Newborn milk per feed: first 24–48 hours about 5–15 mL; day 3–7, 30–60 mL; by 2–4 weeks 60–90 mL, with 8–12 feeds daily.
How Many MLs Per Feed For A Newborn: Day-By-Day Guide
The amount shifts fast in the first two weeks. A tiny belly needs small, frequent feeds. As supply and appetite build, volumes rise. Use the ranges below as a starting point while watching your baby’s cues.
Breastfed and formula-fed babies can sit in the same ballpark for per-feed mLs in the early days. Frequency matters more than a single big bottle. Responsive feeding keeps intake on track.
| Age | Typical Per-Feed mL | Feeds/24 h |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 hours | 5–10 mL | 8–12+ |
| 24–48 hours | 5–15 mL | 8–12+ |
| Day 3–4 | 15–30 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 5–7 | 30–60 mL | 8–12 |
| Week 2 | 45–75 mL | 8–12 |
| Weeks 3–4 | 60–90 mL | 7–10 |
These figures line up with clinical charts that show small colostrum volumes on day one and steady increases through week two. The Cleveland Clinic day-by-day guide and the AAP formula schedule map similar ranges across the first month.
If your newborn wakes, roots, and settles well at the breast or bottle, that small first-day volume does the job. Colostrum is thick and packed with energy. As milk changes and tummy size grows, each feed gets a little bigger while the number of feeds stays high.
Breastfeeding Versus Formula: What Changes The mLs
Breastfeeding Patterns
Breastfed newborns tend to take smaller, frequent feeds. Milk moves through the gut faster. Night feeds are common. Cluster feeding in the evening can bunch several small feeds close together. That flurry signals your body to make more milk.
Formula Patterns
Formula digests a bit slower. Some babies stretch to about every 3–4 hours after the first week. The AAP notes many babies reach 90–120 mL per bottle by the end of the first month, while total daily intake often stays at or under about 950 mL (32 oz). Bottle size should fit the stage; oversized bottles can nudge overfeeding.
Same Rule For Both
Watch the baby, not the clock. Offer when early hunger signs show, pause when fullness cues appear, and expect days with more feeds and days with fewer. Short growth spurts can lift appetite for a day or two.
Hunger And Fullness Cues To Set The Right Amount
Early Hunger Cues
- Stirring, eyes moving under lids, hand-to-mouth.
- Rooting or turning toward the breast or bottle.
- Soft sounds, gentle fussing.
Late Hunger Signs
- Strong crying.
- Frantic movements that make latching or bottle starts harder.
Fullness Cues
- Slower sucking with longer pauses.
- Relaxed hands and arms, milk pooling at the lips.
- Turning away from the nipple or pushing it out.
Letting a baby set the pace helps match mLs to need. Many newborns reach eight to twelve feeds in 24 hours. That count, paired with good diaper output and steady weight, shows intake is on track.
mL To Ounce Quick Math
Most bottles show both mL and ounces, but tiny lines can trick the eye during a busy feed. This cheat sheet keeps the math easy.
- 30 mL = 1 oz
- 45 mL = 1.5 oz
- 60 mL = 2 oz
- 75 mL = 2.5 oz
- 90 mL = 3 oz
- 120 mL = 4 oz
Reading Bottle Markings
Set the bottle on a flat surface to check the line at eye level. Some brands mark in 5 mL steps, others in 10 mL steps. When mixing formula, measure water first, then add powder as labeled for your brand. A strong mix or a weak mix can upset a baby’s tummy.
If you pump, label each bottle with date and mLs, store new milk behind older milk, and use the smallest size that meets your baby’s usual feed. Warm gently, swirl to mix fat, and discard leftovers from a finished feed. These small habits keep intake clear and help prevent tummy upset. Avoid reheating the same bottle twice.
Bottle Tips To Match The Right mLs
Use Paced Bottle Feeding
Hold the bottle more horizontal so milk flows steadily, not fast. Let the baby pause to breathe and rest. Swap sides midway to mirror a breast switch. These steps cut gulping air and help the baby notice fullness.
Pick The Right Nipple Flow
Newborns often start with a slow-flow nipple. Signs a flow is too fast include coughing, milk leaking from the mouth, and feeds that finish in a few minutes. Signs it is too slow include working hard with little transfer and long, tiring feeds.
