In the first week, most newborns take about 5–30 ml per feed on day 1, rising toward 30–90 ml by days 3–7, then 60–120 ml per feed after week 1.
New babies feed in small, steady amounts. The question on many minds is simple: how much milk in millilitres fits a newborn’s tiny stomach, and how fast does that number climb? Here’s a clear, numbers-first guide you can use from day one. You’ll see realistic ml ranges, plain feeding cues, and bottle tips that match real-life rhythms. For quick reference, 1 ounce equals 30 ml. Early ranges here align with CDC infant formula guidance and the AAP formula amounts.
How Much Milk Should A Newborn Drink In ML Per Day?
Day by day intake starts low, then steps up. In the first 24 hours, single feeds are tiny and frequent. Across a full day, the total can sit well under 200 ml. Once feeds reach 30–60 ml each and land every 2–3 hours, daily totals often sit near 240–480 ml. By the end of week one, many babies reach 60–90 ml per feed; across a day that can land near 480–720 ml, spread across 8–12 feeds. These ranges shift with weight, latch strength, and feeding method, so treat them as working ranges, not hard targets.
Newborn Feeding Volumes By Day
Use the table below as a day-by-day snapshot for the first stretch at home. It blends typical stomach capacity figures with bottle guidance that keeps pace gentle and responsive. Ranges are wide on purpose; babies self-adjust when you read their cues.
| Age Window | Approx. ML Per Feed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| First 24 Hours | 5–15 ml | Tiny colostrum feeds; pause often and burp. |
| Days 2–3 | 15–30 ml | Frequent daytime feeds; keep nights calm and simple. |
| Days 3–7 | 30–90 ml | 1–3 oz per feed; watch for relaxed hands after. |
| After Week 1 | 60–120 ml | 2–4 oz per feed; spacing slowly lengthens. |
Feeding Frequency And Hunger Cues
Most newborns feed 8–12 times in 24 hours at the start. Bottle-fed babies often take 30–60 ml per feed in the first days, then settle into 3–4-hour gaps as volumes rise. Breastfed babies may cluster feed in the evening and take smaller but more frequent sips. Signs that say “it’s time” include rapid eye movement under closed lids, rooting, lip smacking, and little hand-to-mouth motions. Crying comes late on that list.
Fullness Signals To Trust
During a feed you’ll see steady swallows with brief pauses. Toward the end, hands loosen, shoulders drop, and the latch softens. Turning the head away, sealing the lips, or dozing off after a string of swallows all point to “enough for now.” If milk pools at the mouth or breathing sounds tight, slow the flow and add pauses.
Breast Versus Bottle: ML In Practice
Breastfeeding on cue means ml counts vary across the day. That’s normal. If you pump, early sessions may yield teaspoons; output grows with frequent drainage. With bottles, small early volumes help match stomach size. Offer 30 ml, pause, and see; if your baby stays eager, offer another 10–30 ml. Use a slow-flow teat and hold the bottle nearly horizontal so milk doesn’t rush. Let your baby set the pace.
When You’re Mixing Breast And Bottle
Pick one slow-flow teat and stick with it for a while so the suck pattern stays consistent. Keep bottle sessions upright and unhurried, then return to the breast when cues pop up again. This approach keeps total intake steady and helps guard against taking more by habit than by hunger.
Diapers, Weight, And Satiety Cues
A steady stream of wet diapers reassures you that intake is moving in the right direction. Expect one or two wets on day one, then add another wet diaper each day until day five, after which six or more wets daily is common. Stools shift from dark meconium to greenish, then yellow and loose. These patterns often track with rising ml per feed.
During and after feeds, relaxed hands, soft shoulders, and turning away signal “done for now.” Gulping with furrowed brows, arching, or milk pooling at the mouth can mean the flow is too fast. Weight checks at routine visits keep the bigger picture on track. If intake looks low or your baby seems too sleepy to finish multiple feeds, call your baby’s doctor.
Converting Ounces To ML Without A Chart
New bottles often mark both oz and ml, yet a quick mental rule helps on the go. One ounce equals 30 ml. Two ounces equal 60 ml. Three ounces equal 90 ml. Four ounces equal 120 ml. When you hear an amount in ounces, multiply by 30 and you’ll be close enough for daily use. When you read ml on a pump or storage bag, divide by 30 for a rough ounce figure.
