A newborn usually takes 30–60 mL per feed in week one and about 150–200 mL per kilogram across 24 hours, with an upper daily cap near 960 mL.
New parents ask this on day one, at 3 a.m., and again a week later. Bottle sizes change. Tiny tummies grow. The right answer depends on age, body weight, and the baby’s cues. You can use two guardrails: a per-feed range for the early days, and a daily total based on body weight.
How Many mL Of Formula For A Newborn: Daily & Per Feed
During the first week, most newborns take 30–60 mL at each feed, often every two to three hours. Across a full day, the daily total usually lines up with body weight math: about 75 mL per pound of body weight or 150–200 mL per kilogram. Do not push a bottle past early fullness signs, and do not press a baby to finish when they turn away. A practical ceiling for the first months is about 960 mL per day. For details, see the AAP guidance on amounts and schedules. That page also explains the 32-ounce daily cap. Use it as a quick check.
Newborn Formula Amounts: Quick Start Chart (Days 0–21)
| Age Window | Per-Feed mL | Approx Total / Day |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 hours | 2–10 mL | varies |
| 24–48 hours | 5–15 mL | varies |
| 72 hours | ~30 mL | varies |
| Day 4–7 | 30–60 mL | 300–600 mL |
| Weeks 2–3 | 60–90 mL | 450–750 mL |
Use Body-Weight Math For A Daily Target
Body weight gives you a simple plan when the day feels messy. Multiply your baby’s weight by 150–200 mL to get a normal daily range. If you prefer pounds, use about 75 mL per pound. Then spread that total across the day’s feeds based on wake windows and cues.
Quick Examples
- 3.0 kg baby → 450–600 mL per day. With ten feeds, that’s about 45–60 mL each time.
- 3.5 kg baby → 525–700 mL per day. With nine feeds, that’s about 60–80 mL each time.
- 4.0 kg baby → 600–800 mL per day. With eight feeds, that’s about 75–100 mL each time.
Per-Feed Goal By Day And Week
Day 1 is tiny—think teaspoons, not ounces. By day 3, many babies handle 30 mL. By the end of week one, 30–60 mL per feed fits most. In weeks two to three, many settle around 60–90 mL per feed as night stretches start to lengthen.
How Often Should A Newborn Drink Formula?
Most newborns drink 8–12 times in 24 hours at first. Feeds cluster closer in the evenings. As intake per feed rises, many shift toward every three to four hours. If a young newborn sleeps past four to five hours in the first weeks and starts missing feeds, wake them and offer a bottle. See the CDC page on how much and how often for timing basics. Start there, then tune to cues.
Hunger And Fullness Cues
Watch the baby, not the clock. Early hunger cues: rooting, licking lips, hands to mouth, alert “searching” turns. Late cue: hard crying. Fullness cues: slower sucking, head turns, loose fists, relaxed body, milk dribbling without active sucking. Stop the feed when these show up, even if milk remains in the bottle.
Bottle Size, Pace, And Flow
Start with small bottles, slow-flow nipples, and paced bottle feeding so the baby can breathe and pause. Hold the bottle more horizontal, let the baby draw milk in, and tip down for short breaks.
What A Calm Feed Looks Like
A relaxed feed often runs 15–30 minutes. Do not brace a bottle, and do not prop a bottle in a crib. If the baby spits up small amounts yet stays content and gains well, that often reflects air or a quick feed. Force-feeding raises the chance of large spit-ups.
When Intake Looks Too Low Or Too High
Too low: weak suck, very short or very long feeds with poor energy, fewer than six wet diapers after the first few days, scant stools after the first week, or sleepy feeds with little interest. Too high: frequent hard spit-ups, clear discomfort, or rapid jumps in weight with bottles always drained quickly. Call your pediatrician if any of these patterns stick around or if you worry about growth, dehydration, or vomiting that shoots out forcefully.
Sample 24-Hour Newborn Formula Plan (Week One To Week Three)
| Time Of Day | Per-Feed mL | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 a.m. | 30–60 mL | Start paced, watch cues |
| 3:00 a.m. | 30–60 mL | Gentle burp breaks |
| 6:00 a.m. | 30–60 mL | Diaper, then feed |
| 9:00 a.m. | 45–75 mL | If wide awake, offer |
| 12:00 p.m. | 45–75 mL | Pause mid-bottle |
| 3:00 p.m. | 45–75 mL | Skin-to-skin settles |
| 6:00 p.m. | 45–75 mL | Evening cluster feed |
| 9:00 p.m. | 45–75 mL | Top up before bed |
That plan lands near 360–600 mL for the day. Slide each feed up or down within the range that fits your baby’s weight target and cues. Night stretches may grow; shift volume toward the daytime as naps settle.