Burp And Re-Offer
Pause for a burp when sucking slows. After the burp, offer the nipple again. If the baby restarts with good rhythm, a little more may help. If baby turns away, stop. For spit-up, smaller, steadier volumes with an upright hold often work better than one large feed.
Common Overfeeding Traps
- Using a large, full bottle in the first weeks.
- Keeping the bottle tipped high so milk pours fast.
- Pressuring a baby to finish the last few mLs “so it doesn’t go to waste.”
Switching to a smaller bottle for the first month and pacing each feed helps avoid these traps.
Night And Day Patterns In The First Month
Many newborns bunch feeds overnight in the first two weeks. That pattern often stretches by weeks three to four. Daytime naps can stack close to feeds at first and then spread out. If your baby sleeps longer than four to five hours in the first weeks and skips feeds, wake for a feed and then let the next nap run a bit shorter.
A gentle cycle helps: light and play during the day, dim and calm at night, feeds on cue around the clock. You may notice one larger feed in the late evening and one smaller “snack” near dawn. Both are fine as long as the daily totals and diaper counts add up.
When Less Or More mLs Are Expected
Normal Dips And Bumps
Sleepy first days after birth, a long car ride, or a new routine can shave a feed or two. Teething later on can do the same. Short spurts of frequent feeding are also normal as intake rises ahead of a growth wave.
When Needs Run Lower
Preterm or smaller babies may tire sooner and do better with modest mLs more often. Babies with reflux may also prefer smaller portions. In these cases, steady pacing and extra time for burping can help comfort without pushing large volumes.
When Needs Run Higher
Rapid gain weeks, hot weather, and vaccine days can raise thirst and hunger. Offer an extra feed if cues point that way. A brief lift in daily intake is common and settles on its own.
Practical Checks That Your mLs Are On Track
Diaper Counts
By day five and beyond, many babies wet about six or more diapers in 24 hours. Stools often shift from dark meconium to mustard-yellow by the end of the first week in breastfed babies; formula stools may be tan or brown. Patterns vary, but sudden drops in wet diapers are a reason to call your doctor.
Weight Trends
A small drop after birth is common. Many babies regain birth weight by two weeks. After that, steady gain is the sign that intake matches need. Weight checks with your clinic keep this simple and clear.
Comfort During Feeds
Calm, rhythmic sucking and relaxed hands point to a good flow and a good match of mLs. Frequent arching, coughing, or hard belly after feeds may call for slower flow, more pauses, or smaller portions spread across the day.
Sample Volumes By Age (Per Feed And Per Day)
Use this quick chart to map per-feed ranges and a common daily target for formula. Breastfed babies often fall within similar per-feed ranges, but daily intake can vary more because feed size shifts across the day.
| Age | Per-Feed mL (Range) | Formula Daily Total |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 week | 5–60 mL | Up to ~480 mL |
| 2–4 weeks | 60–90 mL | ~480–720 mL |
| 1–2 months | 75–120 mL | ~600–950 mL |
Another way to estimate formula is by weight: many care plans use around 150–200 mL per kilogram per day in the early months. Split that total by the number of feeds your baby takes. The number is a guide, not a target to force at every feed.
When To Call Your Pediatrician
- Fewer than six wet diapers a day after day five.
- No stool for more than 24 hours in the first two weeks, or hard, pellet-like stools.
- Ongoing vomiting, green vomit, or signs of dehydration such as a dry mouth or a sunken soft spot.
- Poor latch or weak suck that does not improve with position changes.
- Sleepiness so strong that feeds are hard to start or finish.
- No weight gain or continued weight loss after the first 10–14 days.
Your care team can tailor volumes, pacing, and follow-up to your baby’s needs.
Simple Feeding Log That Works
A short log can calm the guesswork in the first weeks. Jot the start time, which side you offered first if nursing, or the bottle mLs offered and taken. Add a quick note on diapers and any spit-up. You do not need a perfect chart; two days of notes often reveal a pattern. If a baby is sleepy, a note helps you plan a brighter room or a diaper change before the next feed. If evenings run fussy, you may plan an extra paced bottle or an extra nursing session during that window.
Bring the notes to appointments; they make tweaks clear when weight gain stalls, diapers drop, or feeds feel tougher than usual lately.