Newborn feeding: in 24 hours most take about 16–24 oz in week one, rising toward 24–32 oz by 4–6 weeks, split into 8–12 small feeds.
Those first days bring a tiny belly and big questions. You want clear numbers that match real life, not a maze of rules. This guide gives ranges that fit most newborns, simple math you can use at 3 a.m., and cues that help you stop guessing. Feed on demand, keep an eye on diapers and weight, and use the charts below as a calm baseline.
How Many Ounces A Newborn Eats In A Day: Real-World Ranges
Newborns eat little and often. Across a full day, many take about 16–24 ounces in the first week. By weeks four to six, daily intake often lands near 24–32 ounces. Feeds usually total 8–12 sessions in 24 hours, with smaller bottles early on and larger ones as the weeks pass. Breastfed babies follow the same pattern, though you measure intake by diapers, growth, and contented pauses at the breast.
Use these ranges as a start, then let your baby’s cues do the steering. Some days run light, others busier. Growth spurts can cluster feeds close together, then spacing returns.
| Age | Avg Per Feed (oz) | Feeds Per 24h |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | 0.5–1 | 8–12 |
| Days 4–7 | 1–2 | 8–12 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 1.5–3 | 8–12 |
| Weeks 4–6 | 3–5 | 7–10 |
Ranges reflect bottle volumes seen in clinical guides and parent logs. Your baby may sit a bit outside these lines and still be healthy.
The Easy Body-Weight Rule For Bottles
For formula, a simple rule of thumb helps set the ceiling: about 2.5 ounces per pound of body weight across a day, with an upper cap near 32 ounces. That math gives you a safe top range, then responsive feeding fills in the rest. A few quick examples:
- 7 lb baby → about 17–18 oz a day, split into 8–12 feeds.
- 8 lb baby → about 20 oz a day.
- 9 lb baby → about 22–23 oz a day.
- 10 lb baby → about 25 oz a day; do not push past 32 oz total.
You can read the AAP guidance on formula amounts for the full context on this rule and the 32-ounce cap.
Breastfeeding Intake: What You Can Expect
Direct nursing makes counting ounces tricky, so watch patterns. In the first two weeks many babies nurse 10–12 times per day. By the end of the first month, total daily intake often settles around the mid-20s to low-30s in ounces, spread across 8–12 feeds. Strong swallows, steady weight gain, and plenty of wet diapers tell you things are on track. Cluster feeds in the evening are common.
For pace, lots of families like 10–15 minutes per side early on, then longer gaps as milk supply and latch improve. Hand expression or brief pumping after feeds can comfort full breasts and build a small backup stash.
For patterns over the first months, see the CDC page on breastfeeding frequency.
What A Real Day Can Look Like
Every baby writes a slightly different script. These sample days show how the same intake can spread out.
Sample Formula Day (Week 3)
6 a.m. 2.5 oz • 9 a.m. 3 oz • Noon 2.5 oz • 3 p.m. 3 oz • 6 p.m. 3 oz • 9 p.m. 2.5 oz • Midnight 2 oz • 3 a.m. 2 oz. Total near 20 oz.
Sample Breastfeeding Day (Week 4)
Feeds every 2–3 hours during the day, one longer stretch at night. Eight to ten sessions with varied lengths, plus a short cluster from 6–9 p.m. Total intake commonly lands near the high-20s in ounces.
Use the samples as shape only. Your baby’s belly size, sleep blocks, and growth spurts will shift the timing and the numbers.
Hunger And Fullness Cues To Trust
Cues help you size bottles and end feeds without guesswork.
Hunger Cues
- Rooting, hands to mouth, soft grunts, quick eye movement.
- Early fussing that settles once feeding starts.
- Waking sooner than the prior block.
Fullness Cues
- Relaxed hands and arms, slower sucking, longer pauses.
- Turning away from breast or bottle.
- Falling asleep mid-feed and staying calm when moved.
Overfilling can lead to spit-up and gassy sleep. Paced bottle feeding and frequent burps make it easier to read cues and stop right on time.
Bottle Size, Flow, And Pace
Start with slow-flow nipples and small bottles. Early feeds rarely need more than 2–3 ounces at a time. Hold the bottle level so milk fills the nipple, tip slightly to keep a gentle flow, and pause a few times to let baby breathe and reset. Switch sides midway to mimic breastfeeding. Burp in the middle and at the end.
