How Much Milk Should I Give To My Newborn? | New Parent Guide

What Newborn Feeding Looks Like In Week One

Brand-new babies eat little, but often. If you’re using infant formula only, start with about 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours during the first days. Many babies will want more at some feeds and less at others. Breastfed babies don’t take set ounces; they latch 8–12 times across 24 hours, sometimes back-to-back in short “cluster” stretches. Both patterns are normal while your baby’s belly is tiny and filling fast.

Watch your baby, not the clock. Early hunger cues include stirring, bringing hands to mouth, smacking lips, and rooting. Crying is a late cue. Fullness shows up as relaxed hands, turning away, or releasing the nipple or bottle. If your baby slows or pushes the nipple out, end the feed. Don’t force a finish—another small feed will come soon.

Quick Volumes At A Glance

These ranges fit many healthy, term babies. Your baby may land slightly above or below on a given day. Use cues to guide you.

Age	Typical Per-Feed Amount	Feeds In 24 Hours
First 24–48 hours	1–2 oz (30–60 mL) if using formula; breastfed volumes vary	8–12+
Days 3–7	1.5–2.5 oz (45–75 mL) per bottle on average	8–10
Weeks 2–4	3–4 oz (90–120 mL) per bottle	7–8
By 6 weeks	3–5 oz (90–150 mL) per bottle	6–8

For a clear walkthrough of early patterns, see the CDC guide on how often newborns breastfeed.

How Much Milk To Feed A Newborn: Practical Ranges

From day three onward, most formula-fed babies work up to 1.5–3 ounces per feed. By the end of the first month, many take 3–4 ounces with gaps of 3–4 hours. Growth is not a straight line, so expect a few days with bigger appetite jumps followed by steadier days. With nursing, supply and demand match up as you offer the breast often and respond to cues.

The Body-Weight Rule For Bottles

A handy rule: across 24 hours, offer about 2.5 ounces (75 mL) of formula per pound of body weight. That’s a planning guide, not a quota your baby needs to hit at every feed. Some days they’ll take less, some days more. Don’t exceed a total of 32 ounces (960 mL) in 24 hours unless your pediatrician gives a plan. The American Academy of Pediatrics explains both the daily guide and the 32-ounce cap here: formula amounts and schedules.

Breastfeeding: How To Judge Intake Without Ounces

With nursing, the number that counts is feeds per day, not bottle volume. Aim for 8–12 feeds in 24 hours in the early weeks, including overnight. Expect brief cluster stretches, especially in the evening, and sleepy patches where you may need to wake for feeds. Many babies take one side, rest, then take the other. Others take multiple short “snacks.” Both styles add up across the day.

Output tells the story. After day four, you’ll usually see at least six wet diapers and three to four yellow stools daily, with variations. Steady weight gain at checkups confirms intake. If latch is painful or your baby is drowsy at the breast and not swallowing often, get hands-on help from a lactation pro and your care team.

Safe Bottle Practices That Keep Feeding Calm

Hold your baby semi-upright, keep the bottle level, and use paced bottle feeding so they set the tempo. Choose a slow-flow nipple early on. Let your baby pause, burp, and resume. If they finish the bottle and still root, offer a little more. If they relax and turn away, stop. Feeding should feel like a gentle back-and-forth, not a race to the bottom of the bottle.

Mix formula exactly as shown on the can. Use safe water as instructed on the label, and don’t stretch scoops. Warming isn’t required; if you warm a bottle, swirl and test on your wrist first. Skip the microwave. Clean bottles and parts well, and toss any leftover milk from a finished feed.

When Feeds Come Close Together

Newborns often bunch feeds during growth spurts or in the evening. That doesn’t mean your supply is low or that you need a faster nipple size right away. Offer the breast or another small bottle, hold your baby close, and keep the room calm. The pattern usually resets within a day or two.

How To Spot Hunger And Fullness

Hunger cues: stirring, eyes open, hand-to-mouth, rooting, soft whimpers, seeking the nipple.

Fullness cues: slower sucks and swallows, relaxed hands, milk pooling at lips, turning away, sleeping off the feed.

