Most full-term newborns drink about 150–200 ml per kg of body weight in 24 hours after the first week, with smaller, frequent feeds in the first days.
Daily Intake In Plain Terms
Newborn feeding looks different on day one than it does by the end of week one. Early on, tiny bellies take in teaspoons at a time, then intake rises fast over several days. After that first week, a good everyday target lands in a weight-based range per 24 hours. The common range used in clinics runs 150 to 200 milliliters per kilogram of body weight each day. Feed on cues, not the clock, and let your baby set the pace at the breast or bottle.
How Many Milliliters Should A Newborn Drink Per Day — By Weight
A handy rule many pediatric teams share is this: about 75 milliliters per pound of body weight in a day for formula-fed babies, which equals roughly 165 milliliters per kilogram. Since babies vary, caregivers often work within a band of 150 to 200 milliliters per kilogram per day after the first week. To use it, take your baby’s weight, multiply by a number in that band, and split the result across the day.
Example math: a 3.5 kilogram newborn at 170 milliliters per kilogram equals 595 milliliters in 24 hours. If your baby takes ten feeds in a day, that averages about 60 milliliters per feed. Real life swings around that average, and that’s normal.
Daily Milk Targets By Weight (After Week One)
| Baby Weight (kg) | 150 ml/kg/day | 200 ml/kg/day |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | 375 ml | 500 ml |
| 3.0 | 450 ml | 600 ml |
| 3.5 | 525 ml | 700 ml |
| 4.0 | 600 ml | 800 ml |
| 4.5 | 675 ml | 900 ml |
Choose the lower end if your baby prefers many small feeds or is petite. Choose the upper end during growth spurts or if your baby shows steady hunger cues after complete feeds.
Breastfeeding And Formula: What Changes
You can’t see milliliters at the breast, so watch the pattern instead. Most babies nurse eight to twelve times in 24 hours, and spacing often stretches as weeks pass. See the CDC guidance on breastfeeding frequency for a clear overview of what normal looks like. With bottles, the same cue-based approach still wins. That said, bottles make it easy to overshoot, so use paced bottle feeding and pause for burps.
Signs Baby Is Getting Enough
- Eight to twelve feeds in a day with rhythmic swallowing at the breast or bottle.
- Back to birth weight by day ten to fourteen, then steady gains.
- Plenty of wet diapers and regular stools for age.
- Soft hands, relaxed body, and content mood after feeds.
Per-Feed Amounts Across The First Weeks
On day one, the tummy holds only a teaspoon or two. By day two to three, single feeds reach a few tablespoons. By day seven, many babies take small shot-glass sized feeds. These shifts match the move from colostrum to mature milk and the rise in formula volumes.
Signs To Slow Down The Bottle
- Frequent spit-ups, arching, or gurgly hiccups right after feeds.
- Milk pooling at the lips or dribbling out around the nipple.
- Very short gaps between feeds paired with gassiness and fuss.
- Rapid jumps in daily volume with unsettled sleep.
Try a slower nipple, sit your baby more upright, and pace the feed with brief pauses. Stop when you see relaxed hands and slower, satisfied sucking.
Practical Math: Ounces To Milliliters
Many charts list ounces. One US fluid ounce is about 30 milliliters. The AAP family guidance also shares a simple rule for bottles: about two and a half ounces of formula per pound in 24 hours. That equals 75 milliliters per pound. If your baby weighs 8 pounds, the ballpark is 20 ounces in a day, or about 600 milliliters. Pick a spot in the range that fits your baby’s cues.
Keep a short log for two or three days. If daily totals stay within the band and diapers, mood, and weight checks look good, you’re on track. If totals fall far below the band or jump far above it, bring the log to your baby’s doctor for tailored advice.
Newborn Daily ML Intake — Age Guide
Here’s a practical view of per-feed amounts across the first month. Use it as a range, not a quota. Babies have light days and hungry days. Your job is to offer often and stop when the signs say full.
Hunger And Fullness Cues You Can Trust
Watch the body, not the clock. Early hunger cues include rooting, hand-to-mouth motions, lip smacking, and gentle fussing. Late cues include hard crying and a stiff body. Fullness shows up as slower sucks, turning the head away, relaxed fists, and a calm face. Offer when you see early cues and stop when the signs say full. This keeps intake inside a healthy daily range without counting every milliliter.
Diaper Output Benchmarks
Output is a friendly cross-check. Expect at least one wet diaper on day one, two on day two, and so on, reaching six or more wets by day five. Stools start dark and sticky, then turn mustard-yellow once milk moves in. Some babies stool after every feed; others space it out. If wets fall off or stools stay dark past the early days, call your baby’s doctor.