If baby gulps fast, coughs, or leaks milk at the corners, the flow may be too fast. If baby works hard with little milk transfer and gets angry, try the next flow up. One change at a time will tell you what helped.
Diapers, Weight, And The Sanity Check
By day five, expect about six or more wet diapers in a day and regular stools. Many breastfed babies gain about five to eight ounces per week in the early months. Formula-fed babies track a similar climb. If weight gain stalls, diapers drop off, or jaundice deepens, see your baby’s doctor.
| What You See | Possible Meaning | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Drains bottles and still roots | Volume too low, or growth spurt | Add 0.5–1 oz to the next few bottles |
| Frequent spit-up and fuss after feeds | Overfilling or fast flow | Offer smaller bottles; slow the nipple; add burp breaks |
| Fewer than six wets after day five | Low intake or illness | Feed more often; see the doctor |
| Baby sleeps long and seems hard to wake | Sleepy newborn missing cues | Wake to feed every 3 hours by day, 4 at night until weight gain is steady |
| Fuss in the evening with short back-to-back feeds | Normal cluster feeding | Hold skin-to-skin, use paced bottles, and ride the wave |
Pumped Milk: Smart Bottle Portions
When you pump, store small portions. Two to four ounces per bottle cuts waste and lets a caregiver top up if baby wants a bit more. Warm only what you need. Swirl the bottle to mix the fat back in. Label date and time, rotate the oldest milk to the front, and keep a few tiny 1-ounce bags for top-ups.
Why The Numbers Shift Week By Week
Stomach size grows fast. Day-one volume is closer to a teaspoon per sip. By the end of the first week, the stomach can handle a couple of ounces. Milk supply matures, sucking strength rises, and the gaps between feeds stretch. That is why a day that totaled 18 ounces last week might land closer to 24 ounces now even with fewer feeds.
Expect mini growth spurts around weeks two to three and again near six weeks. Appetite jumps, then settles. Ride those swings with small bottle bumps of 0.5–1 ounce and lots of skin-to-skin contact.
When To Call The Doctor
Call for help without delay if your newborn has fewer than three wets by day three, no wets for eight hours, deep yellow skin that spreads, weak sucking, blue lips, or fast breathing. Trust your gut. If feeds feel like a struggle, reach out to your clinician or a local lactation service for hands-on help.
Quick Math You Can Use Tonight
Step 1: Set A Daily Ballpark
Take baby’s weight in pounds and multiply by 2.5. That number is the high end for formula in ounces per day. Cap at 32 ounces.
Step 2: Divide By Feeds
Pick a starting count, like ten feeds per day in week two. Divide the daily number by ten to set bottle size. Start low and add 0.5–1 ounce if baby still shows hunger cues.
Sample Calculation
An 8 lb baby × 2.5 = 20 oz; ten feeds mean about 2 oz each.
Step 3: Adjust With Cues
If diapers and mood look great, you nailed it. If feeds run frantic or spit-up ramps up, change one variable at a time: size, flow, or spacing.
Night Feeds And The Sleep Question
Night feeds protect growth and milk supply. Newborn sleep cycles are short, and tiny bellies empty fast. If weight gain is steady and diapers look good, you can let the first long stretch happen once baby gives it to you. Save dreams of eight straight hours for later months. Skip cereal in the bottle and skip thickening tricks. They do not help sleep and can raise risks.
To make nights kinder, set up a small station with water, burp cloths, spare sleepers, and prepped bottles in a cooler or the fridge. Keep lights low and noises soft. A dim room helps both of you fall back after feeds.
Common Feeding Mix-Ups To Avoid
- Chasing big bottles too soon. Early days call for tiny volumes. Jumping from 2 ounces to 4 can flood a small stomach and spark reflux.
- Using fast nipples to shorten feeds. A quick flow beats cues and raises spit-up. Pace matters more than speed.
- Watching the clock, not your baby. Time guides can help, yet cues lead. A hungry baby at 90 minutes needs food, even if the last feed looked long.
- Stretching a sleepy baby too far. If weight gain is not steady, wake to feed on a steady rhythm until your clinician clears a longer night block.
- Pressing every bottle to the last drop. Leave a sip behind if cues say done.