How Many MLs Should A Newborn Have Per Feed? | Calm Feed Tips

You want a straight answer on newborn milk amounts, not a maze. Here’s a clear, baby-first guide that works for both bottle and breast. We’ll use simple ranges in milliliters (mL), show you how to read hunger and fullness cues, and offer quick math for formula by weight. If your baby was preterm, had a tough birth, or isn’t gaining, your own pediatric team may set different targets—follow their plan.

Newborn Feed Amounts In MLs — What’s Normal?

Amounts change fast in the early days. A tiny stomach can’t hold much on day one, then volume jumps across the first weeks. Use these ballpark ranges to set expectations while you watch your baby’s cues.

Age	Per-Feed Amount (mL)	Notes
0–24 hours	1–10	Small colostrum feeds or small bottles; frequent sessions.
24–48 hours	10–20	Still frequent; expect short, cue-led feeds.
48–72 hours	20–30	Milk volume rising; diapers start to pick up.
72 hours–1 week	30–40	Many babies still feed 8–12 times daily.
End of week 1	45–60	Stomach capacity grows; longer stretches appear.
1–3 weeks	60–90	Typical for both pumped milk and formula bottles.
3–4 weeks	90–120	Many bottle-fed babies settle near this range.

These figures line up with pediatric guidance for bottle volumes in the first month and with hospital lactation guides that outline per-feed mL targets day by day. Breastfeeding sessions aren’t measured in the moment, so use cues and output; the point is to match intake to appetite, not force a number.

Why Amounts Vary Baby To Baby

Birth weight, gestation, latch, flow, sleepiness, and early weight-loss patterns all shift intake. Some babies take smaller, more frequent feeds. Others take fuller feeds and stretch longer. Both patterns can be fine when growth and diapers look right.

Day-By-Day Guide For The First Week

Day 1 is about practice and colostrum—tiny but mighty. Expect 1–10 mL per feed across many short sessions. By day 3, most babies take 20–30 mL. Past 72 hours, 30–40 mL per feed is common, then 45–60 mL by the end of the week. If you’re pumping or supplementing, those ranges help you portion bottles without waste.

Breastfeeding Versus Bottle Amounts

Breastfed babies cue more often at first, usually 8–12 sessions per 24 hours, sometimes every 1–3 hours. Cluster feeds are normal, especially in the evening. Bottle-fed babies often stretch to every 3–4 hours once volumes rise. Either way, pace the feed and give breaks so your baby can feel fullness kick in.

Want a yardstick for bottles? Pediatric groups say 30–60 mL per feed in week 1, moving toward 90–120 mL by the end of the first month for many babies. For 1–3 weeks, 60–90 mL per feed is a sweet spot. That said, babies aren’t robots—offer a bit more if they finish and still cue, and stop early if they turn away.

For bottle volumes and daily caps, see the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on formula amounts. For normal breastfeeding frequency and what cluster feeding looks like, review the CDC page on breastfeeding timing.

Hunger And Fullness Cues You Can Trust

Early hunger looks like rooting, hand-to-mouth moves, lip smacking, and alert wiggles. Crying is a late sign. Fullness shows up as relaxed hands, slower sucking, turning the head, sealing the lips, or dozing off. Wet and dirty diapers back it up. After day 4–5, aim for at least 5–6 wet diapers daily; stool counts vary.

Diaper Output At A Glance

• Days 1–2: 1–2 wets daily; dark meconium stools.
• Days 3–4: wets increase; stools shift to green-brown, then yellow.
• After day 5: at least 5–6 wets daily; stool pattern ranges from many small to a few larger.

Weight-Based Math For Formula (Handy Range)

A simple range for daily formula intake is 150–200 mL per kilogram of body weight. Divide that total by daily feeds to get a per-feed target. Start low, pace the bottle, and top up only if cues say so. Cap total formula near 960 mL per day unless your pediatrician says otherwise.

Baby Weight	Daily Total (mL)	Per Feed (8–12 feeds)
2.5 kg	375–500	30–60
3.0 kg	450–600	40–75
3.5 kg	525–700	45–85
4.0 kg	600–800	50–100

How To Portion Bottles Without Guesswork

1. Pour the lower end of the range for your baby’s age or weight.
2. Pace the feed with brief pauses so your baby can self-regulate.
3. Offer a small top-up only if cues keep rolling after a burp break.
4. Next feed, bump volume by 10–15 mL if the last two bottles ran dry.
5. Trim volume if 15–30 mL is left most feeds.

This approach keeps intake responsive and trims waste. It also helps prevent fast overfeeds that bring hiccups, spit-up, and tummy gas.

Smart Ways To Support Breastfeeding Feeds

Offer both sides, switch when swallowing slows, and try a laid-back hold if let-down feels strong. Skin-to-skin time boosts supply and keeps cues easy to spot. If you’re triple-feeding, match top-off volumes to the day-by-day mL ranges above, and keep pumping 8–10 sessions in 24 hours to protect supply.

Paced Bottle Basics For Mixed Feeding

• Use a slow-flow nipple and hold the bottle near horizontal.
• Let your baby draw the nipple in; don’t push it in.
• Pause every few swallows to burp and check cues.
• Switch sides mid-feed to mirror the breast rhythm.

Signs The Amount Is Right

Your baby finishes calm and drowsy, has steady weight gain over the weeks, and diapers fit the pattern: few wet diapers in the first days, then at least 5–6 wet ones after day 4–5. Poop can be frequent or sparse, and that’s okay if weight and energy look good.

When Less Or More Makes Sense

Smaller, more frequent feeds help with reflux, sleepy babies, or early jaundice care. Bigger, less frequent bottles can work later in the month when stretches lengthen. Growth spurts bring cluster feeds and short-term jumps in intake. Let cues steer you during those bursts.

Night Feeds And Stretchy Days

Newborns feed around the clock. Some nights bring back-to-back sessions. Other nights bring a longer stretch, then a bigger morning feed. Keep the room dim, change the diaper first, and offer a calm feed so it’s easy to settle again.

Red Flags: Call Your Pediatrician

Phone your care team promptly if you see fewer than 3 wet diapers by day 3, fewer than 5–6 wet diapers after day 5, hard stools, deep yellow urine, weak suck, sleepy feeds that never pick up, fast breathing during feeds, or poor weight gain. Babies with prematurity, tongue-tie, heart or lung concerns, or ongoing vomiting need tailored plans.

Quick Reference: Putting It All Together

First day: 1–10 mL per feed, many sessions. Day 2: 10–20 mL. Day 3: 20–30 mL. Days 4–6: 30–40 mL. End of week 1: 45–60 mL. Weeks 1–3: 60–90 mL. Weeks 3–4: 90–120 mL. Breastfed babies often feed more often with smaller volumes per session, and that’s normal.