Newborns typically take 1–2 oz per feed in days 1–3, 2–3 oz by week 2, and about 3–4 oz by week 4—roughly 16–24 oz daily, with a soft 32-oz cap.
That first month comes with tiny bottles and tiny bellies. You want a clear range for each week, plus a simple way to total the day. This guide gives you that, with easy tables, cue-based tips, and bottle know-how you can use at 3 a.m.
Quick Reference: Newborn Formula Ounces By Age
Use this first-month chart as a starting point. Your baby’s signals always win, so treat these ranges as gentle guardrails, not hard rules.
| Age | Ounces Per Feed | Feeds In 24 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 0.5–1 oz | 8–12 |
| Days 2–3 | 1–2 oz | 8–12 |
| Days 4–7 | 1.5–2 oz | 8–10 |
| Week 2 | 2–3 oz | 7–9 |
| Week 3 | 2.5–3.5 oz | 6–8 |
| Week 4 | 3–4 oz | 6–8 |
How Many Ounces Of Formula For A Newborn Baby — Week-By-Week
Days 1–3: start with 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours. Tummy size is small, so pace the bottle and pause often for burps. If your baby finishes fast and still cues, offer a little more.
Days 4–7: many babies settle near 1.5–2 ounces per feed. Gaps may begin to stretch toward 3 hours. Keep feeds gentle and unrushed, with frequent pauses so baby can breathe and reset.
Week 2: move toward 2–3 ounces per feed. Overnight, expect at least one wake-up. Some babies take a touch more in the evening, then nap longer. That swing is common and usually settles on its own.
Weeks 3–4: most newborns handle 3–4 ounces per feed, about every 3–4 hours. If a stretch runs past 4–5 hours in the early weeks, wake to feed so daily intake stays on track.
For ranges and schedules that align with pediatric guidance, see the AAP feeding schedule guidance, which also gives a sensible daily cap and a handy weight-based rule of thumb.
Feeding Cues Beat The Clock
Watch the cues: rooting, hands to mouth, soft fussing, wide eyes, gentle head turns. End a feed when the jaw slows, hands relax, and interest fades. A finished bottle is not the goal; a calm baby is. If a bottle still has milk and your baby turns away, that feed is done.
Responsive feeding also means noticing fast days and slow days. A growth spurt can bump intake by an ounce or two across several feeds. The next day may drift right back to the old pattern. Follow the baby, not the timer.
Daily Total: Ounces Per Day
A handy rule is about 2 to 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight across 24 hours. Many newborns land near 16–24 ounces total in the first month, with a soft upper limit of 32 ounces per day. If your baby wants far above or below that for several days, check in with your pediatrician so intake, weight, and diapers can be reviewed together.
Diaper output helps you sanity-check totals. By day five, most babies wet at least six diapers in 24 hours and pass soft stools. Fewer wets, very dark urine, or dry lips call for a prompt call to your clinic, even if the ounces on a log look fine.
Safe Mixing And Handling Basics
Measure water first, then add the exact scoops from the label. Use the scoop that came with that can. Keep hands, bottles, rings, and nipples clean. For warming, place the bottle in warm water; skip the microwave. Toss leftovers from a used bottle after one hour. Prepared bottles can sit at room temp for up to two hours; if not used, refrigerate right away and use within 24 hours. The CDC’s page on formula preparation and storage lays out the steps clearly.
Ready-to-feed, liquid concentrate, and powdered formula all deliver complete nutrition when mixed as directed. Do not stretch cans with extra water. That thins nutrients and can be unsafe. If your tap water is a question mark, ask your clinic about boiling and cooling steps or using bottled water for mixing.
Weight-Based Daily Volume Guide
Match your baby’s weight to a daily range. These are targets, not tests. If growth and diapers look good, you are on track. If intakes slide outside these bands for several days, call your clinic for a quick review.
| Baby Weight | Daily Ounces (2–2.5 oz/lb) | Do Not Exceed |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb | 12–15 oz | ~32 oz/day |
| 7 lb | 14–18 oz | ~32 oz/day |
| 8 lb | 16–20 oz | ~32 oz/day |
| 9 lb | 18–23 oz | ~32 oz/day |
| 10 lb | 20–25 oz | ~32 oz/day |
| 11 lb | 22–27 oz | ~32 oz/day |
| 12 lb | 24–30 oz | ~32 oz/day |
How Often Should A Newborn Drink Formula?
