How Many Ounces Does A Newborn Eat Each Feeding? | New Parent Tips

Why The Answer Varies

Two babies the same age can drink different amounts and both be doing well. Day of life, feeding method, birth weight, hunger level, and pace all matter. Early on, small tummies fill fast, then capacity rises across the first month. Watch the baby, not the clock, and expect a few cluster feeds when appetite jumps.

You do not need a perfect number at every session. Aim for a healthy pattern across each 24 hours. Frequent feeds, steady diaper counts, and calm periods after eating tell you the intake is on track. If something feels off, write down times and amounts for a day and share that record with your baby’s clinician.

Quick Range By Age And Feeding Method

These typical ranges pull from current pediatric guidance, including the CDC. Babies feed 8–12 times per day in the newborn period. Ranges below are per feed, not total per day.

Age	Breastmilk Per Feed	Formula Per Feed
Day 1–2	0.2–0.7 oz (5–20 mL)	0.5–1 oz (15–30 mL)
Days 3–4	0.7–1 oz (20–30 mL)	1–2 oz (30–60 mL)
Days 5–7	1–2 oz (30–60 mL)	1.5–2 oz (45–60 mL)
Weeks 2–3	1.5–3 oz (45–90 mL)	2–3 oz (60–90 mL)
By 4 weeks	2–4 oz (60–120 mL)	3–4 oz (90–120 mL)

Hunger And Fullness Cues To Watch

Early Hunger Cues

Stirring, rooting, hands to mouth, lip smacking, soft fussing. Crying is late.

Fullness Cues

Slower sucks, longer pauses, turning away, relaxed hands, sleepy body. Offer, watch, then stop when you see satiety signs. For bottles, try paced feeding so the baby can set the rhythm and take breaks.

Counting diapers helps. In the first week, wet diapers rise from a few per day to six or more; there should be regular stools as milk moves in. Weight checks tell the rest of the story. Many babies regain birth weight by two weeks with steady gains after that point.

How Many Ounces Should A Newborn Eat Per Feed: Practical Ranges

Newborn feeding amounts shift fast across the first month. Colostrum is small in volume and rich, then mature milk follows. Formula volumes begin small too, then rise. For many families, an easy target early on is about 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours, then 2–3 ounces by weeks two to three, and 3–4 ounces by the end of the month.

Breastfed Newborns: What To Expect

For the first days, frequent latch practice matters most. Colostrum arrives in teaspoons, which is just right for a day-old tummy. Many babies nurse 8–12 times per day, and some will bunch feeds in the evening. As milk volume builds, per-feed intake rises into the 1–3 ounce range. The CDC notes this pattern of 8–12 feeds in 24 hours and shorter gaps early on.

If you are pumping for a bottle, start with small portions. Two-ounce storage bottles cut waste and match early intake. If the baby drains the bottle and still shows clear hunger cues, add an extra half ounce, then pause and burp. A calm baby who turns away has likely had enough.

Formula-Fed Newborns: What To Expect

In the first week, many newborns take roughly 1–2 ounces per bottle. After the first days, 2–3 ounces per feed is common, spaced every 3–4 hours. By the end of the first month, many settle at 3–4 ounces per feed. The American Academy of Pediatrics shares similar ranges and reminds parents not to exceed about 32 ounces total formula in 24 hours without medical advice.

Use small bottles early so you follow the baby, not the container. Hold the baby upright, keep the bottle level, and pause often. Spitting up a little can be normal. Repeated gagging, hard belly swelling, or cough during feeds needs a prompt talk with your pediatrician.

Sample Day, Two Ways

Breastfeeding sample: ten feeds at about 2 ounces each across day and night. Some might be shorter, some longer. Bottle sample: eight feeds at about 2.5–3 ounces each. Both patterns can match a healthy intake and happy diapers. These are not targets to hit at all costs; they are snapshots that show how flexible real days can be.

Right-Sizing Bottles, Nipples, And Portions

Gear that matches early intake helps babies set the pace. For the first month, many do well with 2–4 ounce bottles and a slow-flow nipple. Check that the baby is working, not gulping. If milk drips fast without effort, go slower. If the baby fights the flow and tires out, try a fresh nipple of the same flow before changing levels.

