How Much Ounces To Feed Newborn? | Simple Feeding Guide

How Many Ounces To Feed A Newborn Daily: Typical Ranges

Brand-new tummies are tiny, so feeds start small and come often. In the first days, most newborns take 1–2 ounces per feed every 2–3 hours. Across the first month, intake rises to about 3–4 ounces per feed as wake windows lengthen and stomach capacity grows. Formula-fed babies tend to stretch to every 3–4 hours sooner, while breastfed babies may still eat more often because milk moves through the gut faster. Feed on cues, not the clock, and expect patterns to shift during growth spurts and evening cluster feeds.

Two trusted guides can anchor your planning: the American Academy of Pediatrics outlines about 2½ ounces of formula per pound of body weight across 24 hours with a common daily cap near 32 ounces, and the CDC suggests 1–2 ounces per feed in the first days with 8–12 feeds in a day. For breast milk offered by bottle, similar early volumes work well, then adjust based on hunger and comfort cues. See the AAP formula schedule and the CDC guide to how much and how often.

Newborn Formula Amounts At A Glance (First 8 Weeks)

Age	Ounces Per Feed	Feeds Per 24h
First 24–48 hours	1–2 oz	8–12
Days 3–7	1–2 oz	8–12
Weeks 2–3	2–3 oz	8–10
Weeks 4–8	3–4 oz	6–8

Breastfed Newborns And Ounces When Using Expressed Milk

Direct nursing runs on supply-and-demand, so you won’t track ounces unless you pump. If you do offer expressed milk, early bottles of 1–2 ounces are a gentle start, then move toward 2–3 ounces by week two and 3–4 ounces by weeks four to eight. Keep nipples slow-flow, hold baby upright, and pause often to mirror nursing rhythm. Watch cues over numbers: relaxed hands after feeds, settled breathing, and content wake times point to a good match. The CDC and AAP both encourage responsive feeding and frequent checks of growth rather than chasing a single target ounce count. Families who plan exclusive breastfeeding can also review the CDC breastfeeding recommendations.

Reading Hunger And Fullness Cues

Early hunger cues arrive before crying. Look for stirring, rooting, hands to mouth, lip smacking, or turning the head. Mid-cues include squirming and eager latching. Crying is a late cue and can make latching tougher. Signs of fullness include slowed sucking, relaxed fingers, turning away, drowsiness, or pushing the nipple out. Offer both sides when nursing; for bottles, use paced feeding so baby can pause and decide when the sip should end.

Weight-Based Rule For Formula: 2½ Ounces Per Pound

As a quick check, multiply baby’s weight in pounds by 2½ to estimate a full-day total for formula. Example: a 7-pound newborn needs near 17–18 ounces across a day, split into small feeds. Many newborns land well below the 32-ounce daily ceiling in the early weeks. If spit-up climbs, stools look hard, or baby seems uncomfortable, offer smaller amounts more often and burp well. Your baby’s growth curve and diaper counts carry more weight than any single bottle size.

Daily Formula Totals By Weight

Baby Weight (lb)	Daily Total (oz)	Daily Total (mL)
6	15	450
7	17.5	525
8	20	600
9	22.5	675
10	25	750

Sample 24-Hour Feeding Rhythm

These sample blocks show the shape of a day, not a fixed schedule. Shift times freely to match your baby’s cues.

First Week Example (Formula Or Expressed Milk)

Offer 1–2 ounces about every 2–3 hours: 12 a.m., 2:30 a.m., 5 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 10:30 p.m. Night feeds are normal. Expect short wake windows and plenty of naps between feeds.

Weeks 3–4 Example (Formula Or Expressed Milk)

Offer 2–3 ounces about every 3 hours: 12 a.m., 3 a.m., 6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. If baby finishes fast and roots soon after, add a small top-off. If baby leaves an ounce behind often, pour slightly less next time.

Paced Bottle Tips That Help With Ounces

Pick The Right Nipple Flow

Use the slowest flow that still keeps baby engaged. Too-fast flow pushes extra ounces, spikes spit-up, and can shorten nursing sessions for combo-feeding families.

Hold Baby More Upright

A semi-upright hold and a near-horizontal bottle slow the stream. Aim the nipple to fill with milk, then tip down for brief breaks during the feed. Give baby chances to pause, breathe, and decide.

Burp Early And Often

Pause halfway through the bottle and at the end. A gentle pat while baby sits against your chest or rests across your lap helps trapped air exit and makes the next ounce easier.

Diapers, Growth, And When Ounces Need A Tweak

Wet diapers and steady weight gain tell you the plan is on track. By day five to seven, most newborns have six or more wet diapers in a day as intake rises. Stools shift from dark meconium to mustard-yellow and loose by the end of week one. Fewer wet diapers, hard stools, dry lips, or a sunken soft spot signal a need to call the clinic. For breastfeeding families, latch help can make a fast difference.

Special Situations That Change The Math

Late Preterm Or Small For Gestational Age

These babies tire faster and may need smaller, more frequent feeds with close weight checks. A lactation visit or a pediatric weight-gain plan can keep progress smooth.

Sleepy Newborns

In the first two weeks, wake for feeds at least every 3 hours by day and every 4 hours at night unless your clinician says otherwise. Hand-express a little milk to start the flow, use skin-to-skin, and keep the room a touch brighter by day.

Reflux And Spit-Up

Spit-up peaks in early months. Smaller, slower feeds with frequent burps usually help. Keep baby upright for 20–30 minutes after a bottle. If weight gain stalls or vomit looks green or forceful, seek care.

When To Call Your Pediatrician

Reach out promptly if baby has fewer than six wet diapers per day after the first week, cannot stay awake to feed, shows weak sucking, breathes hard during feeds, loses weight after day five, or seems unhappy after most feeds. Trust your instincts and book a weight check whenever you want extra reassurance.

Key Takeaways For Newborn Ounces

• First days: start with 1–2 ounces every 2–3 hours.
• Weeks 2–4: many babies take 2–4 ounces per feed.
• Use the 2½ ounces-per-pound rule to gauge daily totals for formula.
• Cap daily formula near 32 ounces unless your clinician advises otherwise.
• Watch cues, diaper counts, and growth; adjust bottle size up or down as your baby shows you.
• Breastfeeding by bottle? Keep flow slow and pace feeds so baby runs the show.

For deeper guidance straight from public health and pediatric sources, review the CDC breastfeeding recommendations and the AAP formula schedule. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for about six months, with continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods after that, as families prefer.