How Many ML Per Day Newborn? | Feeding Facts

Feeding a brand-new baby can feel like guesswork. Here’s a clear way to plan daily milliliters for the first month, with practical ranges you can use right now. You’ll see day-by-day volumes, a simple weight formula for bottle feeds, and breastmilk norms that match what parents usually see. Use the charts to prepare, then let your baby’s cues lead the fine-tuning.

Newborn Daily Ml At A Glance

Newborn bellies are small, so early feeds look tiny. Volumes climb through the first week, then settle into a steady groove. The chart blends common per-feed amounts with a typical 8–12 feeds in 24 hours. It’s a guide, not a target—feed responsively and watch diapers, comfort, and weight for confirmation.

Age	Typical Per Feed (ml)	Estimated Daily Total (ml)
Day 0–1	5–7	40–84
Day 2	10–20	80–240
Day 3	30–60	240–720
Days 4–7	45–90	360–900
Weeks 2–4	60–120	480–900

For bottle starts in the first days, the CDC suggests offering about 30–60 ml every 2–3 hours, then adjusting to your baby’s signals. That steady, baby-led rhythm keeps intake safe while the gut and feeding skills mature.

How Many Milliliters Per Day For A Newborn – Safe Ranges

Two simple rules cover most babies. For formula, a handy daily estimate is about 150–160 ml per kilogram of body weight. The American Academy of Pediatrics frames the same idea as about 2½ ounces per pound per day, with a practical cap near 32 ounces (about 950 ml) in 24 hours. For breastmilk, supply usually ramps to around 500–700 ml per day by two weeks, then often lands between 600 and 900 ml across the rest of the first month, with busy days and calmer days along the way.

Breastfed Newborn: First Week

Colostrum leads the way—thick, golden, and concentrated. Early feeds are tiny, often a teaspoon or two, and they come often. Plan on 8–12 feeds in 24 hours. Day two can bring marathon cluster sessions that look nonstop; that’s baby signaling the switch to mature milk and building supply. As milk changes around days 3–4, swallows become more rhythmic, diapers feel heavier, and per-feed volume moves beyond teaspoons without needing a bottle to prove it.

Breastfed Newborn: Weeks 2–4

By the second week, many parents who pump see daily output in the 500–700 ml range spread through the day and night. Direct nursing often matches that total even though you won’t measure it. You’ll read success through patterns: at least six heavy wets a day after day five, frequent soft yellow stools, and a satisfied, relaxed baby after many feeds. Growth checks confirm the story as the early weight dip stabilizes and steady gain appears.

Formula-Fed Newborn: Simple Math

For planning bottles, multiply weight in kilograms by 150 to 160 to get a daily ml total. Break that number into feeds that fit your baby’s pattern. In the first days, many newborns take 30–60 ml per feed; across the first month, that often moves toward 60–120 ml per feed. Keep the flow calm and steady, pause here and there, and let turning away or a relaxed body end the feed.

Sample Calculation

A 3.2 kg baby: 3.2 × 150 ≈ 480 ml per day. Split across 8 feeds, that’s about 60 ml each time. If cues run stronger, edge toward 160 ml/kg/day and reassess comfort and diapers rather than pushing bottles to a fixed number. If your math ever overshoots that 32-ounce cap from the AAP, trim volume a little and watch how baby settles.

Feeding Frequency And Cues

Most newborns feed 8–12 times in 24 hours. That count can include short “snack” sessions and longer, drowsy feeds. Offer the breast or bottle when you see early signs: stirring, rooting, lip smacking, or hands to mouth. Crying usually arrives late in the sequence. During the feed, look for steady swallows. When baby loosens their fists, turns away, or dozes off, you can wrap up—those are fullness cues worth trusting.

Signs Daily Intake Is On Track

Wet and dirty diapers are your dashboard. From day five onward, aim for six or more heavy wets each day and a good stream of yellow stools. Your nose and scale tell the rest: urine that’s pale and plentiful, stools that shift from early dark to mustard-yellow, and weight that climbs after the early dip. If output slows, latching hurts, or each feed feels like a struggle, bring in hands-on help from a trained clinician who can watch a full feed and tune the plan.

Weight-Based Formula Guide (150 Ml/Kg/Day)

Use this quick table as a planning tool for bottle prep. It converts the 150 ml/kg/day rule into daily and per-feed estimates using 8 feeds. Adjust volume and spacing to the baby in front of you, and pace feeds so appetite—not the bottle—sets the finish line.

Baby Weight (kg)	Daily Total (ml)	Per Feed (ml, 8 feeds)
2.5	375	47
3.0	450	56
3.5	525	66
4.0	600	75
4.5	675	84

Bottle Tips That Prevent Overfeeding

Paced bottle feeding keeps intake comfortable and controlled. Hold the bottle more horizontal so milk doesn’t gush. Pause often to let baby breathe and reset, then switch sides midway as you would at the breast. Skip bottle propping. Burp during natural breaks. If fussiness lingers after a full feed, try a cuddle, nappy change, or gentle bounce before offering more milk. Many babies want comfort, not extra ounces.

When Totals Look Too Low Or Too High

Numbers help, but they aren’t the whole story. If the daily ml looks low yet diapers and weight look solid, your baby may simply be efficient at the breast. If the daily ml runs high and you’re seeing spit-ups, gassiness, or unusually rapid gains, scale back a little and slow the feed. Leave some time between bottles so hunger can build. The plan should reflect your baby’s growth data from checkups and how content they seem between feeds.

Day And Night: What Changes Across 24 Hours

Newborns often stack feeds closer at night. That pattern can boost supply for nursing parents and keep bottles shorter and calmer. If long sleep stretches appear in the early weeks, you can wake for a feed when the gap hits 4–5 hours so the daily total stays on track. As the month closes, many babies start spacing night feeds on their own, while keeping total daily ml steady across the full day.

Burps, Spit-Ups, And Comfort

Small spit-ups are common. Keep feeds upright, pause to burp, and leave a little air at the top of the teat so the nipple doesn’t collapse. Tight swaddles right after a full feed can push milk back up, so hold baby a bit before laying them down. If spit-ups soak clothes, coughing follows feeds, or weight gain stalls, ask your clinician to watch a feed and check for flow, positioning, and possible reflux patterns.

Breastmilk Vs Formula: Why The Numbers Differ

Direct nursing usually comes in many small feeds, while bottles can compress volume into fewer sessions. That’s one reason responsive cues matter. When milk arrives faster from a bottle, babies can drink beyond comfort. Slowing the flow brings bottle intake closer to breast patterns. On nursing days when cluster feeds spike, the total across 24 hours often still lands in the same daily range seen on quieter days.

Simple Steps That Help Intake Match Needs

• Keep feeds baby-led: start at early cues and stop at fullness cues.
• For nursing, ask a lactation professional to check latch and positioning.
• For bottles, choose a slow-flow teat and use paced technique with frequent pauses.
• Track diapers during the first two weeks; bring the log to weight checks.
• If weight trends raise questions, book a recheck and a full feeding review.