How Much ML Milk A Newborn Should Drink? | Week By Week

Why This Topic Matters

New parents ask about ml all the time. Bottles are marked in ml, charts use ml, and growth is tracked day by day. The aim here is simple: give clear ranges, show what changes by week, and help you read your baby, not the bottle.

How Many ML Of Milk Should A Newborn Drink Per Feed?

In the first days with formula, offer 30–60 ml every 2–3 hours. Breastfed babies often take smaller, more frequent feeds. Watch cues and diaper counts. Typical ranges by age and feed looks like this:

Age	Per Feed (ml)	Feeds In 24h
Day 1–2	30–60	8–12
Days 3–7	45–90	8–12
Weeks 2–3	60–90	7–10
Week 4	90–120	6–8

Newborn Feeding By Week: What Changes

Week 1

Milk moves from tiny early volumes to steadier intake. Many babies cluster feed. That pattern builds supply for lactating parents and steadies weight. Burp once mid-feed and again at the end to cut down air.

Weeks 2–3

Stomach capacity is larger and wake windows stretch a little. Bottle size can creep up. Pause for paced bottle feeding so the baby leads. If a feed ends fast yet your baby looks settled, stop right there.

Week 4

Many babies land around 90–120 ml per feed. Some stick with 60–90 ml and feed more often. Both paths can match normal growth.

Bottle Or Breast: What Changes In ML?

Formula amounts are easy to see. Breastmilk amounts vary feed to feed and across the day. Babies at the breast self-regulate well. If pumping, most parents see a daily total between 600 and 900 ml by the end of the first month. That total is split into frequent feeds, often 8–12 in the early weeks.

Hunger And Fullness Cues To Trust

Early hunger cues

• Stirring or wriggling
• Rooting and lip smacking
• Hands to mouth, soft fussing

Signs the tank is full

• Slowing sucks and longer pauses
• Relaxed hands and body
• Turning away or sealing lips

Daily Totals: ML Per Kilogram

A handy rule for formula is about 150 ml per kg of body weight in 24 hours, with an upper cap near 960 ml per day. That aligns with the common US rule of 75 ml per pound per day and keeps intake in a safe range. Babies still vary, so track growth, content mood, and diapers.

Sample daily totals by weight

Weight (kg)	Daily Total (ml)	Notes
2.5	~375	Small babies feed often
3.0	~450	Split into 8–12 feeds
3.5	~525	Watch diapers and mood
4.0	~600	Many babies sit here by month’s end
4.5	~675	Cap daily bottles near 960 ml

Night Feeds And Wake Windows

In the early weeks, long stretches can drop intake too far. If sleep goes beyond 4–5 hours in week one or two, wake for a feed. Re-set the day with bright light and active time so nights stay calm.

When To Ask The Doctor

Reach out fast if you see any of these:

• Fewer than six wet diapers a day after day five
• Brick-red urine crystals past day three
• No poo for more than a day in week one
• Extra sleepy feeds or weak sucking
• Spewing large volumes after most feeds
• Faster breathing, flaring nostrils, or chest pulling in

These signs can pair with low intake or other feeding issues. A quick check keeps growth on track.

Quick Troubleshooting

Lots of spit-up

Try smaller, more frequent feeds. Keep the baby upright for 20–30 minutes after a bottle. Check the nipple flow; fast flow can flood a small mouth.

Gassy, pulling off, or gulping

Use paced bottle feeding. Tilt the bottle just enough to fill the nipple. Burp during natural pauses.

Draining every bottle

Offer a touch more, then watch for relaxed hands, slower sucks, and turning away. If bottles top 960 ml in a day, call the clinic for a plan.

Rare wet diapers

Offer feeds every two hours by day, three hours by night until wet diapers rebound. Check latch if nursing.

Safe Prep And Storage Basics

Wash hands. Use clean bottles. For powdered formula, use hot water near 70°C to mix, then cool to feeding temp. Make fresh feeds when you can. If you need to store a made bottle, chill it fast and use it within 24 hours. Once a feed starts, use it within two hours, then discard leftovers. Never prop a bottle. Hold your baby close and watch the rhythm of sucks and swallows.

Travel And On-The-Go Tips

Pack pre-measured powder, a clean bottle, and a flask of hot water. Mix only when needed. If that’s not possible, carry ready-to-feed cartons. Keep everything clean and toss unused mixed formula within two hours without cooling.

