At one week old, a newborn’s stomach holds around 45–60 mL (1½–2 oz) per feeding, so small, frequent feeds still fit best.
New parents often hear two things at once: newborn tummies are tiny, and feeding feels constant. Both are true. By the end of the first week, most babies handle only a couple of ounces at a time. That size matches their growth needs, and it pairs well with frequent, cue-led feeds. If you like a number to aim for, think one and a half to two ounces per feed at this stage. You can pour a little less and top up when asked. Trust diapers and calm behavior as much as the bottle scale or the timer.
Newborn Stomach Size At One Week: Realistic Range
Across pediatric guides, the common range at seven days is 45 to 60 mL per feed, which equals 1½ to 2 ounces. That lines up with what many families see at the breast and with bottles. Some babies finish a bit less and settle well; others ask for a touch more. Watch comfort, steady swallowing, and diaper output along with the number on a bottle. For a deeper dive on responsive feeding, see the AAP’s guide on how often and how much babies eat.
Here’s a quick first-week snapshot that helps the volumes make sense. These ranges are drawn from clinical handouts used by nurses and lactation teams. They reflect normal day-to-day shifts and are not hard limits.
| Age | Per-Feed Capacity | Rough Size Match |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5–7 mL (1 tsp) | Cherry-size capacity |
| Days 2–3 | 22–27 mL (4–5 tsp) | Walnut-size capacity |
| End Of Week 1 | 45–60 mL (1½–2 oz) | Apricot-size capacity |
Capacity grows fast over the first week, yet feeds still work best when they stay small and frequent. That pattern protects tiny stomachs from big pressure swings and keeps blood sugar steady. It also helps parents stay in step with hunger and fullness signals.
How Often Should A One-Week-Old Eat?
Most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Many fall into an every-2-to-3-hour rhythm, and cluster feeds are common in the evening. If long stretches show up in the early weeks, offer a feed rather than waiting too long. With breast milk or formula, aim for responsive feeding: watch your baby, not the clock. The CDC’s newborn feeding basics and the AAP page linked above both describe this pattern clearly.
Hunger Cues To Watch For
- Stirring, arms flexed, and quiet alert looks.
- Rooting, head bobbing, or hands to mouth.
- Lip smacks, soft sounds, short fusses.
- Late cue: hard crying that can make latching tough.
Fullness Cues Worth Learning
- Sucking slows, pauses lengthen, and hands relax.
- Turns head or pushes nipple out.
- Sealed lips or tongue thrusts.
- Dozy, calm body, content after burping.
Breastfeeding And Bottle Volumes: Why They Differ
At the breast, intake shifts from minute to minute. A pump number rarely mirrors what a baby transfers. With bottles, flow can be faster, which may lead to larger intakes than a baby needed. Paced bottle-feeding helps match natural pacing and lowers the risk of overfilling. That’s helpful with pumped milk and with formula alike.
Paced Bottle-Feeding Tips
- Use a slow-flow nipple and hold the bottle more horizontal.
- Begin with 45 to 60 mL in the bottle at one week; let your baby pause often.
- Keep baby upright; offer breaks for burps after 20 to 30 swallows.
- Switch sides halfway to mimic the change in flow at the breast.
- Stop when cues say full, even if milk remains in the bottle.
Burps, Spit-Up, And Air: Keeping Feeds Comfortable
Gas and spit-up are common during the first weeks. Short pauses for burps keep air from building. Hold your baby upright for a bit after a feed. If using bottles, tilt only enough to keep the nipple half full so milk flows, not floods. A calm, unhurried setup often reduces air intake and makes the end of the feed easier.
Output Checks In Week One
Diapers tell a clear story. By days five through seven, most babies pass at least six wet diapers a day and at least three yellow stools. Earlier in the week, counts rise day by day. Poop shifts from dark meconium to green, then to mustard yellow as milk intake rises. If numbers dip below the usual counts for that day, offer more feeds and touch base with your nurse or clinic.
| Day | Wet Diapers (Min) | Stools (Min) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | ≥1 | ≥1 |
| Day 2 | ≥2 | ≥3 |
| Day 3 | ≥5 | ≥3 |
| Day 4 | ≥6 | ≥3 |
| Days 5–7 | ≥6 | ≥3 |
Keep in mind that diaper brands vary. Heaviness counts more than a quick color line. The stool color shift matters too. That mustard yellow change late in week one is a strong clue that intake has ramped up and milk is flowing well.
Practical Feeding Benchmarks For Parents
- At one week, plan on 1½ to 2 ounces per feed; pour less, then top up if asked.
- If breastfeeding, expect 8 to 12 feeds across the day and night.
- Burp midway and at the end; extra pauses help with comfort.
- Skin-to-skin time boosts cues and helps milk flow.
- If a feed runs long and baby looks sleepy, try a brief break, then relatch or resume.
Taking The Edge Off Evening Cluster Feeds
Many babies bunch feeds late in the day. That pattern is common and often passes by six to eight weeks. Try dim lights, a snug swaddle, and skin-to-skin between sides or before the bottle. Short walks or a gentle sway can settle a fussy patch. Offer the breast again or present a small top-up if cues return quickly. Treat those stretches as normal, not a sign that milk is low.
Why Intake Can Vary Between Babies
Birth weight, wakefulness, latch skill, and flow all shape intake. A sleepy baby on day two may sip tiny amounts and still do well once milk ramps up. A wide-awake baby with a strong suck may drain the same volume in half the time. Both patterns can be healthy. That’s why diaper counts, comfort, and steady gains at checkups are the best yardsticks. A single feed number never tells the whole story.
Simple Ways To Support Supply And Comfort
For Breastfeeding
- Offer both sides, then start the next feed on the side that felt softer last time.
- If baby dozes off early, try a gentle burp break and a position change.
- If pumping, short sessions after some feeds can nudge supply upward.
For Bottles
- Warm milk to body temp and test a few slow-flow nipples to find a steady pace.
- Seat baby more upright than flat; keep the bottle level to slow the stream.
- Pause often and stop on fullness cues, even if milk remains.
When To Check With Your Pediatrician
Call your clinic if wet diapers stay below six after day five, stools stay dark past day four, or spit-up looks green or bloody. Reach out as well for weak suck, poor latch, fewer than eight feeds per day, hard lethargy, or no weight regain by the end of week two. Early support can turn a rough day into a smoother plan. Your team wants to hear from you, and quick tweaks at this stage often make a big difference by the next day.
Week-One Feeding Takeaways
- One-week stomach size lines up with 45–60 mL per feed.
- Frequent, cue-led feeds keep intake on target.
- Paced bottles help match what babies take at the breast.
- Diaper counts and feel-good behavior are trusty guides.
- Questions are normal; partner with your nurse or pediatrician.