How Many Ounces Do Newborns Eat Breast Milk? | New Parent Guide

New babies feed a lot, and small volumes add up fast. In the first days you will see frequent nursing as milk moves from colostrum to mature milk. Across the first month, most families land on roughly eight to twelve feeds in twenty four hours. On timing and patterns, the CDC’s guidance sets clear expectations for early weeks and cluster feeding.

How Many Ounces Should A Newborn Eat Of Breast Milk?

Short answer for the early weeks: aim for one to three ounces per feed, with a total near sixteen to twenty four ounces in a day. Numbers rise across the first month as your baby’s belly grows, then settle into a steady daily range. La Leche League and pediatric sources show that full daily intake for many babies sits around twenty five to thirty ounces after supply peaks.

Age	Typical Per Feed	Approx. Per Day
Day 1	0.2–0.25 oz (5–7 mL)	— small, frequent colostrum feeds
Day 3	0.75–0.9 oz (22–27 mL)	— building volume
End Of Week 1	1.5–2 oz (45–60 mL)	9–20 oz (280–576 mL)
Weeks 2–3	2–3 oz (60–90 mL)	20–25 oz (590–750 mL)
Around 4 Weeks	3–5 oz (80–150 mL)	20–35 oz (750–1035 mL)

These ranges reflect what healthy, term newborns often take when nursing effectively. The numbers come from La Leche League materials on early stomach size and typical transfer volumes, and they line up with pediatric advice that by the end of the first month many babies take three to four ounces a feed.

Why Volumes Grow Then Level Off

Colostrum is thick and packed with bioactive factors. Your baby needs tiny amounts at first, then more as milk “comes in.” By about five weeks, production peaks and daily intake stays fairly steady through the early months. La Leche League GB notes full supply around seven hundred fifty to nine hundred milliliters per day for many families, with common feeds of two to four ounces once things are rolling.

Feeding Frequency And Patterns

Plan on eight to twelve feeds each day in the beginning. Some sessions will be long, others short. Cluster feeding shows up in the evenings or during growth spurts. That rhythm is normal and helps maintain supply. Sleepy newborns may need waking every two to three hours until weight gain is steady and a clinician says longer night stretches are fine.

Bottle Feeding Expressed Breast Milk

When you offer pumped milk, keep pace slow and follow your baby’s cues. Small bottles help avoid overfilling. If you want a starting point for bottle size, divide expected daily intake by the usual number of feeds.

Set A Realistic Bottle Amount

1. Pick a daily target: many babies settle near twenty four to twenty seven ounces after the first weeks.
2. Estimate feeds: eight to ten is a common count for month one.
3. Do the math: twenty four ounces ÷ eight feeds = three ounces per bottle.
4. Pour a bit less than the math, then offer more if your baby still shows hunger cues.

Use Paced Bottle Technique

• Hold the bottle more horizontal so milk drips, not gushes.
• Let your baby pause often; switch sides to mimic nursing.
• Choose a slow flow nipple and sit your baby a little upright.
• Watch for relaxed hands, slower sucking, and turning away.
• Stop when your baby shows fullness, even if milk remains.

For expected ranges across the first half year, La Leche League GB reports two to four ounces per feed is common for babies who drink expressed milk, with overall daily volumes in the mid twenties to low thirties once supply has settled.

Hunger And Fullness Cues To Watch

Cues come before tears. Early signs include lip smacking, rooting, and hands to mouth. Late hunger often brings crying and frantic motions. Fullness shows up as relaxed posture, open hands, slowed sucking, and drifting to drowsy.

Night Feeds And Cluster Sessions

Night feeds help supply. Many babies take more milk overnight while days bring short naps and skin to skin. Growth spurts can bunch feeds into tight clusters for a day or two.

What Can Affect Ounces Taken

Latch And Transfer

A deep latch lets your baby remove milk well. If you hear frequent clicking, see dimpling in the cheeks, or have pain that does not ease, ask for skilled help. Better transfer often increases per feed ounces fast.

Feeding Schedule

Spacing feeds too far apart can lead to large bottles and more spit up. Shorter intervals with paced feeds tend to match intake to real hunger.

