Most newborns take tiny feeds at first—then about 150–200 ml per kg per day by the end of week one, spread across 8–12 feeds.
Why This Question Matters
New babies don’t follow a clock or a strict bottle chart. In the first days the goal is steady, frequent feeds, not chasing big numbers. That said, ballpark ml targets help you set up bottles, read cues, and stay calm through the early blur. The ranges below reflect common patterns in healthy, term babies. Use them as a guide, not a test. If your little one asks for more, offer more. If they turn away and relax, stop and try again later.
Quick Age Guide In Ml
The first week brings the fastest shifts. Colostrum starts in drops, then volumes climb as milk supply rises and a bottle-fed baby’s stomach stretches. Treat this table as a living guide. If baby cues sooner, feed sooner. If they pause, let them pause.
| Age | Per Feed (ml) | Typical Feeds/24h |
|---|---|---|
| Birth–Day 1 | 2–10 | 8–12 |
| Day 1–2 | 5–15 | 8–12 |
| Day 2–3 | 15–30 | 8–12 |
| Day 3–4 | 30–60 | 8–12 |
| Day 5–7 | 45–75 | 8–12 |
| Week 2–3 | 60–90 | 7–10 |
| Around 1 Month | 90–120 | 6–8 |
Those early ml numbers can feel tiny. They match a small stomach and energy needs right after birth. Feeds look frequent because baby digests fast and wakes for more. You’re building supply with every latch or bottle. Short sessions count. So do calm, rhythmic swallows and relaxed hands after feeding.
How Many Ml Should A Newborn Drink Per Day?
Daily volume shifts with size, age, and feeding method. A simple weight rule works well for formula: about 150 to 200 ml per kilogram of body weight per day. Said another way, roughly 75 ml per pound per day. Split that across 8 to 12 feeds in week one and early week two, then across fewer, larger feeds later. For details on bottle amounts by age, see the AAP guidance on formula volumes.
Weight-Based Formula Rule
Pick a weight, multiply by 150 to 200, and you have a day range in ml. Example: a 3.2 kg baby needs about 480 to 640 ml in 24 hours. Divide by expected feeds. If you plan ten feeds, that’s about 48 to 64 ml per feed. Start near the middle. If baby still roots and sucks strongly after a brief pause, offer a bit more. If baby slows, hands open, and the tongue pushes milk out, stop and burp.
Breastfeeding Reality: Intake You Can’t See
With direct breastfeeding you won’t see ml lines. That’s normal. Aim for 8 to 12 feeds in 24 hours, including nights, and expect clusters at times. Watch for deep jaw drops and steady swallows. After feeds, many babies look calm, with relaxed fingers and a soft body. You can confirm progress with diaper counts and weight checks at visits. For feed frequency norms, see the CDC breastfeeding frequency guidance.
Paced Bottle Feeding To Match Baby’s Pace
Using bottles with breast milk or formula? Keep feeds unrushed. Hold the bottle more horizontal so flow is gentler. Offer pauses every few minutes and switch sides halfway through. This pacing lets baby lead, improves comfort, and lowers the chance of overfeeding just to “finish the bottle.” It also mirrors the rhythm at the breast, which can protect latch and reduce gulping air.
Day-By-Day Stomach Capacity
A newborn tummy is small at birth, about a few teaspoons at a time, then grows fast over the first week. That’s why the per-feed range jumps from low double digits to a few sips shy of 60 ml by day four. Seeing this curve helps when early feeds look short but frequent. You’re meeting needs in small, frequent steps while supply and stomach size grow together.
Hunger And Fullness Cues You Can Trust
Early hunger looks like stirring, hand-to-mouth, lip smacking, or rooting. Crying is a late sign. Offer the breast or bottle at those first cues when you can. Fullness shows up as slower sucking, open hands, turning away, milk pooling at the lips, or dozing off after a calm release. Let baby stop. A clean bottle isn’t the goal; a comfortable, satisfied baby is. If spit-ups spike or baby seems tense at the end, try smaller portions with an extra feed in the cycle.
