At one week, most newborns take 1–2 oz per feed every 2–3 hours—about 10–20 oz in 24 hours, guided by weight and hunger cues.
New parents want a clear number for the bottle or the breast, and that makes sense. A 1-week-old still has a tiny stomach, feeds often, and varies day to day. The range below helps you pour safe amounts without pushing past your baby’s cues.
1-Week-Old Feeding: How Many Ounces Per Day?
Across the first week, many babies take about 1 to 2 ounces (30–60 mL) at a time. Plenty will land near 1.5 to 2 ounces once feeds settle. Over 24 hours, totals often sit near 10 to 20 ounces, split into 8 to 12 feeds. Formula and breast milk both fit here; what matters is frequent, cue-led feeds and steady growth.
There’s also a handy bottle guideline that helps sanity-check daily volume: about 2½ ounces of formula per pound of body weight over 24 hours, with a daily cap of 32 ounces. Treat that as a ceiling, not a target. Feeding on demand still comes first, since babies self-regulate well when we watch their signals.
Week-One Intake At A Glance
| Feeding Type | Typical Per Feed (oz) | Feeds In 24 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfed | ~1–2 oz | 10–12 |
| Formula-fed | ~1–2 oz | 8–12 |
| Mixed (combo) | ~1–2 oz | 8–12 |
Those ranges match pediatric advice: in the first week, bottles are usually 1 to 2 ounces, and breastfed babies tend to feed even more often in short, frequent sessions. Both patterns are normal and healthy.
Breastfed Newborn: Typical Ounces And Rhythm
Most breastfed babies feed 8 to 12 times in a day at one week. Sessions can cluster in the evening, and some babies stack a few short feeds in a row. An average session during week one transfers around 1 to 2 ounces, and that number rises across the next weeks as supply matches demand.
Milk amounts shift across these early days. Colostrum in the first couple of days comes in small volumes packed with antibodies. Around days three to five, volume climbs and your baby’s pulls grow longer. Many families see a clear change in swallowing sounds and post-feed calm during this stretch.
Reading Hunger Cues Early
Offer the breast when you see early cues: rooting, lip smacking, tongue movements, hands to mouth, wide eyes, or restlessness. Crying is a late cue and can make latching harder. Frequent, cue-based feeds help milk come in and keep baby satisfied without timing stress.
Signs Baby Is Getting Enough
Watch diapers and behavior. After day four or five, expect at least five to six wet diapers daily, regular stools, visible swallows during feeds, and a relaxed body after nursing. Steady weight gain across the next days confirms intake is on track. For a clear overview of hunger cues and frequency from pediatricians, see the AAP’s page on how often and how much babies eat.
A quick myth to set aside: pumped ounces don’t prove what a baby can transfer at the breast. Pumps are helpful tools, but babies usually remove milk better than a flange and motor. Go by diapers, behavior, and weight checks, not pump output alone.
Formula-Fed Newborn: Ounces That Fit The First Week
In the first week, many formula-fed newborns take around 1 to 2 ounces per bottle, usually every 2 to 3 hours. If your baby finishes a bottle quickly and still cues for more, add small increments, like a half ounce, and pace the feed. If your baby turns away, slows, or dozes off, end the feed and offer more later.
A weight-based guide helps size the day: about 2½ ounces of formula per pound of body weight over 24 hours, with no more than 32 ounces total in a day. Example: a 7-pound baby averages near 17 to 18 ounces in 24 hours. That can be split into 10 to 12 small bottles. See the AAP’s advice on the amount and schedule of formula feedings.
Mixing And Bottle Tips
Follow the can’s directions, use safe water, and measure powder level. Hold baby semi-upright, keep the bottle angled so the nipple stays full, and pause often to burp. A slow-flow nipple and paced bottle technique let your newborn self-regulate. Keep bottles small in week one; topping off later is easy, while an oversized pour can nudge overfeeding.
Spit-up happens. If it’s gentle and your baby stays content, keep feeds small and upright. Forceful, repeated vomiting, trouble breathing, or poor energy needs a same-day call to your pediatric office.
