How Many ML Of Milk For A Newborn? | Calm Feeding Guide

New parents ask this on day one, hour one. Tiny tummies grow fast, and the right amount shifts across the first days and weeks. Numbers help, but your baby’s cues tell the real story. The goal here: clear ranges for breast and formula, a simple weight rule, and easy checks that show feeding is on track.

How Many Milliliters Of Milk For Newborns By Day

Volumes ramp up quickly as colostrum gives way to mature milk. Use the table as a practical map, then follow your baby’s cues.

Age	Per Feed (mL)	Feeds/24 h
Day 1	2–10	8–12
Day 2	5–15	8–12
Days 3–4	15–60	8–12
Days 5–7	45–90	8–12
Weeks 2–3	60–90	7–10
Week 4	60–120	6–9

On bottles, the AAP guidance says the first week sits around 30–60 mL per feed. Breastfed babies often land in a similar range but may “cluster feed,” stacking short feeds close together. That pattern is normal and helps milk supply settle in.

Breastfeeding Volumes, Cues, And Frequency

Expect 8–12 feeds through 24 hours in the early days. Some sessions are long, some are quick “snacks.” Watch the baby, not the clock.

• Hunger looks like: stirring, rooting, hands-to-mouth, soft fussing. Crying is a late sign.
• Full looks like: relaxed hands, slower sucks, letting go, content drowsiness.
• What you’ll hear: quiet swallows once milk is flowing.

If latching hurts, reach out early to a lactation specialist. A comfortable latch usually brings steady swallows and better transfer.

Formula Feeding Volumes Without Overdoing It

Offer small, steady feeds at first: 30–60 mL every 2–3 hours, then increase as cues and growth allow. Use paced bottle feeding so your baby sets the tempo.

• Hold the baby upright; keep the bottle more horizontal; pause for breaths.
• Use a slow-flow teat; don’t push a bottle to “finish.”
• Burp during the midway pause and again at the end.
• Mix exactly as the tin states; safe prep matters.

After the first week, many babies reach a daily total near 150 mL per kilogram of body weight—some need a bit more, some less. You’ll see this weight-based range on the NHS pages about bottle feeds. Here’s the direct line to the figure: 150–200 mL/kg/day.

Daily Milk In ML By Weight (Handy Rule)

The 150 mL/kg/day rule gives a clean ballpark once you’re past the early first days. Think of it as a ceiling you adjust with cues and weight gain. A few quick demonstrations make it real:

• 2.8 kg baby → 2.8 × 150 = 420 mL across 24 hours.
• 3.2 kg baby → 3.2 × 150 = 480 mL across 24 hours.
• 4.0 kg baby → 4.0 × 150 = 600 mL across 24 hours.

Weight (kg)	Daily Total @ 150 mL/kg	Per Feed (8 feeds)
2.5	375 mL	~45–55 mL
3.0	450 mL	~55–65 mL
3.5	525 mL	~65–75 mL
4.0	600 mL	~70–85 mL
4.5	675 mL	~80–95 mL

Those per-feed ranges assume about eight feeds. If your baby prefers ten smaller feeds, the per-feed amount slides down; if six larger feeds, it slides up. Responsive feeding handles those shifts without fuss.

What Changes From Colostrum To Mature Milk

Colostrum drips in tiny but mighty amounts across the first couple of days. That’s why day-1 and day-2 volumes look small. As the milk “comes in” around days 2–4, the per-feed numbers rise, babies stay fuller between feeds, and nappies get heavier. You may feel breast fullness or tingling as let-down starts; both are common.

If breasts feel rock-hard, try a warm compress and gentle massage, then hand-express a teaspoon or two so the baby can latch more deeply. That small step can prevent sore nipples and helps transfer the milk sitting just behind the nipple.

Bottle Size And Flow Matter More Than You Think

A big bottle invites a big pour. In week 1, stick with smaller bottles and slow-flow teats. Many newborns take longer pauses than caregivers expect. Short breaks during a feed protect against overfeeding and lower spit-up.

Simple Paced Bottle Steps

1. Sit the baby more upright; tip the bottle just enough to fill the teat tip.
2. Let the baby draw the teat in; don’t push.
3. Count ten sucks, then tip the bottle down to pause; swap sides to mimic the breast.
4. Watch for relaxed hands and slower sucks as satiety builds; stop there.

Adjusting Volumes For Sleepy Or Small Babies

Some newborns snooze through cues, especially in the first days. If three hours pass by day, offer a feed. Gentle rousing works well: un-swaddle, hold skin-to-skin, change the nappy, then try again. Preterm or small babies often need tighter spacing and smaller, more frequent feeds for a while. Your team may set a plan that includes weight checks and extra skin-to-skin time.

