Most newborns take 8–12 feeds in 24 hours; breastfed babies often land near 10–12, and many bottle-fed babies take about 6–8 feeds.
Feeding a new baby can feel like a round-the-clock rhythm. The goal in the early weeks is simple: respond to cues and offer milk often. Newborn stomachs are tiny, so short, frequent feeds make sense. Growth is fast in this stage, and patterns shift week by week. The numbers below give a clear starting point you can tailor to your baby.
Newborn Feeding Basics By Age
These ranges reflect common patterns seen in clinics and public health guidance. Use them as a guide while you watch your baby’s cues and growth.
| Baby Age | Breastfeeds / 24h | Formula Feeds / 24h |
|---|---|---|
| Birth–24 hours | 8–12 latch attempts; brief, frequent colostrum feeds | 8–12 small feeds (about 1–2 oz each) |
| Days 2–7 | 8–12 feeds | 8–12 feeds (about 1–3 oz each) |
| Weeks 2–4 | 8–12 feeds | 7–10 feeds (about 2–4 oz each) |
| Weeks 4–8 | 7–10 feeds | 6–8 feeds (about 3–5 oz each) |
Ranges vary by baby. Responsive, on-cue feeding day and night is recommended by major health groups.
Want a trusted reference on timing? See the CDC breastfeeding guide and the AAP feeding guide. Both explain why 8–12 feeds in a day is common in the first weeks.
If you wonder whether the count seems low on a quiet day, offer one more feed and watch diapers and mood.
How Many Feeds A Day For Newborns: Real-World Patterns
On day one, colostrum comes in small volumes. Babies often take many short feeds, then nap, then cue again. By day three to five, milk volume rises and diapers ramp up. Many babies cluster feed in the late afternoon or evening. That can look like several feeds close together, then a longer stretch of sleep.
Growth spurts are brief bursts of need. You may see one around week two and again around week three to four. During a spurt, cues come sooner and feeds bunch together. That is normal and helps match supply with need for those who breastfeed and helps pace intake for those who bottle-feed.
Breastfed Babies: What To Expect
Most latch every two to three hours from the start of one feed to the start of the next. That works out to about 10–12 feeds in a day during the first couple of weeks. Spacing usually lengthens with time, though many still feed at night. Signs your baby is getting milk include steady swallows, relaxed hands, and content periods between feeds.
If milk transfer is slow or latch is tricky, feeds can run longer. Skin-to-skin time and frequent attempts help. Pumping after a feed can protect supply if baby is sleepy or needs a top-up plan set by your care team.
Formula-Fed Babies: What To Expect
Many bottle-fed newborns start with 1–2 oz per feed every two to three hours, then move toward 2–4 oz per feed. A typical day in the first month lands near 6–10 feeds. Offer the bottle when cues appear and pause often for burps. If baby turns away, slows down, or relaxes, stop the feed and try again later.
A handy rule of thumb for volume is about 2½ oz per pound of body weight across a day, up to about 32 oz. Let cues guide you; some days run higher, some lower.
Hunger And Fullness Cues You Can Trust
Early cues: stirring, eye movement under lids, hand to mouth, rooting, soft fussing. Late cues: hard crying, stiff posture, frantic movements. Try to start a feed at the early stage when latch and pacing are easier.
Signs of fullness: slower sucking, longer pauses, relaxed hands and shoulders, turning away, sleep. Babies do not need to finish a bottle if they signal they are done.
How Long Between Feeds?
In the first weeks, many babies feed about every two to three hours during the day and often at night. Long stretches can happen, yet most babies still need at least eight feeds in a day. If a newborn under two weeks sleeps past four to five hours, wake for a feed, then let sleep again.
As milk intake per feed climbs, spacing can widen. Some babies settle into a pattern of one longer stretch at night and shorter gaps by day. Others keep even spacing. Both can be normal when weight gain and diaper counts look good.
Night Feeds, Weight, And Growth Spurts
Night feeds carry a lot of the daily intake for many babies. The hormone shifts of night feeds also cue milk production for nursing parents. Expect at least one to two feeds overnight in the first couple of months, with more during spurts.
Weight checks matter in the newborn stage. Steady gain, bright eyes, and good tone signal enough intake. If weight gain stalls, or diaper counts drop, increase feeding frequency and speak with your baby’s clinician.
Sample Day: Feeding Rhythm
Here’s a simple 24-hour rhythm many families see in the first month. Adjust to your baby’s cues.
Morning
Wake and feed. Brief awake time for a diaper change and cuddles. Back to sleep. Repeat every two to three hours. Some mornings include a cluster of two feeds close together.
Afternoon
Feeds continue every two to three hours. A short walk or fresh air can settle a gassy spell. Many babies take a longer nap in this window and then make up intake later.
Evening
Expect a cluster of shorter gaps and more feeds. Offer both breasts or pace the bottle. Keep lights low and sounds calm to protect night sleep later.
Overnight
Plan for one to three wakes. Feed, burp, change if needed, then back to bed. If the longest stretch lands early, the next stretch may be shorter.
When To Seek Help
Reach out fast if you see any of these:
- Fewer than six wet diapers after day five, or no pee in eight hours.
- No stool by day three, or hard stools at any time in the newborn stage.
- Deep jaundice, fever, poor tone, or hard to rouse.
- Weight loss near or past 10% from birth and not improving by day five to seven.
- Persistent pain with latch, cracked nipples, or feeds longer than one hour every time.
- Repeated projectile spit-ups, choking with feeds, or breathing trouble.
Practical Tips That Keep Feeds Smooth
Pacing Bottles
Hold the bottle near horizontal so milk flows with baby’s suck, not by gravity. Pause often for burps. Switch sides mid-feed to mimic the change of view and slow the rate.
Position And Latch
Bring baby to you. Chin first, wide mouth, lips flanged, belly to belly. You should feel a deep tug, not a pinch. Break suction with a clean finger if you need to reset.
Track, But Lightly
Logs help in week one to three. Note start times and diaper counts. If tracking raises stress, take a break and watch cues instead.
Care For The Caregiver
Keep water nearby, snack between meals, and rest when baby sleeps. Hands-free skin-to-skin time boosts calm and can steady feeding rhythms.
Diaper Output: A Simple Cross-Check
Wet and dirty diapers offer a quick read on intake. Use this table as a daily check during the first week and beyond.
| Baby Age | Wet Diapers / 24h | Stools / 24h |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | ~1 | ~1 meconium |
| Day 2 | ~2 | ~2 meconium |
| Day 3 | ~3 | 3+; color starts to change |
| Day 4 | 4+ | 3–4 yellow, seedy (if breastfed) |
| Day 5+ | 6+ | Breastfed: 3–4; Formula: 1–2 |
| After Week 2 | 6–8 | Breastfed may vary from each feed to every few days; Formula often 1–2 |
Newborn feeding is a skill you and your baby learn together. Use the ranges, watch the diapers, and let your baby’s cues guide the count of feeds in each day.