In the first days, offer a bottle every 2–3 hours. By the end of the first month, many babies take 3–4 ounce feeds every 3–4 hours. Missed feeds in the early weeks are rare; if a stretch runs long, wake for a feed so daily totals stay healthy. Night feeds fade as daytime intake rises and sleep stretches mature, but that shift is different for every baby.
If you keep a loose log, look for a steady pattern across a few days, not perfection in a single day. A day with cluster feeds can be followed by a quieter day. Both can be normal if volume balances out.
Bottle Size, Nipple Flow, And Pace
Use a slow-flow nipple so baby stays in control. Hold the bottle so milk just fills the tip, not the whole nipple. Let the jaw set the tempo. Tip the bottle down for mini breaks, then resume. Paced feeds help babies stop when full and can cut down on spit-ups, gas, and hiccups.
Choose a bottle that sits well in your hand and lets air escape near the top. Keep the neck and ring snug, but not overtightened. If the nipple collapses a lot, loosen the ring a quarter turn or switch to a vented style. If milk pours out without suction, the flow is too fast.
When Baby Seems Hungry Or Full
If your newborn drains bottles and still roots hard, add a half ounce at the next feed. If spit-ups are frequent or stools turn watery, try smaller amounts more often for a day or two. Calm, steady weight gain and plenty of wet diapers say the volume is right.
Watch the mouth and hands during a feed. Tight fists and fast gulps can signal eagerness. Relaxed fingers and a loose jaw often mean “I’m done.” If a bottle is nearly empty but the cues say done, end the feed and burp. If a bottle still holds several ounces and cues say hungry, keep going.
Sample 24-Hour Newborn Formula Plan
Here’s a gentle template for a two-week-old around 7 lb: 2–3 ounces at roughly 12 a.m., 3 a.m., 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m. That lands near 18–20 ounces. If evenings run cluster-style, slide an extra small feed there and shave a bit from the next one. If mornings are sleepy, keep the first two feeds on the lighter side, then nudge ounces later.
Another example for a four-week-old near 8 lb: 3–4 ounces at about 12 a.m., 4 a.m., 8 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. That sits near 18–24 ounces. A short catnap after late-evening feeds is common; lots of families find a quick top-off before bed smooths the night.
Mixed Feeding: Formula And Breast Milk
If you combine formula and breast milk, offer breast first when you can, then top up with a small bottle. Track total intake loosely for a few days so you can spot steady patterns. Volume needs can swing day to day; cues still lead. If top-ups keep growing, consider adding one more nursing session or pumping round if that fits your plan.
When freezing or thawing breast milk, keep a clear label with date and volume. Warm gently in a bowl of warm water and swirl to mix the fat. Do not refreeze thawed milk. If a feed uses both milk and formula, feed the milk first, then finish with formula so none of the milk goes to waste.
Red Flags That Need A Call
Phone your pediatrician for weak suck, fewer than six wet diapers after day five, gulping with color change, repeated projectile spit-ups, blood in stool, fever, or sleepy feeds that never perk up. Trust your gut. You never need to wait if something feels off.
Practical Tips That Make Feeds Smoother
Set Up The Station
Keep bottles, a brush, a drying rack, and pre-measured powder in one spot. A small night light helps you read the scoop lines without blasting your eyes. A clean bin for rings and nipples keeps the counter tidy and cuts the scramble at night.
Track Without Stress
Use a simple log for ounces, times, diapers, and sleep. Patterns jump out fast and help you tweak amounts with confidence. Many parents like a phone note or a fridge chart; both work if you update right after each feed.
Share The Work
Trade night shifts when possible. One person warms and burps while the other tops off the bottle and resets the station. Short, repeatable jobs keep feeds calm and quick. A quiet room, a comfy chair, and a burp cloth on the shoulder save messes and time.