Newborns take 2–10 mL per feed on day 1, 30–60 mL by day 4, and about 500–700 mL per 24 hours by 2–4 weeks across 8–12 feeds.
What A Newborn Drinks In The First Days
Milk intake changes fast in the first week. Colostrum arrives in small, potent amounts; each feed is tiny, and feeds are frequent. Most babies nurse 8–12 times in 24 hours. That rhythm builds supply and gives lots of practice at the breast. By the end of day 3 or 4, mature milk rises and per-feed volumes jump.
For early volumes, many clinicians follow the ranges published in the ABM supplementation protocol table. Treat these as ranges, not targets; babies lead the way.
First-Week Per-Feed Volumes (Typical Ranges)
Here’s a quick view of typical per-feed amounts in the first 96 hours. Feeds stay frequent while volumes climb.
| Age | Per Feed | Typical Feeds/24 h |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 hours | 2–10 mL (0.1–0.3 oz) | 8–12 |
| 24–48 hours | 5–15 mL (0.2–0.5 oz) | 8–12 |
| 48–72 hours | 15–30 mL (0.5–1 oz) | 8–12 |
| 72–96 hours | 30–60 mL (1–2 oz) | 8–12 |
| Around day 7 | 30–60 mL (1–2 oz) | 8–12 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 60–90 mL (2–3 oz) | 7–10 |
| 1 month | 75–120 mL (2.5–4 oz) | 7–9 |
Breast Milk Needed For A Newborn: Daily And Per-Feed Guide
Across the first month, daily intake rises while the number of feeds slowly spaces out. Many exclusively breastfed babies average about 600–800 mL per day by one to three months, with most landing near the middle of that span. Since weight and appetite differ, think range, not a single number. For feed timing and patterns, the CDC breastfeeding frequency guidance sets clear expectations for 8–12 feeds across a day.
How To Estimate A Feed
A handy way to plan a bottle of expressed milk is this simple rule: take the daily range that fits your baby’s age, divide by the expected feeds, and pour the lower end first. Offer more only if hunger cues continue. This avoids large, fast bottles that outpace appetite.
Example 1: A 2-week-old with 9 feeds and a daily plan of 540–720 mL would start with about 60–80 mL per bottle.
Example 2: A 1-month-old with 8 feeds and a daily plan near 600–800 mL would start around 75–100 mL per bottle.
If You’re Bottling Expressed Milk
Use paced bottle feeding. Hold the bottle more horizontal, give pauses, and swap sides to slow the flow. Watch for steady sucking with breaks, relaxed hands, and a soft body. Stop when satiety cues appear: slower sucking, turning away, or sealed lips. Matching the pace of a breastfeed keeps intake close to need.
Hunger Cues You Can Trust
Early cues: eye movement under closed lids, bringing hands to mouth, lip smacking, rooting. Late cue: crying. Latch or offer a bottle before crying when possible, since calm babies feed more smoothly and transfer better.
How Night Feeds Fit In
Night feeds keep intake on track and protect supply. Many newborns take one or two longer stretches at night, then cluster their daytime feeds. If stretches go long in the first weeks, wake for a feed so daily totals stay on course. A brief, dim-light session is enough.
Growth Spurts And Cluster Feeding
Short bursts of frequent feeding often pop up around week 2 to 3 and again later. During a cluster, offer the breast often or present small, repeat bottles if you’re pumping. These bursts pass, and supply follows the demand. Expect a few snug days, then a return to baseline spacing.
Second-Half Of The First Month: What Changes
By week 3 to 4, per-feed volume often sits near 60–90 mL, sometimes a bit more. Babies that latch deeply may finish faster; others linger with steady swallows. Time at the breast is not a reliable measure; diaper counts and weight gain tell the story with far less guesswork.
Body Size And Intake
Heavier babies tend to take more across a day than lighter babies. Research that tracks intake by body weight points to a broad range across healthy, term infants, with many landing around three-quarters of a liter daily in the middle months. That still comes in many small feeds, not giant bottles.