Growth Spurts And Temporary Volume Jumps

Many families notice clusters around days 7–10 and again near weeks 2–3. Intake may spike for a day or two, then settle. Trust the pattern: plenty of wets, content periods after feeds, and steady weight tell you the extra rounds are paying off.

Spit-Up, Reflux, And When To Worry

Spit-up happens. Clear, milky dribbles that don’t bother the baby are usually harmless. Projectile vomiting, green or bloody vomit, a swollen belly, or poor wets are red flags that need same-day care. If spit-up is frequent, keep the baby upright 20–30 minutes after feeds, use smaller volumes more often, and burp with gentle lifts rather than firm pats.

Expressed Milk: How Measured Feeds Fit In

Pumped milk gives you a beaker full of hard numbers, yet the same cues still rule. Start with the table ranges and the weight rule, then adjust. A baby might take 60 mL at one feed and 85 mL at the next, depending on sleep, activity, or a growth spurt. If leftovers are constant, drop the pour by 5–10 mL and watch comfort and wets.

Night Feeds And Daytime Rhythm

Most newborns need night feeds. A gentle daytime rhythm helps nights run smoother. Aim for frequent daytime feeds so long gaps don’t pile up late. A rough day might look like feeds around 6 am, 8:30, 11, 1:30, 4, 6:30, 9, and a dream feed around 11. Your pattern will vary; use cues to tweak the spacing.

Reading Bottles And Nipples For Clues

Leaks at the corners of the mouth often mean the teat is too fast or too large. Lots of gulping with a furrowed brow says the flow is racing. Switch to a slower teat and bring back pauses. If feeds stretch past 40 minutes with tiny intakes, try a fresh teat or check for a shallow latch if nursing.

When Volumes Dip For A Feed

Short feeds happen. Sleepiness, gas, a noisy room, or a stuffy nose can all trim intake. Offer the breast or bottle again after a short break. If several feeds in a row are short and wets drop, that’s a sign to call your doctor.

Track What Matters

For the first couple of weeks, jot down start times, which side you nursed last, bottle mLs, and nappies. You’ll spot patterns fast: a cluster window, a sleepy stretch, or the bottle size that always runs long. Bring the log to check-ups so growth and intake line up on one page.

Safety Quick-Checks

• Always hold your baby for feeds. No bottle propping.
• Check formula prep directions every time; stick to the scoop-to-water ratio.
• Discard any milk left standing at room temp beyond the safe window you follow.
• Keep teats and bottles clean and dry between uses.

One Sample Day Using The Ranges

Here’s a plain snapshot for a 3.2 kg newborn in week 2 using responsive feeding. It isn’t a script, just a way to picture how the numbers spread through the day while you still let cues lead.

• 06:00 – Wake and feed ~70–80 mL; nappy change; brief burp and cuddle.
• 08:30 – Hungry again; ~60–70 mL with a mid-feed pause.
• 11:00 – ~60–75 mL; longer nap follows.
• 13:30 – ~60–70 mL; quick walk or fresh air helps wake for the next feed.
• 16:00 – ~70–80 mL; more frequent burps if air swallowing shows up.
• 18:30 – Cluster window starts; two shorter feeds of ~45–60 mL spaced 60–90 minutes apart.
• 21:00 – ~60–75 mL; dim lights and quiet room to ease settling.
• 23:00 – Dream feed ~50–70 mL, then up once or twice overnight as cues appear.

Total lands near the 480 mL daily ballpark that the 150 mL/kg rule suggests, yet each feed flexes with naps, wake times, and diapers. If the day skews light, the next day often balances out. The log helps you see that gentle rise and fall without chasing perfection.

Milk In ML For Newborns: Quick Recap

• Day 1: 2–10 mL per feed, about 8–12 times.
• Day 2: 5–15 mL per feed, still 8–12 times.
• Days 3–4: 15–60 mL per feed as milk rises.
• End of week 1: 45–90 mL per feed; cluster feeds are common.
• Weeks 2–3: 60–90 mL per feed, 7–10 feeds.
• By week 4: many land near 60–120 mL per feed with 6–9 feeds.
• Weight rule once past the first days: near 150 mL/kg/day, adjusted by cues and growth.

You’ve got this. Ranges are here to guide; your baby will handle the fine-tuning.

Feed the baby you see, not the clock; use the ranges, watch nappies and mood, and let steady weight checks confirm you’re right where you need to.