Most newborns take 16–24 oz (480–720 mL) across 8–12 feeds in 24 hours by the end of week one, then move toward about 24–32 oz by one month.
New babies eat in small, steady bursts. In the first days the belly is tiny, so feeds are frequent and volumes rise bit by bit. By the end of the first month bottle-fed babies settle into 3–4 oz per feed every 3–4 hours, and breastfed babies keep a similar total spread over more feedings. The guide below rounds up normal ranges so you can size the day without turning mealtimes into math.
Daily milk intake for newborns: age and typical totals
The numbers in this table blend pediatric guidance on per-feed amounts with common feeding rhythms. Use them as ranges, not hard targets.
| Age | Feeds in 24 h | Typical total in 24 h |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1–2 | 8–12 | 8–16 oz (240–480 mL) across tiny feeds |
| Day 3–4 | 8–12 | 12–20 oz (360–600 mL) as milk “comes in” |
| Day 5–7 | 8–12 | 16–24 oz (480–720 mL) |
| Weeks 2–3 | 8–12 | 18–28 oz (540–840 mL) |
| Week 4 | 7–9 (bottle 3–4 h; breast often) | 24–32 oz (720–960 mL) |
Where do these ranges come from? The American Academy of Pediatrics notes 1–2 oz per feed during the first week, rising to 3–4 oz per feed and about 32 oz a day by one month for bottle-fed babies. The CDC’s newborn breastfeeding basics explain the 8–12 feeds per day pattern and how to read diapers and hunger cues.
How much a newborn drinks in 24 hours: realistic ranges
Two babies the same age can land in different spots. Some sip little and ask again soon. Others take larger bottles and go longer between meals. If diapers, weight checks, and mood look good, your daily total sits in the right neighborhood.
Formula-only rule of thumb
A simple yardstick helps after the first week: offer about 2.5 oz (75 mL) of formula per pound of body weight over a day, up to around 32 oz (960 mL). That rule comes from the same AAP page linked above and fits most full-term babies once feeding is established.
Breastfed baby patterns
Breastfed babies usually eat 8–12 times a day in the first months. Each session varies with flow, latch, and timing. Many settle into a stable daily total after the first several weeks. Since bottles are easier to measure, pumped milk amounts can look different from nursing sessions; paced bottle feeding keeps the rhythm similar when you use expressed milk.
Feeding rhythm across the first month
Here is how the day often unfolds. Treat these as patterns, not schedules to follow to the minute.
Days 1–3
Colostrum or small starter bottles, 1–2 oz at a time. Expect frequent feeds and sleepy stretches. Wake for feeds if a long stretch passes.
Days 4–7
Milk volume rises. Many babies still want 8–12 feeds a day, with a few longer naps beginning to appear.
Weeks 2–3
Appetite jumps show up. Cluster feeding in the evening is common, and total intake climbs into the high-teens or low-twenties in ounces.
Week 4
Bottle-fed babies often take 3–4 oz per feed and start spacing to every 3–4 hours. Breastfed babies may still ask more often, yet finish the day near the same total.
Hunger and fullness cues to watch
Babies rarely eat by the clock. Reading cues protects against overfeeding and shortfalls.
Hunger looks like
- Stirring, hand-to-mouth, rooting, lip smacking
- Short, urgent cries that ease when feeding begins
Fullness looks like
- Relaxed hands and body
- Slower sucking, turning away, or letting the nipple slip out
How to pace bottle feeds
Slow the flow so baby can decide when the meal ends. Hold the bottle more level, pause every minute or two, and swap sides. A paced style mirrors nursing and lowers the chance of taking more than the belly wants.
Signs intake is on track
Wet and dirty diapers, steady growth, and a content baby between feeds tell the story. The AAP notes that by day 5 to 7, at least six wet diapers with pale yellow urine point to good intake. Weight checks at newborn visits confirm progress.
When the total runs low
If the daily amount sits well under the ranges in the first table and diapers or weight slip, touch base with your baby’s clinician. Extra checks matter for late preterm babies, babies with tongue-tie, jaundice, or reflux, and any case where feeding is a battle. For nursing, a lactation visit can rescue latch and comfort; for bottles, check nipple flow and pacing.
