Newborn formula: start 30–60 mL every 2–3 hours; by week 1 aim for ~150–200 mL/kg/day; by 1 month many take 90–120 mL per feed.
For detailed advice, see the AAP’s feeding schedule and the CDC’s how-much-and-how-often page.
Newborn Bottle Volumes At A Glance
Newborn stomachs are tiny. In the first days, most babies manage 30–60 mL per feed, then build up fast over the first month. Feeding on cue keeps things simple. If your baby turns away, relaxes their hands, or dozes, the bottle can come out. If they root, suck their hands, or stay alert, offer more.
How Many MLs Of Formula For A Newborn Per Feed?
Day 0–1: 30–40 mL per feed every 2–3 hours suits most babies. Days 2–3: 30–60 mL per feed is common, still every 2–3 hours. Days 4–6: many move toward 45–75 mL per feed. By week 2–3: 60–90 mL per feed feels right for many families, often every 3 hours. By the end of month 1: many take 90–120 mL per feed about 6–8 times per day.
These are ballpark ranges. Some babies sip; others take a full bottle. Watch your baby, not the clock. If a feed runs long, pause for a burp, offer again, then stop when signs of fullness show.
Use Body Weight To Plan Daily MLs
A handy guide from pediatric groups is 150–200 mL per kilogram of body weight per day during the early months. It’s a range, not a target, and your baby may sit anywhere inside it. Another rule some parents hear is 2½ ounces per pound per day, which maps closely to the same range when converted to metric.
| Baby Weight | 150 mL/kg | 200 mL/kg |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 kg | 375 mL/day | 500 mL/day |
| 3.0 kg | 450 mL/day | 600 mL/day |
| 3.5 kg | 525 mL/day | 700 mL/day |
| 4.0 kg | 600 mL/day | 800 mL/day |
| 4.5 kg | 675 mL/day | 900 mL/day |
| 5.0 kg | 750 mL/day | 1000 mL/day |
Feeding Rhythm: Hours, Cues, And Sleep
In the first days, offer a bottle every 2–3 hours. By the end of the first month, many babies settle into feeds every 3–4 hours. If a newborn sleeps past 4–5 hours in week one and misses feeds, wake for a bottle. Short, frequent feeds are normal early on. Longer stretches come later.
Cues help you time things: rooting, lip smacking, and hand-to-mouth say, “I’m hungry.” Turning away, sealing lips, or relaxed hands say, “All done.” Crying is late; offering before tears keeps feeds calmer.
Age-Based Per-Feed Guide
Use this age guide as a quick check. Match it with weight-based daily totals and your baby’s cues. If your baby wants more after finishing a bottle, offer a little extra. If they leave milk behind and grow well, that’s fine too.
| Age | Per Feed | Feeds/24 h |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0–1 | 30–40 mL | 8–12 |
| Days 2–3 | 30–60 mL | 8–12 |
| Days 4–6 | 45–75 mL | 8–10 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 60–90 mL | 7–9 |
| Week 4 | 90–120 mL | 6–8 |
Overfeeding And Underfeeding Signs
Too much, too fast can show up as coughing, gagging, arching, or frequent spit-ups during or after feeds. A steady stream from a fast nipple can make this worse. Try a slower flow and short breaks. Watch that baby stays upright for a few minutes after finishing.
Too little can show up as few wet diapers, sleepy feeds that never finish, or slow weight gain. If wet diapers drop below six a day after the first week, or if weight checks slide off the curve, ask your pediatrician about the next steps.
Sample Day Using The mL Guide
Here’s a real-life example. A 3.5 kg newborn lands between 525 and 700 mL per day from the weight table. Let’s aim near the middle at 600 mL. Spread across eight feeds, that’s 75 mL per feed. Some bottles will be 60 mL, some 90 mL. The total across 24 hours does the heavy lifting.