Check Intake With Output
Diaper counts give a clear gut-check. Use the checkpoints below to track wet and dirty diapers. Disposable diapers can hide small amounts, so compare with a damp test diaper if needed.
Wet And Dirty Diaper Checkpoints
| Age | Wet Diapers | Stools |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Often 2–3 wets in 48 hours | Dark meconium is common |
| Day 3–4 | Rising daily wets | Stools turn green to yellow; from day 4, at least 2 yellow stools |
| Day 5+ | At least 6 heavy wets per 24 h | 3 or more soft yellow stools daily in the early weeks |
Weight Patterns In The First Weeks
A small weight drop in the first days is common. Back to birth weight by day 10 to 14 is a typical track. Steady gain after that points to solid intake. If gain pauses, increase feed opportunities and watch diaper counts closely.
When The Numbers Look Low
If feeds are under 8 in a day on most days in the first weeks, or diaper counts trail the checkpoints, raise the number of feeds. Offer both breasts per session, switch sides when suck-swallow slows, and add an extra session between naps. If you’re pumping, add one brief session after a feed to collect small top-ups.
Simple Ways To Avoid Overfeeding Bottles
Start small and pace. Use slow-flow nipples. Keep bottle sessions close to the length of a normal breastfeed. Burp midway, pause often, and finish when cues say enough. Large, rapid bottles can push intake beyond need and can be hard on tiny tummies.
Sample Daily Rhythm For Weeks 2–4
Morning: nurse or bottle 70–90 mL, then nap. Late morning: another feed, same range. Afternoon: two feeds spaced 2–3 hours apart. Evening: one or two shorter feeds, sometimes back-to-back. Overnight: one or two feeds, timing varies. Treat this as a sketch, not a schedule; cues win.
Pumping To Match A Newborn
If you’re building a small stash, pump for 10–15 minutes after a morning feed when supply feels fullest. If separated from your baby, aim for 8–10 sessions in 24 hours, including once at night. By two weeks many parents express 500–700 mL across a day when exclusively pumping, split into many short sessions.
Expressed-Milk Math: Quick Conversions
30 mL = 1 oz; 60 mL = 2 oz; 90 mL = 3 oz; 120 mL = 4 oz. Label bottles with volume and time, refrigerate promptly, and swirl to mix fat before serving. Warm gently, then test on the wrist for a skin-warm feel.
Twins And Small Adjustments
For twins, think in parallel: frequent, cue-led feeds for each baby. If one twin is smaller, expect slightly smaller per-feed volumes with the same overall rhythm. Offer both breasts to each twin across the day so supply spreads evenly.
Latch And Transfer Basics
Deep latch helps transfer. Signs of a good latch include wide mouth, lips flanged out, chin at the breast, and steady swallows. If cheeks dimple or clicking sounds appear, reset and try again. A brief pause and a new angle often fixes the seal.
What To Do On Sleepy Days
Newborns snooze a lot. On sleepy days, add gentle wake-ups: un-swaddle, change the diaper, or place baby skin-to-skin. Offer the breast or a small bottle more often for a day or two. Intake evens out across a 24-hour window.
Common Myths To Skip
- “Big bottles mean better sleep.” Large volumes can upset tiny tummies and do not guarantee longer sleep.
- “Short feeds won’t fill a baby.” Some babies transfer fast; swallows matter more than minutes.
- “Milk isn’t enough after a few weeks.” Human milk meets needs on its own through the first six months.
Key Takeaways You Can Use Today
Feed 8–12 times per 24 hours in the early days. Per-feed volumes grow from 2–10 mL on day 1 to 30–60 mL by day 4. Across weeks 2–4, many feeds land near 60–90 mL. Daily intake often sits in the 600–800 mL zone by the end of month one. Use diaper counts and weight trends as your north star.