Paced Bottle Feeding: Step-By-Step

1. Hold your baby nearly upright.
2. Tickly rub the nipple on the upper lip; let the baby gape and accept the nipple.
3. Hold the bottle horizontal so milk flows slowly.
4. Let the baby suck for 20–30 seconds, then tip the bottle down for a breath.
5. Switch sides halfway to match the feel of feeding at the breast.
6. Stop when cues say “all done,” even if a little milk remains.

Growth, Diapers, And A Simple Log

Track three things in week one: weight checks, wet diapers, and alert, content windows after feeds. A simple phone note with feed times and rough ml helps spot patterns. If intake plunges or mood shifts, that timeline gives your clinician a head start.

Common Myths To Skip

“Big bottles make babies sleep longer.” Bigger bottles often raise spit-up and discomfort. Sleep gains come from steady daytime intake and age.

“Newborns need water in hot weather.” No extra water at this age; offer milk more often.

“Every feed must empty the bottle.” Babies know their own stop point. Respect it.

Sample Day

Early morning: 60–90 ml
Mid-morning: 60–90 ml
Noon: 60–90 ml
Afternoon: 60–90 ml
Evening: 60–90 ml
Late evening: 60–90 ml
Night: one or two feeds of 60–90 ml
Totals shift with growth and baby-led spacing.

Preterm Or Low Birthweight Notes

Follow the plan from your neonatal team. Some babies need higher calories or different volumes. Timing and ml can be often different in this case.

Allergies, Intolerance, And Switching Formula

Rashes, blood-streaked stools, or poor weight can point to cow’s milk protein allergy. Reflux-style fussing can also show up. Do not switch formulas in a loop. Call the clinic and agree on one change at a time, then watch for progress across two weeks.

Vitamin D And Iron

Fully breastfed babies need vitamin D drops. Most full-term babies get iron stores from pregnancy, then meet needs through milk and later foods. Your clinician may suggest supplements for special cases.

Ready-To-Use Bottles

Handy for travel or late nights. They cost more, yet lower prep errors and lower infection risk. Once opened, use fast as labeled.

Taking Care Of You

Feed the feeder. Keep a water bottle near your chair. Set up a small basket with diapers, burp cloths, and a spare onesie. Share the job with partners or family so rest happens.

Main Takeaways You Can Use Today

• First days: 30–60 ml per feed, 8–12 times.
• Weeks 2–4: many feeds land at 60–120 ml.
• Daily guide: about 150 ml/kg, with a practical cap near 960 ml.
• Let cues lead, not the bottle marks.
• Call your baby’s clinic if intake surges past the cap or diaper counts fall.

Growth Spurts And Cluster Feeding

Several bursts often land in the first month: around days 7–10, near week 3, and near week 6. Intake jumps for a day or two. Offer feeds sooner and add 15–30 ml when cues say “more.” When the burst passes, many babies return to the prior pattern. If higher volumes stick for a week and the day total nears the cap, check with your pediatrician about the plan.

Reading Bottles And Nipples

Bottle markings can be off. Fill a measuring cup and pour to the 60 ml line on your bottle to test the mark. That keeps your log honest. Nipple flow also shapes intake. Coughing, choking, or milk streaming at the corners points to a fast flow. Long feeds with hard work can point to a slow flow. Change one step up or down and watch the next two feeds. Vented nipples and bottles can ease air.

If gas or fussing persists with every bottle, check position, slow the pace, and try a shorter, more frequent plan for a day. Stable mood, steady diapers, and calm sleep between feeds usually point to the right volume for your baby. If not, call the clinic for advice.

Pumping And Measured ML

If you pump, ml can help you plan. In the first weeks, many see 30–90 ml per session, then totals climb as sessions add up. Small, frequent sessions beat rare, long ones for most bodies. Warmth, massage, and a snug flange boost comfort. Combine chilled milk from the same day and label by date. Offer pumped milk in the same age-based ranges you use for formula. Pace the bottle so the baby, not the bottle, sets the stop point.

Feeding Gear And Setup

Pick a comfy chair, then set a station: burp cloths, wipes, a dim light, and bibs. Keep two bottle sizes in rotation, one small for early days and one larger for month’s end. Wash parts with hot, soapy water and air dry. For mixing formula, use hot water, then cool feeds before serving.