Newborn milk starts near 0.5–1 oz on day 1 and rises to 2–3 oz by week 2, with about 8–12 feeds across 24 hours.
A tiny belly, quick growth, and sleepy stretches make the first weeks feel like a puzzle. The good news: a few anchor numbers, plus your baby’s cues, can guide every bottle or breast. This guide lays out typical ounces per feed, total volume across the day, how pace and bottle size play in, and what to do when feeds seem off. It works for pumped breast milk and formula, and it keeps the focus on responsive feeding so your baby sets the tempo while you keep things safe.
How Many Ounces Of Milk For A Newborn Baby — Day-By-Day
Milk volume ramps up fast. The first 48–72 hours are mostly colostrum in small sips, then mature milk or full feeds arrive. Formula starts in small amounts as well, then moves toward steady patterns. Use the chart below as a starting lane; your baby may sit slightly lower or higher on any day. Watch the early hunger signs, pace the feed, and stop when fullness cues appear.
| Age | Per Feed | Feeds / 24h |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 0.5–1 oz | 8–12+ |
| Days 2–3 | 0.8–1.5 oz | 8–12+ |
| Days 4–6 | 1–2 oz | 8–12 |
| Week 2 | 2–3 oz | 8–12 |
| Weeks 3–4 | 2–3.5 oz | 7–10 |
Numbers alone never tell the whole story. Some newborns take frequent small sips; others prefer fuller feeds with longer gaps. Evening “cluster” periods are common, then longer night stretches show up as weight gain stabilizes. If your baby is growing well and showing content wake windows after feeds, the plan is working.
Why Early Feeds Are Small And Frequent
Day 1 Through Week 2
A newborn belly is tiny on day 1 and can only hold small volumes. By day 3 the belly can manage a bit more, and by the end of week 2 most babies handle 2–3 oz per feed without discomfort. That shift explains why day 1 looks like sipping and by week 2 you see steadier patterns. Expect variations across the day. Mornings may bring bigger bottles; evenings may bring short, frequent top-ups.
Breast Milk And Formula Patterns
Pumped breast milk often moves through the gut a bit quicker, so some babies ask for it sooner. Formula can sit longer, which may stretch the gap a little. Either option still lands near the same daily total for a newborn stage; the difference is timing. Responsive feeding works well for both: offer when hunger cues show, pace the bottle, and stop when you see fullness cues.
Hunger Cues And Fullness Cues
Early hunger cues: stirring, hand-to-mouth, rooting, soft sounds, bright eyes. Late cues: crying, rigid body, frantic movements. If you can, feed during the early set; latching or bottle starts easier then.
- Hunger looks like: lip smacks, head turns, hands near mouth, short fussy bursts, seeking the nipple.
- Fullness looks like: slower sucks, longer pauses, relaxed hands, turning away, sealed lips, milk pooling at the corner of the mouth.
When you see fullness, pause and offer a gentle burp. If your baby turns back for more, continue. If not, end the feed and note the amount so the next caregiver can match the pattern.
Daily Totals, Safe Upper Limits, And Easy Math
Formula volumes scale with weight. A widely used rule of thumb is about 2.5 oz of formula per pound of body weight across 24 hours, with an upper cap near 32 oz per day for most babies in the first months. That cap keeps the total in a safe lane while you watch cues and growth. If your baby takes pumped milk, total daily ounces often look similar once supply and feeding rhythm settle.
Want a quick way to spread daily ounces across feeds? Divide the daily total by your baby’s usual number of feeds. If your newborn takes ten feeds, divide by ten. If a growth spurt shifts you to twelve feeds for a few days, daily ounces spread into smaller portions, and that’s fine.
For detailed formula scheduling and safe caps, see the AAP amount and schedule guide. For early bottle volumes and frequency suggestions, the CDC overview is handy during the first weeks.
Quick Math Walkthrough
If your baby weighs 7 lb, daily formula lands near 17–18 oz. With ten feeds, each bottle sits near 1.7–1.8 oz. With eight feeds, closer to 2.1–2.3 oz. Use this as a starting point, then let cues shape the exact pour. If a bottle empties fast and baby stays eager, add a half ounce. If the last half ounce drags and body language says “done,” trim the next pour.
