Newborn feeding: 1–2 oz per feed in the first days, about 2–3 oz every 2–3 hours by week 2, and roughly 3–4 oz per feed by one month.
Your baby’s stomach is small, the rhythms are new, and appetite swings a bit from day to day. That’s normal. The best plan is simple: feed on cues, watch diapers and growth, and let your newborn set the pace. The ranges below give you a clear starting point so you can pour a bottle or settle in to nurse with confidence.
How Many Ounces Should A Newborn Eat Per Feeding?
In the first 24 hours many babies take only tiny volumes, then intake climbs over the next weeks. Bottle-fed sessions tend to space out sooner; breastfed sessions often come a bit more often and may bunch together during cluster feeds. Most newborns land inside these ranges.
| Age | Typical Amount/Feed | Feeds/24 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 hours | Up to 0.5 oz (15 mL) | 8–12 |
| Days 2–3 | 0.5–1 oz (15–30 mL) | 8–12 |
| Days 4–7 | 1–2 oz (30–60 mL) | 8–12 |
| Week 2 | ~2–3 oz (60–90 mL) | 8–12 |
| Weeks 3–4 | ~3–4 oz (90–120 mL) | 6–8 |
Why The Ranges Work
A tiny tummy fills fast early on, then stretches. Milk supply and let-down settle, sucking gets stronger, and feeds become more efficient. By the end of the first month many babies take 3–4 oz per feed and go 3–4 hours between bottles or nursing sessions. Total daily intake often lands near 24–28 oz, with 32 oz as a sensible ceiling for formula.
Breastfed And Formula-Fed Patterns
Breastfed newborns usually nurse 8–12 times each day, sometimes every 2 hours, and may cluster feed in the evening. Formula-fed babies often move to about every 3–4 hours sooner. If your baby drains a bottle every time and still cues, offer a little more. If they push the nipple out, slow down, or seem fussy near the end, that feed may be done.
For quick reference from trusted sources, see the CDC formula feeding page and the CDC breastfeeding guidance.
Night Feeds And Waking
During the first weeks, if sleep stretches past 4–5 hours and a feed is missed, wake your newborn and offer milk. Once weight gain is steady and your clinician is happy with growth, you can let longer stretches unfold.
What Drives Intake: Tummy Size, Pace, And Growth
On day one the stomach holds teaspoons, not ounces. By the end of week one, capacity improves and the rhythm feels smoother. Still, babies have growth spurts, and intake can jump for a day or two. That’s your cue to offer the breast more often or add an extra ounce to a bottle and see how your baby responds.
Reading The Room (And Your Baby)
Hunger cues arrive before crying: rooting, hand-to-mouth, lip smacking, alert eyes, little grunts. Fullness cues show up too: relaxed hands, slowed sucking, turning away, milk rolling from the mouth. Responding to those cues keeps intake right-sized without counting every ounce.
Cluster Feeds And Growth Spurts
Some evenings bring back-to-back nursing or a couple of small bottles close together. That’s common, especially around days 7–10 and again near weeks 3–6. Offer milk, keep positions comfy, and pace bottles so swallowing stays easy.
Daily Ounces By Body Weight (Formula)
For bottle-feeding, a handy rule is about 2.5 oz of formula per pound of body weight across a day, with an upper limit near 32 oz. It’s a guide, not a quota. Your baby may take a little less one day and a bit more the next.
| Baby Weight | Daily Formula | Sample Feed Plan |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | ~15 oz/day | 8 feeds × 2 oz; one larger 3 oz feed |
| 7 lb (3.2 kg) | ~17–18 oz/day | 8 feeds × 2–3 oz |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | ~20 oz/day | 7–8 feeds × 2.5–3 oz |
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | ~22–23 oz/day | 7 feeds × 3–3.5 oz |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | ~25 oz/day | 6–8 feeds × 3–4 oz |
Making The Rule Fit Your Baby
If weight sits on the lower side, offer the higher end of the range and keep night feeds steady. If spit-up is frequent or your baby turns away near the end of bottles, shave an ounce and slow the pace. Watch diapers and how content your baby seems after feeds, then adjust.
How To Read Hunger And Fullness
Hunger Cues You’ll See
- Rooting, head bobbing, hands to mouth
- Lip smacking or tongue movements
- Squirming, light fussing, short cries
Fullness Cues That Say “I’m Done”
- Hands relax and arms soften
- Sucking slows, pauses grow longer
- Turns away, falls asleep, or releases the nipple
Tip For Bottles
Hold baby a bit upright, use a slow-flow nipple, and tip the bottle just enough to keep milk in the nipple. Pause halfway, burp, then resume. This paced style mimics nursing and helps avoid overfilling small tummies.
Is Feeding On Track?
Two simple checks help: diapers and steady gain. After day four, expect at least 5–6 wet diapers daily, with soft stools that shift in color over the first week. Weight often drops a little at first, then climbs again. Many babies regain birth weight by day 10–14 and add about an ounce a day in the first months. Your care team will plot each visit on a growth chart and talk through any tweaks.
Common Scenarios And Quick Fixes
Sleepy Newborn
Unwrap, change the diaper, or place your baby skin-to-skin to wake for feeds. Gentle stroking along the jaw can restart sucking when a baby snoozes mid-feed.
Lots Of Spit-Up
Offer a little less per feed and add one extra session. Keep baby upright for 20–30 minutes after feeds. Check nipple flow so milk doesn’t pour too fast.
All Feeds Feel Short
Short doesn’t mean low intake. A strong latch or an efficient bottle pace can move plenty of milk in 10–15 minutes. If diapers and gain look good, you’re good.
Baby Drains Every Bottle
Try increasing most feeds by 0.5–1 oz for a day or two. If bottles are still empty and hunger cues keep coming, add another small feed. Pull back if spit-up or fussiness rises.
Pumping, Bottles, And Portion Sense
Pumped milk varies by session and time of day, so think in daily totals, not test-weighing every feed. When offering expressed milk, start with 2 oz, then top up in small steps. Label frozen milk in 1–3 oz portions; that size thaws fast and matches newborn needs.
Simple Ways To Keep Feeds Calm
- Set up a comfy spot before you start so you can finish without rushing.
- Burp midway and at the end, even if gas seems mild.
- Swap sides during nursing; change arms during bottle feeds to support head control.
- Share the work; another set of hands can prep bottles or bring water and a snack.
Newborn Ounces: A Simple Wrap-Up
Day one brings sips. The first week brings ounces. Weeks two through four build toward 3–4 oz per feed and longer breaks between sessions. Use hunger and fullness cues, keep an eye on diapers and gain, and let your newborn guide the rest. When you want extra reassurance or a small tweak, reach out to your clinician and bring notes on feeds, diapers, and weight checks.