How Many Ounces Does A Newborn Drink Per Feeding? | Simple Feeding Guide

In those first weeks, volume shifts fast. A tiny belly learns, appetite settles, and you learn your baby’s rhythm. Rather than chasing rigid numbers, use ranges, watch cues, and check that daily totals and diaper counts line up.

Two trusted reference points keep expectations grounded. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes 1–2 oz per feed in the first week, 3–4 oz by the end of the first month, and a rough daily target of 2.5 oz of formula per pound of body weight with an upper limit near 32 oz. The CDC echoes the early range of 1–2 oz every 2–3 hours in the first days, spread over 8–12 feeds.

Newborn Feeding At A Glance (Birth–4 Weeks)

Here’s a quick map of typical ounces per feeding and how often newborns eat. Breastfed babies usually feed more often with smaller volumes; bottle-fed babies often stretch longer between sessions.

Age	Typical Ounces Per Feed	Usual Frequency
First 1–3 Days	1–2 oz per feed	Every 2–3 hours (8–12 feeds)
Days 4–7	1.5–2.5 oz per feed	Every 2–3 hours
Week 2	2–3 oz per feed	Every 2–4 hours
Weeks 3–4	3–4 oz per feed	Every 3–4 hours

Newborn Ounces Per Feeding By Week: What To Expect

Birth To Day 3: stomach capacity is small, so feeds are frequent. Expect roughly 1–2 oz per session. Pauses and short bursts are common while the swallow pattern matures.

Days 4–7: intake nudges up. Many babies settle near 1.5–2.5 oz per feed. Some will take more at one session and a bit less at the next; the daily total matters more than any single bottle.

Week 2: most newborns land around 2–3 oz per feeding. Spacing might lengthen slightly, yet evening cluster sessions can still happen.

Weeks 3–4: 3–4 oz per feed is common for bottle-fed babies, with three to four hour gaps. Breastfed babies often keep shorter gaps but still reach similar day totals.

Breastfed Versus Bottle-Fed: Why Volumes Differ

Babies at the breast self-pace and often take small, frequent meals. A bottle flows faster, so ounces per feeding look larger and countable. Both patterns can be healthy when hunger and fullness cues are respected, weight tracks well, and diapers are steady.

Reading Hunger And Fullness Cues

Numbers help, yet your baby’s cues are the better guide. Use this list during feeds.

• Early hunger: rooting, hand-to-mouth, lip smacking, fussing.
• Active hunger: strong sucking, eager latch, little patience for delays.
• Fullness: relaxed hands and body, turning away, slowed sucking, dozing off.

Weight-Based Formula Estimate That Scales

A handy rule for formula is 2.5 oz per pound of body weight across 24 hours, not to exceed about 32 oz a day. To estimate per bottle, divide that daily total by the number of feeds. Say an 8 lb baby takes eight bottles: 8 × 2.5 ÷ 8 ≈ 2.5 oz per bottle.

Treat this as a ceiling plus a compass, not a quota. Babies self-adjust. Offer smaller bottles, pace the feed, and let your baby call the stop.

Paced Bottle Tips For Steadier Intake

• Hold the bottle more horizontal so flow doesn’t race.
• Pause every few minutes for a burp and a check-in.
• Switch sides midway to mimic breast pacing and reduce gulping.
• Use slow-flow nipples sized for a newborn.

Signs Your Baby May Need More Or Less Per Feed

Volume needs change week by week. Watch growth, diapers, and comfort, then adjust ounces per feeding without chasing perfect symmetry.

Needs More

• Drains most bottles, still cues hunger soon after.
• Fewer than 6 wet diapers a day after day 5.
• Weight gain lags at checkups.
• Long, frustrated feeds with little settling.

Needs Less

• Frequent spit-up with arching or discomfort after larger bottles.
• Gassy, tight belly soon after big feeds.
• Regularly pushes the nipple out or turns away mid-feed.
• Consistently exceeds the 32 oz daily ceiling with signs of discomfort.

Breast Milk Bottles: Smart Portions

When offering expressed milk, smaller servings cut waste and better match normal intake. Portions of 2–3 oz work well for the early weeks, with extra small refills ready if hunger continues.

Pump, Prep, And Storage Notes

Label bottles with date and amount, keep portions small, and warm gently in water, not a microwave. Swirl, don’t shake hard, so the fat blends back in.

Cluster Feeding, Growth Spurts, And Night Stretching

Evening clusters packed with shorter gaps are common, especially around 2–3 weeks. During spurts, ounces per feeding may jump for a few days, then drift back. Night stretches grow as stomach capacity grows; many bottle-fed babies start dropping a night feed once intake rises during the day.

Weight-Based Formula Quick Reference

Weight (lb)	Daily Total (oz)	Per Bottle If 8 Feeds
6 lb	≈ 15 oz/day	≈ 1.9 oz/feeding
7 lb	≈ 17.5 oz/day	≈ 2.2 oz/feeding
8 lb	≈ 20 oz/day	≈ 2.5 oz/feeding
9 lb	≈ 22.5 oz/day	≈ 2.8 oz/feeding
10 lb	≈ 25 oz/day	≈ 3.1 oz/feeding

Practical Tips For Feeding Sessions

• Warm hands, calm room, and skin-to-skin settle a tense start.
• Aim for snug swaddles only if your baby settles better that way, and always keep the chin up and airway clear.
• Use responsive feeding: start when early cues show, slow down when fullness shows.
• If a feed runs long, try a burp break or a diaper check before offering more.
• Track diapers and rough volumes for a few days, then switch to lighter logging once the pattern looks steady.