Age	Common Bottle Size	Nipple Flow Tip
0–2 weeks	2 oz (60 mL)	Slow flow; frequent pauses
2–4 weeks	3–4 oz (90–120 mL)	Stay slow; watch for drips
1–2 months	4–5 oz (120–150 mL)	Still paced; change only if needed

Signs You May Need More Help

Call your baby’s care team the same day if feeds come with labored breathing, blue color changes, choking, or sleepiness that stops feeds. Book a check soon if you see fewer than six wet diapers after the first week, scant stools, little interest in feeding, or weight that is not climbing. A lactation visit can be useful when latch hurts or pumping feels confusing.

Late Preterm Or Low Birth Weight

Babies born a bit early, or smaller than expected, may tire fast and take smaller portions. They may need extra skin-to-skin time, extra wake-and-offer sessions, or temporary fortified plans. Keep a simple log and share it with the care team so they can fine-tune a plan that fits your baby.

Jaundice Or Sleepy Starts

Some babies get sleepy while bilirubin levels peak. Short, frequent sessions help move milk and keep intake steady. If your team sets targets for the next day, write them where you feed. Small, steady wins add up fast across a few days.

Reflux And Gassy Feeds

Try upright holds, paced bottles, and gentle burps. Smaller, more frequent feeds can ease symptoms for some babies. If spit-up looks green or bloody, or the baby seems to be in pain, ask your pediatrician about the next steps.

How To Adjust Amounts With Confidence

Use the baby’s behavior to set the size. Start small, then top up in half-ounce steps when you still see clear hunger cues. When bottle amounts creep up, check nipple flow before you assume the baby needs a big jump. True growth spurts can bring a few days of bigger feeds or extra sessions, then things settle.

When pumping, many parents portion milk in 2–3 ounce bottles during the first month. That matches typical intake and cuts waste. If longer gaps happen overnight, the next daytime feeds may be larger. That ebb and flow is common and not a problem by itself.

Metric Cheat Sheet

1 ounce = 30 mL. So 1.5 oz ≈ 45 mL; 2 oz ≈ 60 mL; 2.5 oz ≈ 75 mL; 3 oz ≈ 90 mL; 4 oz ≈ 120 mL. Reading both units helps when you track feeds or mix formula.

Feeding Frequency And Timing

Across the first two weeks, most newborns feed every 2–3 hours day and night. A short cluster near bedtime is common. Growth spurts can bring a busy day of extra feeds, then things settle again overnight for many. If a stretch goes past about 4 hours in the first weeks, offer a feed.

By weeks two to four, gaps may stretch to 3–4 hours for bottles. Breastfeeds can still be frequent. Let cues lead. A flexible plan keeps intake steady and protects supply when nursing.

Paced Bottle Feeding, A Quick How-To

1. Hold the baby upright with head support.
2. Keep the bottle near horizontal to slow flow.
3. Touch nipple to the top lip; let the baby draw it in.
4. After a few sucks, tip down to pause and watch swallowing.
5. Switch sides halfway so both neck muscles work.
6. Burp once or twice; stop when the baby turns away.

Common Myths To Skip

• “More ounces will make them sleep through the night.” Large bottles often mean spit-up and discomfort. Sleep length grows with age, not forced portions.
• “If the bottle is empty, add an extra ounce every time.” First, check nipple flow and pacing. Some babies finish fast because milk pours.
• “Thick cereal in the bottle calms reflux.” Do not add cereal unless your pediatrician gives a clear plan. Smaller, paced feeds and upright holds come first.

When You Track Feeds

A simple log can lower stress. Note start times, breast or bottle, and ounces or minutes. Add wet and dirty diapers. Jot any spit-up or sleepy feeds. Share that picture at visits so your team can spot trends.

Use both oz and mL in your notes. If you are pumping, label each bottle with date and amount. Rotate the oldest milk first. Swap single big bottles for two smaller ones when appetite is uneven.

Quick Recap

Early feeds are small and frequent. Think 1–2 ounces per session in week one, 2–3 ounces by weeks two to three, and many babies at 3–4 ounces by the end of the first month. Look for 8–12 feeds per day at first. Watch hunger and fullness cues, keep bottles small, and use paced feeding. Use your baby’s weight checks and diaper counts to verify progress, and loop in your care team any time you need tailored help.