Practical Tips For Safer, Easier Feeds
- Mix formula exactly as the label says. Use the right scoop, level it off, and use safe water as directed on the can.
- Make fresh bottles for the next feed window. Discard any milk left in the bottle after the feed.
- Hold the baby upright during and for a short time after a feed. Gentle burps help.
- Keep nipples sized for age. If milk pours fast or baby coughs, try a slower flow.
- Track diapers in the first weeks. About six or more wets a day after the early days is a good sign.
- Do not microwave bottles. Warm with a bowl of warm water and test on your wrist.
- If mixing breast milk and formula in one bottle, add the measured formula to water first, then pour in expressed milk so you don’t change the ratio.
How To Calculate Feeds From The Daily Total
Use this three-step method during the hectic first weeks.
Step 1: Get today’s weight. Use kilograms if you can; pounds also work.
Step 2: Set a daily range. Multiply kilograms by 150 and 200. Or multiply pounds by 75. That gives a lower and upper target for the full day.
Step 3: Divide by feeds. Newborns often eat 8–12 times per day. Pick a starting number and split the daily total across those feeds. Keep each feed within the age-based range above. Adjust as your baby shows hunger or fullness.
Example: Your baby weighs 3.2 kg. Daily target is 480–640 mL. If you plan ten feeds, that lands near 48–64 mL per feed. If the baby stops at 50 mL with fullness cues, that’s fine. If the baby drains 60 mL and stays eager, offer a little more next time while staying inside the daily total.
What If My Newborn Was Early Or Small?
Preterm babies and babies with medical needs often follow a different plan. Hospitals track milliliters closely and may use fortified milk or higher-calorie formulas. When you go home, keep using the plan you received from the neonatal team. If your baby was born early, growth checks are usually more frequent, and small changes in volume can matter. Write down volumes, diapers, and any spit-ups so your team can review patterns.
Signs The Amount Is Just Right
- Your baby wakes with hunger cues, feeds well, then relaxes.
- Weight gain follows the curve your clinic tracks.
- About six or more wet diapers per day after the first few days.
- Stools turn from dark meconium to yellow and soft by the end of week one.
- Between feeds, your baby has calm spells and sleeps well for age.
- Feeds finish without long coughing fits, choking, or arching.
Common Myths About Formula Volume
“My baby must finish every bottle.” Babies know when they’re done. Leave a little milk if cues say stop.
“A bigger bottle at bedtime makes longer sleep.” Overfilling a bedtime bottle tends to cause spit-ups and discomfort. Better sleep comes with steady daytime intake and soothing routines.
“Thickening bottles fixes spit-ups.” Thickening can raise choking risk and may hide reflux. Bring reflux worries to your pediatrician and ask about safer steps first.
“More milk always means faster growth.” Overfeeding can lead to discomfort and more vomiting. Let the growth chart tell the story over weeks, not days.
When Volumes Need A Tweak
Nudge intake up when diapers drop, weight stalls, or hunger signs return soon after most feeds. Try small changes first, such as adding 5–10 mL to several feeds or adding one more feed over the day. If volumes seem high and spit-ups increase, slow the pace, offer more pauses, and see if the baby still seeks that last portion. Keep your daily total inside the weight-based range unless your pediatrician has set a special goal.
Real-World Way To Spread Feeds
Many families like a simple pattern: three feeds overnight, three in the morning to mid-day, and two to three in the late afternoon and evening. That gives time for naps and a calmer bedtime routine. If your baby sleeps a long stretch at night, slide more of the daily volume into the daytime while keeping each feed within the per-feed range for age. Watch cues and adjust.
Main Points
- Week one: 30–60 mL per feed is common.
- Daily total: about 150–200 mL per kilogram or 75 mL per pound.
- Many babies take 8–12 feeds a day at first, then move toward every three to four hours.
- Cap daily intake near 960 mL unless your pediatrician sets a higher plan.
- Follow the baby’s cues; bottles do not need to be empty.