Paced Bottle Basics That Keep Ounces On Track
Right Bottle Size
Newborns do well with 2–4 oz bottles. Small bottles make pacing easier and reduce waste. As feeds grow, you can still start with a smaller pour and top up only if asked.
Slow Flow And Angle
Use a slow-flow nipple and hold the bottle more horizontal than vertical. Tip just enough to fill the nipple. This helps your baby suck, swallow, and breathe in rhythm. Take short breaks during the feed, switch sides partway through, and watch for those soft hands and slower sucks that signal fullness.
Time Per Feed
A steady newborn bottle often lasts 10–20 minutes. Fast chugging can outpace fullness cues. Long, stop-start feeds can turn into air swallows and extra spit-up. A calm, paced middle ground helps the belly read the brain’s signals in real time.
Second Chart: Daily Ounces By Weight
This quick chart uses the 2.5 oz per pound rule across 24 hours. The per-feed column shows a range if your baby takes 8–12 feeds per day. Stay under about 32 oz per day unless your pediatric team gives a different target.
| Weight | Daily Total | Per Feed (8–12x) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb | ~15 oz | 1.3–1.9 oz |
| 7 lb | ~17.5 oz | 1.5–2.2 oz |
| 8 lb | ~20 oz | 1.7–2.5 oz |
| 9 lb | ~22.5 oz | 1.9–2.8 oz |
| 10 lb | ~25 oz | 2.1–3.1 oz |
Breast Milk Bottles: How Much To Pour
Pumped milk varies in calories through the day. That’s normal. Many breastfed newborns take 1.5–3 oz per bottle once supply is in, with total daily ounces shaped by frequency. Start with 2 oz, pace, and add small top-ups if needed. A baby at the breast may feed more often than bottle totals suggest, and that can still match daily needs once you look at output and growth.
Safe Mixing, Storage, And Feed Hygiene
Formula Mixing
Always follow the label. Powder needs the right water-to-scoop ratio every time. Adding extra water thins calories and can be unsafe. Warm water is fine; boiling is not required for standard U.S. powdered products unless your care team says so for a specific reason. Shake, don’t stir, and check the nipple tip for clogs.
Pumped Milk Handling
Wash hands, use clean parts, and label dates on stored containers. Fresh milk at room temp has a limited window; chilled milk lasts longer; frozen milk lasts the longest. When warming, use warm water, not a microwave. Swirl to mix fat back in, then test a drop on the inside of your wrist before you feed.
When Feeds Seem Off
Sleepy Baby
Skin-to-skin, a quiet room, and a gentle diaper change can wake just enough for a feed. Offer smaller, more frequent bottles on sleepy days to meet daily totals without pushing a large pour.
Frequent Spit-Up
Try slower pacing and short burp breaks. Keep your baby upright after feeds. If spit-up looks large or painful, note amounts and timing and share that pattern with your pediatric team.
Growth Spurts
Expect stretches of near-hourly evening feeds. Offer more, keep bottles small, and trust that this phase passes. The next week often looks steadier again.
Output And Growth Checks
Wet diapers rise across the first week and then hold steady. Stools shift from dark to yellow as milk intake rises. Weight loss in the first days is common; birth weight usually returns by the second week. After that, steady gains tell you daily intake is matching the body’s needs. If output dips or gain stalls, bring your notes to your visit so your clinician can tweak a plan with you.
Simple Rules That Keep Ounces On Target
- Pour small, pace the bottle, and top up only if asked.
- Use a slow-flow nipple and switch sides mid-feed.
- Stop at fullness cues; never force the last sips.
- Avoid bottle propping; keep your baby upright and close.
- Stay under about 32 oz of formula per day unless your care team sets a different limit.
- Share a brief log with your clinician if intake, output, or growth drifts.
Putting It All Together
Day 1 brings half-ounce sips. By week 2 you see 2–3 oz per feed. Daily totals scale with body weight, and pacing keeps your baby in charge. Track a few days, learn the cues, and use the two charts when you hand off care to a partner, grandparent, or sitter. Clear numbers plus responsive feeding make those early weeks calmer for everyone.