Newborns usually take 1.5–3 oz (45–90 mL) per feed in weeks 1–2, rising to 3–4 oz by weeks 3–4, with a daily cap near 32 oz.
Feeding a brand-new baby can feel like guessing in the dark. The good news: there are clear ranges that fit most healthy newborns, plus simple ways to read the bottle and your baby. Below you’ll find age-by-age amounts, weight math, and cues you can trust.
How much formula per feeding for newborns: easy guide
Amounts grow fast across the first month. Use the chart below as a starting point, then adjust to your baby’s hunger and fullness cues. Do not push a bottle to empty if your baby turns away or relaxes. On busy days a baby may cluster feed; on sleepy days spacing runs longer. Both patterns can be normal.
| Age | Per feeding (oz / mL) | Typical daily total (oz / mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1–2 | 0.5–1 oz / 15–30 mL | 5–10 oz / 150–300 mL |
| Day 3–4 | 1–2 oz / 30–60 mL | 8–15 oz / 240–450 mL |
| Week 1–2 | 1.5–3 oz / 45–90 mL | 12–24 oz / 360–720 mL |
| Week 3–4 | 3–4 oz / 90–120 mL | 18–28 oz / 540–840 mL |
| Month 2 | 4–5 oz / 120–150 mL | 22–30 oz / 660–900 mL |
| Months 3–4 | 5–6 oz / 150–180 mL | 24–32 oz / 720–960 mL |
These ranges align with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, including a common daily ceiling near 32 oz. Babies grow on their own curve, so watch your child first and the numbers second.
Reading hunger and fullness cues
Newborns signal before cries kick in. Early hunger shows up as rooting, tongue flicks, hands to mouth, or light fuss. Fullness shows as slower sucking, open hands, a relaxed face, and turning the head. Feed on cue, not by the clock alone. If your baby falls asleep a few minutes in, try a gentle burp and a stretch break; then offer the nipple again if interest returns.
The weight rule of thumb
A quick way to check the day’s total: about 2.5 oz of formula per pound of body weight across 24 hours, up to 32 oz. A 7-lb newborn lands near 17–20 oz a day; a 9-lb newborn lands near 22–24 oz. Split that by your baby’s usual number of feeds to find a per-feed target, then adjust based on cues.
If totals creep higher than 32 oz a day, spread intake across feeds, slow the flow, or try smaller bottles. Some babies take more in daytime and less at night; that split is still fine as long as overall growth and diapers look steady.
How often to offer a bottle
Expect eight to twelve feeds across 24 hours at first. Many start every 2–3 hours, then move toward every 3–4 hours by the end of month one. If a stretch runs past 4–5 hours in the early weeks, wake for a feed unless your pediatrician set a different plan.
Safe pace for bottle feeds
Fast flow can push overfeeding. Use paced bottle feeding: hold the bottle more horizontal, pause often, and switch sides. Start with a slow-flow nipple. Many feeds feel right at 15–20 minutes.
How to adjust per feeding
When to add a bit more
Offer a slightly larger feed if your baby reaches the end of the bottle and still roots or fusses, is waking early and often, or shows strong hunger soon after feeds. Add a half ounce at a time and watch comfort, stools, and spit-up.
When to back down
Pour less next time if your baby dribbles a lot, gulps with stress, arches, or spits up large amounts after most feeds. Shorten the feed and slow the flow. Never force a finish.
Diapers, weight, and growth
Solid diaper output helps confirm intake. After the first week, most babies pass six or more wet diapers a day and regular soft stools. Steady weight gain over days and weeks matters more than any single feed. Growth checks at clinic visits tie the picture together.
How much formula per feed for newborn twins or preemies
Twins and late-preterm babies may take smaller volumes but feed more often. Some preterm babies follow a NICU plan that sets exact volumes. If you were sent home with a schedule from the care team, keep using it unless your pediatrician updates the plan.
Night feeds and longer stretches
Night feeds stick around for a while. Many newborns take two to four bottles overnight at first. As daytime intake grows, stretches at night may lengthen. If a longer stretch appears and your baby wakes happy and feeds well after, that can be fine within the daily total.
Burping and spit-up basics
Burp mid-feed and at the end. Hold upright 10–20 minutes after. Small spit-ups can be normal; large, forceful, or green vomit needs a call to your pediatrician.
Powder, ready-to-feed, and safe mixing
Use water from a safe source and follow the can’s directions. Wash hands, clean surfaces, and keep the scoop dry. Warm in a bowl of warm water, not a microwave. Discard any bottle left out for two hours. If water quality is in doubt, ask your clinic about boiling and cooling steps.
Common myths that confuse feeding
“Bigger bottles help babies sleep”
Sleep stretches come with brain and gut maturity. Oversize feeds often lead to gassy nights, not longer sleep.
“Cereal in the bottle keeps a baby full”
Thickening without a medical plan can raise choking risk and shift intake away from needed milk. Skip it unless your pediatrician gives a plan.
Hunger and fullness cues cheat sheet
Keep the signals close by while you learn your baby’s patterns. Feed when early cues show, and stop when satiety signs appear, even if the bottle still holds milk.
| Cue | What it looks like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Early hunger | Rooting, hands to mouth, soft coos | Offer a bottle within minutes |
| Active hunger | Crying, frantic motions | Calm briefly, then feed |
| Good rhythm | Steady sucks and swallows | Pause now and then for a burp |
| Slowing down | Long pauses, relaxed hands | Give a break; end if interest fades |
| Full | Turns away, sealed lips | End the feed; do not coax |
Sample math for a day
Say your baby weighs 8 lb. The day’s range lands near 18–20 oz. Split across eight feeds, that is about 2.5 oz per feed. If your baby drains that and still shows hunger, move up by a half ounce at the next feed. If there is wide spit-up or clear stress, step back by a half ounce.
When to call your pediatrician
Reach out soon if any of the following show up:
- Fewer than five wet diapers a day after the first week
- Hard stools or no stools for days with belly pain
- Large or forceful spit-up, green vomit, or blood
- Weak suck, trouble staying awake for feeds, or fast breathing with feeds
- Weight loss or poor gain on the clinic scale
- Signs of dehydration: dry mouth, sunken soft spot, no tears
Growth spurts and cluster feeds
Short bursts of extra hunger pop up at times such as week two and around week three to four. During these spells your baby may want smaller, more frequent bottles, or ask for one more small top-off. Keep an eye on the daily total; most babies still stay under 32 oz.
Recap you can trust
In the first two weeks, most newborns take 1.5–3 oz per feed. By weeks three to four, many move to 3–4 oz. Across the day, a handy check is about 2.5 oz per pound, with an upper limit near 32 oz. Feed on cue, pace the bottle, and watch diapers and growth.