In the first weeks, most newborns take 30–90 ml per feed, rising to 60–120 ml by 2–4 weeks, with cues and weight guiding exact amounts.
Newborn feeding isn’t one-size-fits-all. Age, weight, and whether baby drinks breast milk or formula all shape how many milliliters make sense at each feed. Below you’ll find clear age bands, weight math, and practical tips you can use right away, plus two simple tables you can save.
Two quick anchors for trusted guidance: the AAP’s formula amounts and the CDC’s “how much and how often” page. Use them with your baby’s hunger and fullness cues.
Newborn Feeding Amounts In ML: Age-By-Age Guide
Early days start small. Colostrum arrives in tiny volumes and meets your baby’s needs well. Formula feeds begin a little larger. Here’s a side-by-side view that keeps both paths in mind. Ranges below are per feed.
| Age | Breastfeeding: Typical Per-Feed (ml) | Formula: Typical Per-Feed (ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 hours | 2–10 | 30–60 |
| 24–48 hours | 5–15 | 30–60 |
| 48–72 hours | 15–30 | 30–60 |
| 72–96 hours | 30–60 | 30–60 |
| 1–2 weeks | 45–90 | 60–90 |
| 2–4 weeks | 60–120 | 90–120 |
Sources: early breastfeeding volumes from ABM Protocol #3; formula volumes from AAP and CDC. Feed by cues; some babies drink outside these ranges.
Why The Numbers Differ By Feeding Method
Colostrum is dense and comes in teaspoons. That’s the design. Frequent feeds help milk come in and keep baby satisfied. Formula starts closer to full-sized bottles, so early per-feed amounts look larger. Both routes can meet needs. Watch cues and diapers to steer day by day, steady.
What Changes Through Week One And Beyond
Across the first week, per-feed volume rises as stomach capacity grows. By the end of week one many babies land around 30–60 ml per feed. Through weeks two to four, most move toward 60–120 ml per feed with longer gaps, often about every 3–4 hours for bottles and a bit more often at the breast.
Hunger And Fullness Cues To Trust
Amounts on a chart can’t read your baby’s face. Cues can. Before feeds you may see stirring, hand-to-mouth, rooting, or soft fussing. During and after feeds, look for a steady suck-swallow pattern, relaxed hands, and a calm finish. Turn away, sealing lips, long pauses, or dozing off usually means “I’m done.” Let those signs cap the session instead of the bottle’s last mark.
How Often Newborns Eat
Most newborns eat 8–12 times in 24 hours. Bottle-fed babies often settle into every 3–4 hours. Many breastfed babies stack feeds closer together at times, called cluster feeds. Long sleep stretches early on can trim intake, so wake for feeds if hours slide by in the first couple of weeks.
Formula Vs Breast Milk: What That Means For ML
Formula. In the first week, offer about 30–60 ml per feed. By the end of the first month, most take 90–120 ml. The AAP also gives a daily guide: about 75 ml per pound of body weight. That tops out around 960 ml per day for most babies.
Breast milk. Early feeds deliver teaspoons of colostrum. By day 3 to 5, mature milk flows and per-feed intake climbs fast. If you pump, expect wide swings from session to session. That’s normal. Look to baby’s growth and diapers to judge intake across the day.
Paced Bottle Technique Helps
Bottles can move milk fast. To match the breast’s rhythm, hold the bottle more horizontal, pause every few swallows, and switch sides halfway. This slows the flow, gives time for fullness signals, and cuts spit-up and gas. No bottle propping. Hold the baby upright and stay present.
Weight-Based Math You Can Use
Daily intake scales with size. A simple rule many clinics use is about 162 ml per kilogram per day for term newborns on standard 20 kcal/oz milk. Split that across feeds to get a per-feed target that fits your baby’s weight.
| Weight (kg) | Daily Target (ml) | Per Feed (8 feeds/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 405 | 50 |
| 3.0 | 486 | 60 |
| 3.5 | 567 | 70 |
| 4.0 | 648 | 80 |
| 4.5 | 729 | 90 |
Daily volumes use 162 ml/kg/day. If your baby feeds 10–12 times, divide the daily number by those feeds instead. Always let cues lead.
Night Feeds And Waking
Early on, many babies need a feed every 3–4 hours around the clock. If a newborn sleeps past that in the first weeks, wake gently and offer milk. Unwrap a layer, change the diaper, or rub feet to rouse without stress. Once growth is steady and your clinician says it’s okay, longer stretches happen on their own.
Signs Intake Is On Track
- Steady weight gain after the first few days.
- Plenty of pale wet diapers and regular stools.
- Content periods between feeds and bright alert times.
- No arching or tight, gassy belly after most feeds.