Morning: 75 mL around wake-up, then again 3 hours later. Midday: two bottles around 75 mL spaced 3 hours apart. Evening: two more bottles, with a calm, dim room before bedtime. Overnight: one or two feeds as your baby wakes. If baby sleeps a long stretch early on, offer a feed sooner the next day to keep intake steady.
Fast Conversions: Ounces To mL
Most tins and bottles show both units. If you prefer metric, here’s the quick math many parents use: 1 ounce ≈ 30 mL. So 2 ounces ≈ 60 mL; 3 ounces ≈ 90 mL; 4 ounces ≈ 120 mL. When reading older charts, the common “2½ ounces per pound per day” lines up with about 162 mL/kg/day.
Bottle Size, Nipple Flow, And Pace
Start with a small bottle so the nipple stays full and air stays low. If baby drains bottles and still seems hungry, increase by 15–30 mL instead of jumping a large step. For flow, watch your baby: a few swallows, a breath, then a few more swallows is the rhythm you want.
Paced feeds help babies set the tempo. Hold the bottle more horizontal, let baby draw, then tip the bottle down for a short pause. This turns a pour into a sip and gives baby room to breathe. It also makes mixed-feeding transitions easier for some families.
Burping, Gas, And Comfort
Pause every few minutes for a brief burp. A gentle rub or small pat while baby sits against your chest works well. If gas bubbles linger, try a slower nipple, keep baby upright after feeds, and check that the latch on the bottle is snug.
Different holds calm different babies. Some settle in a cradle hold; others prefer a more upright seat with good head alignment. Room lights low and voices soft help bottles stay calm and unhurried.
Preterm, Low Birth Weight, Or Medical Needs
Babies born early or small often follow a specific plan from their care team. Calorie needs, feed volumes, and fortifiers can differ. If your baby came home with special mixing steps or a target mL schedule, stick with that plan unless your baby’s doctor changes it.
Night Feeds And Growth
Newborns gain well when nights include feeds. Many babies still wake every 3–4 hours for a bottle during the first month. If a long stretch appears and intake drops, make up a little during the day and touch base with your baby’s clinician at the next checkup.
Diapers, Growth Charts, And Confidence
Diapers and growth tell the story. After day 4, six or more wet diapers and regular stools fit with good intake for most babies. At well-baby visits, your team plots length, weight, and head size. Steady lines mean your feeding plan is working.
If the numbers slip or jump suddenly, look at bottle volumes, flow, and pacing. Small tweaks often bring things back in line. Your baby’s doctor can guide any bigger change you might need.
Safe Mixing, Holding, and Storage
Wash hands, use clean bottles, and follow the scoop-per-water guide on your formula tin. Make feeds with safe water as advised where you live. Once a bottle touches baby’s mouth, use it within 1 hour. If you mix formula and don’t start a feed, refrigerate within 2 hours and use within 24 hours.
Hold baby semi-upright, keep the nipple full of milk, and pause every few minutes for a gentle burp. If bottle prep or storage varies in your region, follow your local health service steps.
Practical Tips That Make Feeds Easier
Warm the bottle in a mug of hot water; skip the microwave. Test a few nipple flows until swallows sound steady. Try paced bottle feeding: tip the bottle down now and then to slow the stream, then let baby draw again. Track wet diapers; six or more a day after the first week usually means intake is on track. Bring questions to your baby’s clinician if anything feels off. Keep a simple log for a few days; patterns jump out, making tweaks to volume or timing easier and less stressful for everyone.
When Bottles Seem Too Slow Or Too Fast
A feed that drags past 30 minutes with lots of effort can mean the nipple is too slow. If baby works hard, falls asleep, then wakes still hungry, try the next flow up and see if swallows sound calmer. You’re aiming for steady suck-swallow-breathe without coughing or gulping.
If a bottle empties in under 10 minutes with gulping and leaks at the corners of the mouth, the flow may be too fast. Step down a size or switch to a vented bottle. Some babies also do well with side-lying feeds where the milk doesn’t rush by gravity.