 wet diapers on day one, two to four on days two to three, then six or more heavy wets from day five onward. Stools shift from dark meconium to mustard-yellow by the end of the first week. Consistent wets, alert periods, and steady weight gain show that intake fits your baby.
What If Your Newborn Wants More Or Less?
When Baby Seems Hungry Soon After A Feed
Offer another short feed. Newborns cluster feed, especially during the evening and overnight. Growth spurts and sleepy daytime stretches can bunch feeds together later.
When Spit-Up Or Gassiness Follows Feeds
Shorten the feed a touch, add more pacing, or allow a mid-feed burp. Check flow: a fast teat can push more milk than needed. Upright holding after feeds can help.
When The Numbers Look Low
Wake a sleepy baby at least every three hours during the first days. If there are fewer than six heavy wets after day five, if stools stay dark, or if latching hurts, ask your midwife, health visitor, or pediatrician to watch a full feed and give specific help.
Breast Milk Volumes After The Newborn Stage
From about one to six months, many exclusively breastfed babies take around 570–900 mL per day, with a common mid-range near 750 mL across 24 hours. Bottle volume stays steady while feeds stretch out, because milk energy density and baby efficiency improve through this period.
Plain-English Planning Tips
- Night prep: Pre-portion bottles at the lower end of your range; it’s easier to offer a small top-up than to manage a big overfill.
- Paced feeding: Keep the bottle more level, let the baby draw milk in, and pause every minute or two. Watch for steady swallows instead of chasing a target number.
- Growth days: When feeds bunch up, expect intake to rise for 24–48 hours and then settle.
- Shared care: Leave a simple note: baby’s usual per-feed mL range, expected feeds in 24 h, and any soothing tricks that work.
Weight-To-Milliliter Reference Table
| Weight (kg) | 150 mL/kg | 200 mL/kg |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 375 mL/day | 500 mL/day |
| 3.0 | 450 mL/day | 600 mL/day |
| 3.5 | 525 mL/day | 700 mL/day |
| 4.0 | 600 mL/day | 800 mL/day |
| 4.5 | 675 mL/day | 900 mL/day |
| 5.0 | 750 mL/day | 1000 mL/day |
Bottle Sizes And Portioning In The First Weeks
Smaller bottles help with pacing. In week one, fill 30–60 mL to start, then offer more only if your baby stays cueing. By the weekend after birth, many babies handle 60–90 mL per bottle. Keep a few 120 mL bottles ready for later weeks; they reduce refills during a growth spurt but still let you pour only what the baby asks for. When warming, swirl instead of shaking hard so bubbles don’t build up. If a bottle is unfinished, discard what remains rather than reheating it.
Frequently Seen Patterns In Week One
Day one brings brief, sleepy feeds and tiny volumes. Day two often feels busy, with frequent cueing as the body ramps production. Day three brings more audible swallows. Many families notice a long stretch after midnight, then shorter gaps by late morning. Evenings can bunch up; this is normal and often settles with skin-to-skin, a calm room, and unrushed pacing. Night waking is expected because small stomachs empty fast. The aim isn’t to stretch gaps yet, but to meet need in short cycles so weight and hydration stay on course.
Smart Tracking Without Overthinking
A simple log helps in the first days. Note start times, rough mL taken, wets, and stools. Two or three days of notes are usually enough to spot a pattern. After that, switch to watching the baby rather than the app. A scale check at routine visits confirms progress. If sleep or visitors cause a long gap, offer a catch-up feed, then slide back into your usual rhythm. When another carer is feeding, ask them to jot down volumes so you can review the full 24-hour picture later.
When To Get Extra Help
Get same-day advice if your newborn has fewer than six heavy wets after day five, dark urine, dry mouth, weak cry, or is hard to wake for feeds. Also seek help for fast breathing, a blue tinge, repeated vomiting, or if stools stay black past day three. Pain with latching, damaged nipples, or a sense that feeds never finish also deserve skilled eyes on a full feed. Early tweaks—position, latch, pacing, or flow—often solve the issue and make feeding far more comfortable for both of you.
Pumping And Leaving Milk For Caregivers
To plan bottles for time away, use the weight-based daily range above and divide by the hours you’ll be gone. For a three-hour outing early on, one 60–90 mL bottle usually suffices; leave a second small bottle as a backup instead of one big bottle. Label by date and time, store in the coldest part of the fridge, and thaw frozen milk in the fridge or under cool then warm running water. Paced bottle feeding plus frequent burp breaks keeps intake measured and helps the handover go smoothly.
Safety Reminders
Mix formula exactly as directed on the tin. Use clean water and clean gear. For breastmilk storage, chill promptly and warm gently. Any feed with clear signs of gagging, color change, or poor breathing stops right away. If your baby is hard to rouse, has dry mouth with few or no wets, or drops feeds with vomiting, seek same-day care.
Why Ranges Matter More Than A Single Number
Two babies of the same age can have different per-feed volumes and still thrive. Stomach capacity, milk flow, energy needs, and pace all shape intake. Feed responsively and watch diapers closely every single day.