If these aren’t showing up, or if spit-up is forceful and frequent, talk with your baby’s clinician for personal advice.
Smart Formula Prep And Portion Tips
- Use the scoop that comes with your tin and add water first, then powder, unless the label directs otherwise.
- Stick with iron-fortified standard formula unless your clinician directs a specialty product.
- Warm bottles safely or serve at room temp; never microwave.
- Discard leftovers within two hours after the start of a feed.
- Don’t chase the last milliliter. Stop when baby signals done.
Breastfeeding: Why ML Measuring Can Mislead
At the breast you won’t see numbers on a bottle, and that’s okay. Latch, audible swallows, and a relaxed finish say more than any tracker. If you need to pace growth, you can add a weighed feed now and then with a lactation pro. Short sessions stacked close together are common in the evenings.
Growth Spurts And Appetite Swings
Babies often ramp up intake for a day or two, then settle back to their usual rhythm. You may see this around day 7–10 and again near three weeks. Offer more when asked, then return to your typical amounts when cues ease.
Putting It All Together: Sample Feeding Scenarios
Day 2, Breastfeeding
Feeds run 8–12 times. Each may be 5–15 ml of colostrum, with short gaps between. Work toward a deep, comfy latch and skin-to-skin. Diapers start to pick up.
Week 1, Formula
Feeds land near 30–60 ml every 3 hours. If baby still looks hungry after finishing, offer a small top-up. If baby turns away mid-bottle, stop there.
Week 3, Mixed Feeding
Daytime may alternate breast and 60–90 ml bottles. Evenings may bunch up. Track diapers and relax into the pattern that keeps baby growing and content.
Reading The Bottle And The Baby
Marks on a bottle are handy, though they can mislead if froth or bubbles add height. Hold the bottle still after mixing so foam settles. Keep the nipple full of milk while feeding to limit swallowed air. If the nipple collapses or baby fights the flow, switch to a different flow level.
Watch tempo. A smooth cycle looks like suck-suck-swallow, brief pause, then repeat. Fast chugging with flared nostrils may mean the flow is too quick. Long, sleepy pauses every few sucks can point to a slower flow. Tuning this up makes the same volume feel better and reduces spit-ups.
Common Pitfalls That Skew ML
- Stretchy gaps. Waiting too long sets up frantic feeds. Shorter gaps often lead to calmer sessions and steadier intake.
- Over-mixing. Shaking hard adds bubbles that mimic extra milk. Roll or swirl to mix, then let it settle.
- Chasing a number. Forcing the last few milliliters can backfire with more spit-up and fuss.
- Big nipples early on. An extra-fast flow can flood the mouth and push babies past comfort before signals catch up.
When The ML Looks Low But Intake Is Fine
Some babies graze. They take smaller, frequent feeds and still hit a solid total across the day. If growth is steady, diapers are plentiful, and your baby wakes for feeds and settles afterward, the plan is working. Numbers in a log can look modest while your baby’s body writes a different story.
When To Seek Care
Reach out to your baby’s clinician if feeds are always a struggle, if weight stalls, if wet diapers drop off, or if vomiting is forceful and frequent. Bring your bottles and nipples to the visit if bottle issues keep showing up.
Burping, Spit-Up, And Comfort Tricks
Pause to burp when switching sides or halfway through a bottle. Place baby upright on your chest or sit across your lap with a steady hand under the chin. Gentle back pats help bubbles rise. A slow, paced feed paired with a good burp plan often trims spit-up and belly air.
Combining Breast And Bottle Without Guesswork
Many families mix methods. A simple approach is to breastfeed on cue and offer a 30–60 ml bottle if baby still shows hunger soon after. On days with more bottles, add an extra pumping session to protect supply. Store milk in small amounts so you can thaw only what you need.
Feeding Positions For Easy Swallowing
- Upright cradle. Baby’s head higher than hips, neck straight, chin off the chest.
- Laid-back chest-to-chest. Great for latch and for babies who push off fast flow.
- Side-lying. Helpful for night feeds; keep the airway clear and the body aligned.
Small tweaks here often matter more than chasing extra milliliters. Comfort leads to steady intake.
Bottom Line For Parents
For most newborns, per-feed amounts fall in these bands: 2–10 ml on day one at the breast, 30–60 ml per bottle in the first week, and 60–120 ml by weeks two to four. Pair those guides with hunger and fullness signals, and size the day’s total using your baby’s weight. When questions pop up, your baby’s clinician is your best next step. Healthy babies eat in patterns, not perfect lines; small day-to-day swings are normal, especially around growth spurts and sleep changes. Use tables as a starting point and let your baby show the finish line.