Night Feeds, Cluster Feeds, And Growth Spurts
Most newborns wake to feed overnight. That pattern supports milk production and total intake. Some evenings bring back-to-back short feeds called cluster feeding. Short bursts don’t point to low milk; they often mean baby is tanking up for a longer stretch later. During growth spurts, many babies nudge both frequency and per-feed volume. Go with the cues. The daily total and steady gains are what count.
Diapers And Growth: Simple Safety Checks
By days five to seven, most babies pass at least six pale wet diapers in 24 hours, with loose yellow stools three or more times a day. Those are strong signs that intake is on track. Steady weight gain after day four to five is a clear green light. If your baby has fewer than six wets after day five, dark urine, hard stools, poor energy, or ongoing weight loss, call the doctor and feed more often while you sort it out. Sooner calls are welcome if you’re worried.
Bottle Sizes And Daily Targets In Ml
Here are example day targets using the weight rule. Treat them as ranges. Some feeds will land under, some over, and that’s fine. If baby stays hungry after paced breaks, add 10 to 20 ml at the next feed. If baby spits up large amounts or looks tense, scale back slightly and add a small extra feed.
| Weight (kg) | Day Range 150 ml/kg | Day Range 200 ml/kg |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 375 ml | 500 ml |
| 3.0 | 450 ml | 600 ml |
| 3.5 | 525 ml | 700 ml |
| 4.0 | 600 ml | 800 ml |
To turn a day range into bottle sizes, divide by planned feeds. A 3.0 kg baby taking nine feeds would average 50 to 67 ml per feed. A 3.5 kg baby taking eight feeds would average 66 to 88 ml per feed. It’s fine if mornings run bigger and late-evening cluster bottles run smaller. Aim for a calm, content baby across the full day, not a perfect number at each session.
Adjustments For Special Situations
Babies born early, babies with jaundice, tongue-tie, reflux worries, or babies under the second percentile for weight may need tailored plans. Your team might ask for scheduled feeds, pre- and post-feed weights, or measured top-ups. Follow those directions first. Once weight and energy look steady, slide back to cue-based feeding and the ranges above. If a bottle seems to push fast flow, try a slower nipple and paced breaks.
Practical Tips That Make Ml Make Sense
- Set small bottle portions in the first week, then scale up as cues and daily totals rise.
- If you pump, store 30–60 ml portions to cut waste while intake is still ramping.
- Offer skin-to-skin each day; it steadies cues and often boosts milk transfer.
- Burp halfway and at the end to ease gas and leave room for the next feed.
- Track feeds and diapers for a few days; then drop the log once patterns feel steady.
Sample Day Plan You Can Tweak
Say baby weighs 3.4 kg. The daily range is 510 to 680 ml. If feeds land about ten times a day, each feed averages 50 to 68 ml. In practice, morning feeds may run bigger and late-evening cluster feeds smaller. If a bottle finishes fast and baby still cues, add a small top-up. If a bottle drags and baby dozes off with open hands, stop and try again when cues return. The full-day total and comfort between feeds matter far more than any single bottle line.
When Amounts Can Safely Rise
Intake usually steps up around week two and again near weeks four to six. You might see longer stretches at night and larger daytime bottles. Formula-fed babies often settle near 24 to 32 ounces a day by two to three months, which is about 710 to 950 ml. Watch diapers, mood, and weight at visits. If all three look good, your volumes are working for your baby.
When To Call The Doctor About Intake
Phone sooner if baby is hard to wake for feeds, has fewer than six wets after day five, shows deep jaundice, breathes fast during feeds, coughs often at the bottle, or vomits forcefully more than once. Early checks fix small feeding snags before they snowball. No parent ever “bothers” the clinic by asking about feeds.