Trust these cues over the bottle’s markings. If your baby is growing and content, you’re on track. If your baby seems hungry again within an hour every time, add 0.5–1 ounce to a few daytime bottles and watch comfort, spit-up, and stools.

Common Situations And Simple Fixes

Sleepy Baby Who Skips Feeds

In the first weeks, wake to feed every 2–4 hours. Try a diaper change, skin-to-skin time, or gentle foot rubs to rouse. Offer both breasts or a fresh bottle. If sleepiness continues and wet diapers drop off, call your pediatrician the same day.

Gassy Or Spitty After Feeds

Use paced bottle feeding, keep your baby upright for 20–30 minutes after, and burp partway through the feed. Smaller, more frequent feeds can help. If spit-up is forceful, green, or your baby looks unwell or in pain, get medical advice right away.

Always Wanting More

Babies love to suck. If your baby just ate and still seeks, try a cuddle, a pacifier, or a change of scenery. If they’re steadily draining every bottle and showing hunger soon after, add 0.5–1 ounce to the next few bottles and see how they do—without crossing that daily cap.

Big Evening Cluster

Plan for it. Offer milk when asked, dim the lights, and keep the evening calm. Many families find that wearing the baby or more skin-to-skin eases this window. A warm bath or brief walk can reset fussy cycles, too.

Pumped Milk And Combination Feeding

Many parents mix feeding styles—some direct nursing, some pumped milk, and some formula. That’s fine. For pumped milk, bottle size in the first weeks usually lands between 2–3 ounces, then often 3–4 ounces by the end of month one. Use paced feeding so your baby controls flow and can pause. If your baby still shows hunger after a full bottle of pumped milk, top up with a small extra pour or a brief nurse on the breast if you’re doing both.

If you’re offering both breast milk and formula, give them in separate bottles rather than mixing, so you don’t waste pumped milk if your baby stops early. If your baby seems gassy after a new formula, give it a few days before switching; sudden changes can be hard on tiny bellies. Any time a medical team recommends special formula, follow that plan and keep notes on comfort, stools, and weight checks.

Night Feeds And Sleep

Night feeds are part of newborn life. Expect 2–3 overnight feeds in the early weeks, sometimes more during growth spurts. Keep lights low, change the diaper if needed, and feed with calm, steady pacing. Many babies stretch one longer sleep chunk after midnight by week four to six. If weight gain is on track, your care team may say you can extend gaps at night; until then, wake to feed when stretches pass 3–4 hours.

Sample 24-Hour Bottle Planner

These examples show how the same daily total can spread across the day. Follow your baby’s cues rather than copying times. Adjust up or down by 0.5–1 ounce as you learn your baby’s sweet spot.

Age Band	Average Bottles	Average Per Bottle
Days 3–7	8–10 across the day	1.5–2.5 oz (45–75 mL)
Weeks 2–4	7–8 across the day	3–4 oz (90–120 mL)
By 6 weeks	6–8 across the day	3–5 oz (90–150 mL)

If you prefer a weight-based plan, total the day using the 2.5 oz per pound guide, then divide that number by your baby’s usual count of bottles. Keep watching hunger and fullness cues and adjust. Many families find mornings carry slightly bigger bottles, with later evening bottles on the smaller side.

Breast Milk, Formula, And Water

For about six months, babies do best with breast milk, formula, or a mix of both. No extra water is needed. If mixing powder, use the amount of water on the label—no more, no less. When solid foods begin later on, tiny sips of water can come in with meals. If a heat wave hits, offer milk more often rather than plain water unless a clinician gives a different plan.

Red Flags That Need A Call

Reach out to your pediatrician fast if you see any of these: fewer than four wet diapers after day four, deep yellow urine, no stool for more than a day in week one, nonstop vomiting, blood in stool, constant sleepiness that makes feeds hard, or poor latch and weak suck. Trust your gut—if something feels off, make the call.

Your Simple, Baby-Led Plan

Feed early, feed often, and let your newborn lead. Offer 1–2 ounces per bottle in the first days and grow from there. Nurse 8–12 times a day. Watch diapers and your baby’s mood more than numbers alone. That approach keeps newborn feeding steady and low-stress for both of you.