Most newborns take around 2–10 mL per feed on day 1, rising to 30–60 mL by day 4, spread across 8–12 feeds in 24 hours.
The first days bring tiny but mighty feeds. Colostrum comes in small volumes that match a newborn’s tummy size, then milk volume climbs fast over days two to four. If you’re offering expressed breast milk (EBM) by bottle, it helps to portion small amounts, read hunger cues, and pace the flow so baby leads the meal. The numbers below give realistic mL ranges you can use to plan bottles while staying responsive to your baby.
Newborn Milk Volumes By Day
These typical per-feed ranges come from clinical guidance on healthy, term infants. Feeds per day reflect direct breastfeeding patterns and translate well to EBM schedules when you pace bottles and follow cues.
| Age | Per Feed (mL) | Feeds / 24 h |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (0–24 h) | 2–10 | 8–12 |
| Day 2 (24–48 h) | 5–15 | 8–12 |
| Day 3 (48–72 h) | 15–30 | 8–12 |
| Day 4 (72–96 h) | 30–60 | 8–12 |
These intake bands mirror the colostrum-to-milk transition reported by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and align with the common 8–12 feeds seen in direct breastfeeding.
Expressed Breast Milk ML For Newborns: Practical Ranges
By the end of day 4, many babies are ready for 30–60 mL per bottle when fed on cue with a slow flow and pauses. Some will still prefer smaller, more frequent feeds, while others take the upper end less often. That flexibility is normal and usually reflects tummy capacity and sleep-wake rhythms, not a problem with supply.
How To Portion Bottles In The First Week
- Start small. Offer 10–15 mL on day 1–2, then bump in 10–15 mL steps as baby shows steady, rhythmic sucking and relaxed body cues near the end of a feed.
- Use cue-based top-ups. If baby still roots or has strong, organized sucks after burping, add 5–10 mL and reassess. If baby turns away, slows, or dozes, you’re done for now.
- Keep the flow slow. A fast nipple can push higher volumes than baby needs and mask “I’m full” cues. Pacing and slower flow protect intake.
From Day 5 To Two Weeks
Once milk volume is established, many term babies settle near 45–90 mL per feed, still averaging 8–12 bottles in 24 hours if using EBM for every feed. Daily maternal production often rises into the 500–700+ mL range in the second week; that doesn’t mean baby must drink the top end on day one of that period. Let appetite, swallow patterns, and relaxed post-feed behavior guide your portion.
Making Sense Of Daily Totals
After the newborn surge, exclusive intake across 1–6 months commonly sits around 750–800 mL per day, with wide normal variation across babies. Intake tends to stay steady while feeds get faster as babies grow more efficient at transferring milk. Don’t chase ever-larger bottles if weight gain and diapers look good.
What If Baby Seems Hungry Right After A Bottle?
Shortly spaced feeds can cluster in the evening or during growth spurts. Offer another small amount, keep the flow slow, and pause for burps. Frequent sessions can be part of normal patterns and don’t always signal low supply.
Using Weight-Based Math As A Sense-Check
Some clinical settings reference about 150 mL/kg/day as a planning value once feeds are established. You can use that as a sense-check against your daily total, then portion per bottle from your baby’s cues. If baby is thriving below that number, there’s no need to force more.
Bottle Technique That Protects Intake
Paced Bottle-Feeding Basics
- Hold baby upright and the bottle more horizontal so milk doesn’t pour. Let baby draw the milk in.
- Pause every few swallows for a breath and a burp. Watch for relaxed hands, soft shoulders, and gentle jaw motion.
- Switch sides midway to mimic breast rhythm and give neck muscles a break.
- Pick a slow-flow nipple and keep sessions to about 20–30 minutes.
Slow-Flow Nipple And Pause Rhythm
A slower teat can reduce over-delivery from the bottle. Combine that with regular pauses so baby can self-regulate and stop comfortably when full. This simple tweak helps align bottle volumes with what babies typically take at the breast.
Storage, Thawing, And Warming
Safe handling keeps every mL you worked for. At a glance, freshly expressed milk is fine at room temp (≤25 °C) for about 4 hours, in the fridge for up to 4 days, and in the freezer for best quality by 6 months (acceptable up to 12). See the full CDC storage guide for details.
| Where | Max Time | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Room (≤25 °C) | Up to 4 h | Keep covered and out of sun. |
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 days | Store toward the back; label date. |
| Freezer | Best by 6 mo (ok up to 12) | Freeze in 30–90 mL portions to cut waste. |
If you need a single authoritative chart for mL per feed in the first four days, bookmark ABM Protocol #3, which lists 2–10, 5–15, 15–30, and 30–60 mL ranges by day. It also outlines paced, cue-based ways to give supplements when needed.
Putting The Numbers To Work
Sample First-Week Portions
Day 1: pour 10 mL into the bottle and keep a second 10 mL ready as a top-up if baby still shows strong cues. Day 2: try 15 mL, then add 5–10 mL if needed. Day 3: start near 20–30 mL with a pause midway. Day 4: reach 30–60 mL based on pace and comfort. This rolling approach respects cues and matches the normal milk ramp.
By Two Weeks
Many families land on bottles in the 45–90 mL range, with total daily intake guided by appetite and diaper output. Expressing 8–10 times in 24 hours supports supply; an overnight session helps, even once your rhythm settles. Some parents see 500–700 mL or more expressed across the day by this point. That’s supply, not a mandate for intake at each feed.
Diapers, Behavior, And Weight Gain
Output tells a reliable story. After day 4, look for regular stools moving from dark to mustard-yellow and frequent wet diapers across the day. Steady weight checks at routine visits confirm you’re on track. If diapers dip or stools stay meconium-dark late in the first week, get skilled feeding support and reassess latch, transfer, and bottle pacing.
Feeding Frequency Still Matters
Whether at breast or by EBM, most newborns thrive with 8–12 feeds per 24 hours in the early weeks. Long gaps can stall supply and leave babies short on calories. Keep sessions frequent and calm; you can lengthen stretches later once growth and transfer are steady.
Quick Tips To Save Milk
- Prep small bottles (30–60 mL) and add more only if cues stay strong. It cuts waste and respects satiety.
- Warm gently in a bowl of warm water, swirl to mix the cream layer, and avoid the microwave.
- Track portions and diapers for a few days, then relax into your baby’s pattern once you see a groove.
Why Your Numbers May Vary
Babies aren’t metronomes. Birth weight, alert periods, and feeding skills shift those first-week volumes within the normal bands above. A calm, paced bottle with slow flow keeps intake close to what babies take at the breast and limits the urge to “finish the bottle” when fullness hits. When in doubt, offer a small top-up and watch for relaxed body language, easy breathing, and drowsy satisfaction at the end.