Night Feeds Versus Day Feeds
In the first weeks, nights bring lighter stretches and shorter gaps. Keep lights low, skip chatter, and change only when needed. If bottles are part of your plan, pre-measure water and powder safely or store expressed milk at the right temperature so you can pour and feed without fuss. Small tweaks like these keep total intake steady and help you return to rest faster.
Positioning That Helps The Right ML Happen
Upright Hold
Seat your baby along your forearm with the head higher than the hips. Bring the bottle to the mouth, not the other way around. Keep the teat just full and let your baby draw the flow. This limits gulping and keeps air intake lower.
Side-Lying On Your Lap
Lay your baby on the side across your lap with the head slightly raised. Angle the bottle so the teat stays half full. Short pauses every 20–30 seconds slow the tempo and make room for a burp.
Switch Sides
Halfway through, switch the side you’re holding on. This balances head turning, keeps both eyes engaged, and gently slows the pace, which often leads to a smoother stop at the right ml mark.
Milk Temperature And Flow
Some babies like milk warm, others take it cool. Aim for lukewarm at most. Test drops on the inside of your wrist and keep the bottle away from hotspots. If the teat collapses or your baby pulls off often, the flow might be off. Try burping and a tiny tilt first. If that fails, check that the teat matches the stage and that the collar isn’t cranked down hard.
Sample Daily Totals By Weight (AAP Rule Of Thumb)
The AAP offers a simple estimate for bottle use: about 2½ ounces of formula per pound of body weight in 24 hours, with an upper limit near 32 ounces a day. That rule helps size daily totals; your baby still guides the amount per feed. The table below converts that rule to ml and pairs it with common feed counts. Round your baby’s weight to the closest row and watch cues during every session.
| Baby Weight | AAP Daily Total | About Feeds In 24h |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 kg (6.6 lb) | 16 oz (≈480 ml) | 8–12 early; 6–8 by 1 mo |
| 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) | 19 oz (≈570 ml) | 8–12 early; 6–8 by 1 mo |
| 4.0 kg (8.8 lb) | 22 oz (≈660 ml) | 8–12 early; 6–8 by 1 mo |
| 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) | 25 oz (≈740 ml) | 8–12 early; 6–8 by 1 mo |
Paced Bottle Tips That Keep Intake Right
Hold your baby more upright, keep the teat just full, and let them draw the flow. Pause every 20–30 seconds for a breath and a burp. Switch sides halfway through to slow the tempo and give both eyes and neck a turn. End the feed when swallowing slows and interest fades; save the rest safely rather than nudging for a clean bottle. This style lowers the chance of overfeeding and mirrors the ebb and flow of nursing.
When Volumes Look Off
Call your baby’s doctor if you see fewer than four wets by day four, very dark urine after day three, forceful vomiting, or steady refusal of multiple feeds. Also call if feeds always run past 30 minutes with tiny intakes or you’re hearing persistent coughing with every bottle. Bring a record of feed times, amounts, and diapers; that quick log speeds answers.
Practical Ways To Keep Track
Simple tools beat guesswork. Keep a small notebook on the sofa or use a basic app to note start time, side or bottle, ml offered, ml taken, and diaper changes. A two-line summary after each feed is plenty. Over a day you’ll spot patterns: longer midday gaps, shorter evening sessions, or a morning stretch that tends to run big. These notes make tweaks easy without chasing targets that don’t fit your baby’s rhythm.
Travel Days And Short Outings
When you step out, pack one clean bottle per feed you expect to offer, a spare teat, and a small burp cloth. If using powdered formula, carry pre-measured scoops in a dry container and safe water in a separate bottle so you can mix fresh. If using expressed milk, use an insulated pouch with a cold pack and keep portions small so waste stays low. Short feeds on the go still follow the same cues: offer, pause, read the body language, and stop when interest fades.
Growth Spurts: What To Expect
Short bursts of extra hunger often pop up around the end of week one and in the weeks that follow. You may see more frequent cues and a few larger bottles. Let the short burst pass while you keep pacing steady. Over a couple of days things usually settle back into the earlier pattern, with ml per feed returning to the usual range for your baby’s size.