When the total runs high
Babies sometimes power through bottles after the belly is full, especially during growth spurts or when seeking comfort. Watch for rapid weight gain, frequent spit-up, or gassiness. Try smaller volumes per feed with more pauses, offer a pacifier for sucking needs, and keep the day’s total near the ranges for age unless your clinician advises otherwise.
Night feeds and waking
The first weeks call for overnight meals. If a newborn sleeps more than 3–4 hours in the early days, wake for a feed until weight gain is steady and the clinician gives the green light. As intake rises and growth stays on track, most babies stretch one longer block at night.
Second-month expectations
Many babies hold steady around 24–32 oz a day in month two, with 6–9 feeds and one longer sleep window. That pattern often lasts until solids enter near the middle of the first year.
Weight-based examples for formula
Use the body-weight rule to sketch a day. Cap the total near 32 oz unless your doctor suggests a different target.
| Baby weight | Rule-of-thumb total | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | ~15 oz per day (450 mL) | About 2 oz per feed if 8 feeds |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | ~20 oz per day (600 mL) | 2.5–3 oz per feed at 8 feeds |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | ~25 oz per day (750 mL) | 3 oz per feed at 8 feeds |
| 12 lb (5.4 kg) | ~30 oz per day (900 mL) | 3.5–4 oz per feed at 8 feeds |
What changes the daily amount?
Birth timing and weight
Late preterm and smaller babies may take less per feed and need more sessions. Extra follow-up keeps them safe and growing.
Feeding method
Breastfeeding on cue spreads the same daily milk into more, shorter sessions. Bottles concentrate intake into fewer, larger feeds.
Growth spurts
Short runs of near-back-to-back feeds are common around weeks 2–3 and again closer to week 6. Treat them as temporary; the daily total usually lands within the same range over a day or two.
Digestion and comfort
Gas, reflux, and fast flow can disrupt meals. Upright holds, burp breaks, and the right nipple size help the day go smoother.
Burping and positions that help intake
A comfy body makes meals smoother. Hold baby upright against your chest or seated on your lap with chin steady and back straight. Gently pause mid-feed and near the end for a slow burp; trapped air can crowd the tummy and cut a session short. Side-lying nursing can calm a forceful let-down, while a more upright angle can help babies with reflux settle after a bottle. Small position shifts often change the whole feed.
Sample 24-hour flow you can tweak
This sketch shows how the pieces can fit. Adjust to your baby, not the clock.
- Early morning: feed on waking
- Late morning: feed again
- Early afternoon: feed, then nap
- Late afternoon: feed; cluster feeding may appear here
- Evening: feed, wind-down
- Night: one to three feeds depending on age and weight gain
Pumped milk: how much per bottle?
For babies who get expressed milk, offer bottles that match age and pace. In the first week, 1–2 oz bottles avoid waste. By weeks 2–3, many take 2–3 oz. Near one month, 3–4 oz bottles fit a typical feed. If baby seems unhappy at the end of a bottle, pause, burp, and offer a little more rather than jumping to large increases.
Common pitfalls that skew the day
- Fast-flow nipples pour milk and shorten feeds; move down a size if meals feel rushed.
- Using bottles for every fuss; try a change of position, a burp, or a cuddle first.
- Stretching time between feeds too long in the first weeks; steady, smaller meals work better for tiny bellies.
- Counting only ounces; diapers, comfort, and growth are the better scoreboard.
Ounce to mL quick help
1 oz equals 30 mL. Handy landmarks: 2 oz = 60 mL, 3 oz = 90 mL, 4 oz = 120 mL. For the daily totals in this guide, 24 oz is about 720 mL and 32 oz is about 960 mL.
Practical tips that keep days smooth
- Track diapers, not just ounces; they tell you what the body did with the milk.
- Write bottle sizes and feeds for a few days to spot patterns.
- Use paced bottle steps to let baby set the stop.
- Ask for hands-on help with latching early; small tweaks change the day.
- If breastfeeding, give daily vitamin D drops as advised by your clinician.
Quick reference: daily amounts by age
First week: 16–24 oz a day for many babies, split into 8–12 feeds. Weeks 2–3: roughly high-teens to mid-twenties in ounces. Week 4 and through month two: most land between 24 and 32 oz. If your baby needs more or less and is thriving, that is still normal. Let growth and diapers be your guide.