Sample Daily Volumes By Weight
The table below shows weight-based daily totals from the 2½ ounces per pound guide, then estimates per-feed volumes if you offer 10 bottles in a day. These are examples, not targets. Your baby might take more at one feed and less at the next; that ebb and flow is normal.
| Weight (lb) | Daily Total (oz) | If 10 Feeds: Per Feed (oz) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb | ~15 oz | ~1.5 oz |
| 7 lb | ~17.5 oz | ~1.8 oz |
| 8 lb | ~20 oz | ~2.0 oz |
| 9 lb | ~22.5 oz | ~2.3 oz |
Bottle Skills That Guard Against Overfeeding
Newborns drink fast from bottles, so slow things down. Hold baby nearly upright, keep the nipple just full, and tip the bottle flat for short pauses. Offer breaks to burp, then let your baby re-latch to the nipple if still hungry. Look for satiety cues: open hands, relaxed arms, fewer swallows, turning away, or drowsiness.
Paced Bottle Feeding, Step By Step
Start with a slow-flow nipple. Hold the bottle horizontally so milk moves with effort. Let baby pull the nipple in; don’t push it. After 20 to 30 sucks, tip the bottle down for a breath. Resume if your baby shows active sucking. This pattern keeps pace closer to the breast and cuts down on gulping and air.
Night Feeds, Waking, And Growth Spurts
Many 1-week-olds wake every 2 to 3 hours. Some sleep a bit longer right after cluster feeds. During the first weeks, long sleep stretches can cause missed feeds, so wake your baby if a stretch passes 4 to 5 hours. Short, frequent feeds are common during early spurts; that pattern usually settles again within a day or two.
If daytime naps keep running long and nights turn fussy, try a simple reset: more daytime feeds, gentle sunlight during awake time, and lots of skin-to-skin. Small shifts can smooth the rhythm without chasing a rigid schedule.
Pumping, Top-Ups, And When To Get Extra Help
If nursing feels painful, latching looks shallow, or diapers seem light, reach out early to a lactation pro or your baby’s clinician. For low transfer days, brief hand expression or short pump sessions after nursing can help you stash small top-ups for the next feed. Keep bottle sizes modest at this stage and favor frequent offers over large volumes.
Pumped milk storage in week one is simple: label, chill right away, and use small portions, like 1 to 2 ounces per container. That avoids waste and matches the size your newborn actually drinks.
What If My Baby Wants More Than 2 Ounces?
Babies grow fast, and appetites jump. If your baby drains a bottle and still cues, offer another half ounce and slow the flow. With breastfeeding, let baby switch sides, pause, and try again. Watch the diaper count and comfort. If diapers stay steady and your baby settles after feeds, the increase fits their needs.
If feeds keep stretching long and baby still seems unsatisfied, check latch, nipple flow, and pacing. Sometimes a faster nipple makes intake too easy and leads to extra ounces that bring spit-up and discomfort. A slower nipple with pauses often solves that chain.
What If My Baby Takes Less Than 1 Ounce?
Small volumes can be fine, especially right after a longer sleep, but keep an eye on patterns. If feeds drop below eight in 24 hours, diapers dip, or energy looks low, call your pediatric office. Babies this age do best with many small feeds spread across the day and night.
Safe, Simple Formula Preparation
Wash hands well, use clean bottles, and follow the scoop-to-water ratio on your brand. Level the scoop, don’t pack it, and swirl the bottle to mix. Warm bottles are optional; room-temp works and saves time. If you warm a bottle, test on your wrist and discard any leftovers after a feed.
Diapers, Weight, And Real-World Benchmarks
Diapers remain the easiest check. Past day four or five, at least five to six wets daily is a solid sign. Stool patterns vary, yet by the end of week one most babies pass soft stools daily. Weight checks in the clinic confirm the trend you see at home, and steady gains across the next visits show that the plan is working.
Special Cases
Late-preterm babies, small babies, and babies with jaundice often need closer follow-up. They may be sleepy and miss cues, so you might wake them more often and offer shorter, more frequent feeds. Work with your care team on timing for weight checks and any needed top-ups. Small, steady steps bring these babies along well.
Red Flags That Need A Call
Phone your pediatric office the same day if feeds are fewer than eight in 24 hours, diapers stay dry, color looks off, or weight checks stall. Call right away for repeated vomiting, weak sucking, listlessness, or trouble breathing during feeds. Fast attention here keeps your newborn safe while you fine-tune the plan.
Feeding At One Week: Quick Recap
For a 1-week-old, think small, frequent, and cue-led. Expect around 1 to 2 ounces per feed, 8 to 12 times a day. Daily totals often land near the high teens, scaled to weight, with a clear cap of 32 ounces for formula. Watch diapers, swallows, and calm behavior after feeds. When in doubt, offer another short feed rather than stretching the clock or pouring a bigger bottle.