Growth Spurts

Short bursts of frequent feeding can pop up around two to three weeks and again near six weeks. Volume over the whole day often rises a bit during these windows.

Milk Supply And Letdown

If your supply is still building, pump after feeds or add a session at night. Many see an extra half to one ounce per session in a few days. Double pumping can help when time is tight. Aim for eight to ten sessions in twenty four hours if you are exclusively pumping at the start.

Age-By-Age Notes For The First Month

Days 1–2

Stomach size is tiny, so feeds are brief and frequent. Expect a few milliliters at a time and lots of practice latching. Skin to skin contact helps wake cues and keeps transfers smooth. Hand expression after feeds can add drops that your baby can lick from a spoon or cup.

Days 3–4

Milk volume starts rising and you should notice stronger swallows. Per feed amounts climb toward three quarters to almost one ounce. Diapers get wetter and stools lighten. Some babies nap hard as they recover from birth. Wake for feeds if long stretches creep in.

End Of Week 1

Per feed volumes sit near one and a half to two ounces for many. Your supply responds to frequent milk removal, so keep feeds close together when your baby asks. Sore nipples can point to shallow latch; a small tweak in position often fixes it.

Weeks 2–3

Feeds of two to three ounces are common, and daily totals reach the low twenties in ounces. Babies stay on eight to ten feeds, with some stretching to seven or eight. Bottle volumes should grow gradually. If a new caregiver tends to pour large bottles, leave clear notes about pacing and cues.

Week 4

Many babies take three to five ounces at a time now, and daily totals can sit anywhere from the mid twenties to the low thirties. Patterns feel less chaotic. If your baby sleeps a longer stretch at night, daytime feeds may crowd together to keep intake steady.

Practical Pumping Tips

Try to pump when you would otherwise feed. A double electric pump saves minutes and can raise output when time is tight. Warmth and gentle massage before you start can trigger a strong letdown. If bottles from one breast look uneven across the day, rotate which side you begin with during nursing and switch the pumping order.

Common Myths About Ounces

“Bigger Bottles Are Better”

Larger bottles can push babies past comfort, then bring spit up and gassy fussing. Smaller bottles paired with paced feeding give your baby time to sense fullness.

“More Hindmilk Is Always The Goal”

Your milk changes within each feed and across the day. Babies self-regulate at the breast. Keep a good latch, frequent feeds, and relaxed pacing rather than chasing a set ratio.

“All Babies Should Take The Same Amount”

Healthy babies vary. Some take smaller, more frequent feeds, others take a bit more and go longer between sessions. Check diapers, weight checks, and calm mood after feeds along with ounces poured.

Diaper Output: A Simple Cross-Check

Wet and dirty diapers are an easy way to gauge intake. In the first days expect two to three wet diapers per day. After day four to five, look for at least five to six wets daily. By day four many breastfed babies pass four or more stools a day. Output varies, so trends matter more than a single number. Bring any worries to your baby’s clinician.

Age	Wet Diapers	Stools
Days 1–3	About 2–3 each day	Meconium, then lighter; at least 1–3 daily
Days 4–5	At least 5–6 each day	At least 4 daily
After Day 5	6 or more each day	Varies by baby; many still pass 3–4 daily

Safety Notes

Breastfed babies need vitamin D drops from the newborn period. Ask your baby’s clinician about a daily supplement. Keep vitamin D at the same time daily and use a dropper marked in milliliters to avoid mix ups. Label every bottle with date and volume before you head out. Pack a burp cloth nearby for leaks too.

Key Takeaways For New Parents

• Across the first month, most newborns take about one to three ounces per feed and land near sixteen to twenty four ounces per day.
• After supply peaks, many babies hold steady around twenty five to thirty ounces daily with two to four ounce feeds.
• Use paced bottles and small starting volumes to match intake to real hunger.
• Use diapers, cues, and weight checks to keep tabs on intake trends.
• Questions about growth, low output, or very large volumes deserve a quick call to your baby’s clinician.

Learn more: La Leche League GB’s expressing and storing milk guide; CDC’s page on how much and how often.