Newborns take about 16–24 oz per day in week one, moving toward 20–30 oz by weeks 2–6; let hunger cues and diaper counts guide each day.
Why Daily Ounces Vary
Two things steer the answer: age in days and how milk is delivered. A baby at 48 hours has a tiny tummy and feeds often. By the end of the first month, the tummy holds more, so each feed grows while the number of feeds drops a bit. Bottle volumes are easy to read. Breastfeeding works by supply and demand, so you’ll lean on signs like steady weight gain, wet diapers, and a calm baby after feeds.
How Many Ounces Of Milk For A Newborn Each Day: Practical Ranges
These benchmarks line up with medical guidance and give you a safe, flexible window. Feed when hunger cues show up, and stop when your baby relaxes or turns away. That rhythm protects against underfeeding and overfeeding alike.
Early Weeks Benchmarks
| Age | Per Feed (oz) | Per 24 Hours (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| First 1–3 Days | 1–2 | 8–24 (small belly, many feeds) |
| Around Day 7 | 1–2 | 10–20 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 2–3 | 15–25 |
| Weeks 4–6 | 3–4 | 20–30 |
For formula, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes a simple rule many parents like: about 2.5 ounces per pound of body weight across a day, with an upper guide near 32 ounces in 24 hours. You’ll see this in their AAP guidance. For the first days on formula, the CDC guidance suggests offering 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours and adjusting based on hunger signs.
Reading Hunger And Fullness
Hunger often shows up as rooting, hand to mouth, lip smacking, or an alert, searching look. Crying tends to be late. Fullness shows as a relaxed body, open hands, turning away, or sealing the lips. Let the baby pause for breaks, especially with bottles, so the brain can catch up with the stomach.
Breastfeeding Reality Versus Bottle Numbers
When nursing goes well, you won’t measure every ounce, and that’s okay. In week one the number of feeds can reach eight to twelve in a day. By weeks two to six, many babies settle into 2–4 hour cycles, with total milk across a day often landing near the ranges in the table above. If you’re pumping, typical single sessions yield small amounts at first and build across days. The goal is steady intake over the whole day, not high output per pump.
Diapers And Growth: Your Built-In Dashboard
Wet diapers ramp up across the first days. By day five to seven, six or more wets in 24 hours is common. Stools lighten to yellow and seedy by the end of the first week. These signs, paired with consistent weight gain after the early newborn dip, tell you that intake across the day fits your baby.
Weight-Based Formula Targets
Use the 2.5 ounces per pound guide as a ceiling, then pace feeds by cues. If a baby weighs 7 pounds, the daily total lands near 17–18 ounces. A 9-pound baby often tops out near the high twenties. Many newborns also cap out at roughly 32 ounces in any case. If bottles are drained fast, slow the flow, add burp breaks, and watch for relaxed hands and face before offering more.
Sample Daily Targets By Weight
| Weight (lb) | Daily Target (oz) | If 8 Feeds/Day (oz each) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 15 | About 2 |
| 7 | 17–18 | About 2–2.5 |
| 8 | 20 | About 2.5 |
| 9 | 22–23 | About 3 |
| 10 | 25 | About 3 |
Paced Bottle Feeding Tips
Hold the bottle more horizontal, tickle the lips, and let the baby draw the nipple in. Offer brief pauses every few minutes so swallowing can settle. Trade a bigger nipple for a slower one if feeds end in five minutes flat or the baby coughs. Stop when the body softens, even if the bottle shows a bit left. That protects appetite control and comfort.
What A Day Can Look Like
Days 1–3
Small, frequent feeds rule the day. For bottles, offer 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours, including overnight. For nursing, aim for eight to twelve feeds in 24 hours. Expect drowsy sessions and short bursts that stretch out across the day. Colostrum is thick and rich, and tiny tummies handle it well.
Day 7
Feeds feel more predictable. Many babies take around 1–2 ounces per feed and reach 10–20 ounces across the day. Diapers pick up, and stools shift to yellow and loose with small curds. Keep feeds responsive. Wake for feeds if stretches run longer than the plan you and your baby’s doctor have set.
Weeks 2–3
Per feed volume rises to 2–3 ounces for many babies. Cluster feeding can pop up in the evening. Total daily intake often sits near 15–25 ounces. Short naps, then hungry cues, then a good settle after a feed all point to a day that’s on track.
Weeks 4–6
Three to four ounces per feed becomes common. The daily total drifts toward 20–30 ounces. Some babies begin to give one longer sleep stretch. Others still snack often. Either pattern can suit the same daily total.
When Amounts Seem High Or Low
If Bottles Are Always Empty
Check pace first. Slow the angle, pause often, and switch to a slower nipple. Add a mid-feed burp. Try a slightly smaller pour and see if the baby still relaxes. If every feed ends with frantic rooting and lip smacking, add an ounce and watch diapers and comfort.
If Bottles Are Often Left Half Full
Short, frequent feeds can still meet the day’s total. Track the daily ounces instead of pushing every bottle to a set mark. If output and weight gain are steady, you’re on track. If diapers drop off, call your baby’s doctor.
What About Pumped Milk?
Freshly expressed milk changes feed to feed. Early sessions may yield drops to teaspoons. That’s fine. Over days, pumped amounts build. Focus on the full day picture and how your baby acts at the breast or at the bottle, not a single session. Many parents find small, spaced pump sessions less stressful than chasing one big number.
Simple Safety Reminders
Formula
Use the scoop that comes with the tin. Level it, and mix with the right water amount. Prepare with clean hands, clean bottles, and clean nipples. Discard leftovers from a feed. Keep total daily formula under about 32 ounces unless your baby’s doctor tells you otherwise.
Breast Milk
Label bottles with time and date. Store chilled milk in the back of the fridge. Warm gently under warm running water, not in the microwave. Swirl to mix the fat layer. Use thawed milk within the recommended window you follow locally.
Green Flags That Daily Intake Is On Track
- Six or more wet diapers per day by the end of the first week.
- Stools turning yellow by days five to seven.
- At the end of most feeds, a relaxed body, open hands, and a content face.
- Steady weight gain as checked by your baby’s clinic.
Red Flags That Need A Call
- Fewer than six wets after day five to seven, or dark, strong-smelling urine.
- Hardly any stools after day four, or stools that stay dark and sticky.
- Weak suck, very sleepy feeds, or fast breathing with feeds.
- Vomiting large amounts, or big jumps down in daily intake.
Your Takeaway
The question “How many ounces per day?” has a helpful range, not a single magic number. Aim for 16–24 ounces in week one, sliding toward 20–30 ounces by weeks two to six. Use body weight as a guide for formula, pace every bottle, and let cues set the finish line. When diapers, comfort, and weight gain look good, the daily ounces are usually right where they should be.