Night Feeds And Cluster Feeding
Short bursts of frequent nursing in the evening are common. This pattern, called cluster feeding, often shows up during growth spurts. It can be tiring, but it helps babies meet daily intake without giant bottles. Keep the night scene calm, keep lights low, and rest during the day when you can.
Paced Bottle Feeding In Four Steps
Set Up
Hold your baby close, tummy to tummy, and keep the bottle more horizontal than vertical. A slow-flow nipple helps match the natural rhythm.
Pause Often
Let your baby take ten to twenty sucks, then tip the bottle down for a breath. Watch for swallowing and steady, relaxed breathing.
Switch Sides
Halfway through, switch arms. This mimics the breast and gives a fresh view for your baby.
Stop On Cues
End the feed when hands uncurl and sucking slows, even if the bottle isn’t empty. Rinse and store the rest safely.
Common Missteps That Skew Intake
- Moving to a faster nipple too soon, which can push more milk than your baby wants.
- Propping bottles or feeding while your baby is lying flat.
- Stretching time between feeds to “make room,” which can backfire.
- Fixating on one number and ignoring cues, diapers, and growth.
Sample Day For A 3.5 Kg Newborn
Here’s one way a day might look using the mid-range target near 600–650 milliliters. Amounts can float feed to feed; follow cues and stop when full.
- 6:00 — 65 ml
- 8:00 — 60 ml
- 10:00 — 60 ml
- 12:00 — 65 ml
- 14:00 — 60 ml
- 16:00 — 65 ml
- 18:00 — 60 ml (cluster window may add an extra small feed)
- 20:00 — 65 ml
- 23:00 — 60 ml
- 3:00 — 60 ml
Total lands near 620–660 milliliters, right in the weight-based band. Your pattern may have more night feeds and smaller daytime feeds, or the reverse. Both can be fine.
Weigh-In And Growth Check Tips
Use the same scale each time. Weigh your baby without bulky clothes. Do it at a similar time of day twice a week in the early weeks. Log the number next to the day’s total intake and diaper counts. Share the trend with your baby’s doctor during routine visits or sooner if you’re worried about gains.
Keep It Flexible
The math helps set guardrails; your baby provides the real-time data. Use weight-based daily targets, watch cues, and let volume breathe day to day. Over a week, the trend matters more than any single bottle. If stress creeps in, take a breath, offer skin-to-skin, and reset. Calm, frequent feeds work better than chasing exact milliliters at every sitting. You’re both learning. Together.
Typical Per-Feed Amounts And Daily Totals
| Age | Per Feed (ml) | Approx Daily Total (ml) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5–7 | 40–84 (8–12 feeds) |
| Day 2–3 | 22–27 | 176–324 (8–12 feeds) |
| Day 4–6 | 30–45 | 240–540 (8–12 feeds) |
| Week 1–2 | 45–60 | 360–720 (8–12 feeds) |
| Week 3–4 | 60–90 | 480–900 (8–10 feeds) |
These ranges reflect normal stomach capacity growth and usual feeding frequency. They line up with the move into the 150–200 ml/kg/day band by the end of week one.
When Numbers Shift
Expect swings during growth spurts, hot days, or busy vaccine weeks. Short clusters at the breast or a few bigger bottles can pop up, then settle. Watch diapers, comfort, and weight checks to see the trend.
Special Situations
Early Or Small Babies
Preterm or small babies may work on different daily targets. Some teams start closer to 160–180 milliliters per kilogram per day and adjust with careful follow-up. Always follow the plan from your neonatal team.
Medical Concerns
Jaundice, tongue-tie, reflux, or low supply can shift intake. If your baby struggles to latch, tires during feeds, or has poor gains, ask your pediatrician or a lactation specialist for help.
Simple Plan For Today
- Weigh your baby to the nearest tenth of a kilogram.
- Pick a daily target in the 150–200 milliliters per kilogram band.
- Divide that number by 8–12 to get a starting per-feed amount.
- Offer on early hunger cues; stop at satiety cues.
- Log feeds and diapers for a few days and review the pattern with your baby’s doctor if needed.
When To Call The Doctor
Contact your baby’s doctor fast if feeds drop below six in a day, if there are fewer than six wet diapers after day five, if vomits are forceful and frequent, or if your baby seems sleepy at the breast or bottle and hard to rouse. Reach out too if birth weight is not back by day ten to fourteen.