In the newborn stage, most babies drink about 0.5–2 oz per feed in week one and 1.5–3 oz by weeks two to four, with 8–12 feeds in 24 hours.
What This Guide Covers
New parents want straight numbers that fit real life. You will find easy ounce targets, quick tables, feeding cues, diaper checks, and bottle tips for pumped milk. The ranges below come from trusted clinical guidance. For feeding rhythm and diaper counts, see the CDC overview on how much and how often to breastfeed. For per-feed volumes, see the newborn capacity guide used by Great Ormond Street Hospital (NHS).
How Many Ounces Of Breast Milk For A Newborn Per Feed
A newborn belly starts tiny, then scales up fast across the first month. That is why early feeds look small yet frequent. Your baby will eat when hungry and pause when full. Offer both sides, switch as needed, and let the pause end the session. If you are pacing a bottle of expressed milk, pour a modest amount first, then add another ounce only if your baby still roots and swallows with steady rhythm.
Newborn Intake Benchmarks
The table below shows typical per-feed volumes and daily feed counts in the first month. Ounces round to the nearest quarter so the numbers are easy to use at 3 a.m. Feed counts stay wide because babies vary. Cluster feeds and longer naps both fit inside a healthy day.
| Age | Typical Volume Per Feed | Feeds In 24 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5–7 mL (about 0.2 oz) | 8–12 |
| Day 2 | 10–15 mL (about 0.3–0.5 oz) | 8–12 |
| Day 3 | 22–27 mL (about 0.75–0.9 oz) | 8–12 |
| Day 4–5 | 30–60 mL (about 1–2 oz) | 8–12 |
| Day 6–7 | 45–60 mL (about 1.5–2 oz) | 8–12 |
| Weeks 2–4 | 45–90 mL (about 1.5–3 oz) | 8–12 |
What Those Numbers Mean In A Day
Daily totals change with size, sleep, and pace. As a rough sketch: day one comes out near 1.5–3 oz for the whole day, day three near 6–11 oz, and the end of week one near 12–24 oz. By weeks two to four, many babies land near 12–28 oz per day. Do not chase a single number; watch the cues and diapers listed below and let your baby lead.
Why Frequency Still Matters
Frequent nursing keeps milk flowing and gives the baby practice with latch and swallow. Plan on 8–12 feeds in 24 hours, then let naps and cluster stretches arrive as they will. If your baby strings many short sessions, that is still okay as long as swallowing looks steady and diapers add up. If your baby sleeps long in the day and then wants many evening feeds, that pattern still fits a healthy day.
Hunger Cues You Can Trust
- Lip smacking or hand-to-mouth movements.
- Searching with the mouth and turning the head.
- Light fussing that calms when held skin-to-skin.
- Active sucking that you can hear and see.
Fullness Cues Worth Watching
- Slower sucks with longer pauses.
- Relaxed hands, soft body, and a sleepy face.
- Turning away or sealing the lips around the nipple without drawing milk.
Expressed Milk And Bottle Portions
Many families mix direct nursing with pumped milk, or feed bottles during work hours. Use the same signals: start small, pace the bottle, and top up only when cues stay strong. The ranges below line up with the per-feed volumes in the first month and help cut waste. A slow-flow nipple and frequent pauses keep the pace baby-friendly.
Starter Portions For Bottles
Pour one of these amounts, then add in small steps if your baby still roots and swallows after a brief pause. Winding the baby mid-feed helps set a calmer pace.
| Age | Start With (oz) | Add In Small Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | 0.5–1 | 0.25–0.5 |
| Days 3–4 | 0.75–1.5 | 0.25–0.5 |
| Days 5–7 | 1–2 | 0.5 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 1.5–2.5 | 0.5 |
| Week 4 | 2–3 | 0.5 |
Diapers And Growth: Your Reality Check
Numbers are helpful, yet diapers tell you if intake fits your baby today. In the first week, wet diapers climb day by day. After the first week, expect at least 5–6 wets daily and soft yellow stools. Weight comes back to birth level by day 10–14 for most babies. If diaper counts fall or weight slips after day five, call your clinic and ask for a feeding check.
The First Week Diaper Pattern
Use this as a quick screen. If your counts run lower, bring your baby in and feed again while you wait. Early help works best.
| Age | Wet Diapers (min) | Poops (min) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Day 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Day 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Day 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Days 5–7 | 6 | 3 |
Breastfeeds Versus Bottles: Keeping Pace
Human milk flows faster for some babies at the start and then slows as they reach the creamier hindmilk. With a bottle, the flow can stay brisk unless you tilt the bottle less and pause every few minutes. Hold the bottle more horizontal, let the baby set the tempo, and switch sides halfway through to mimic the switch at the breast. This helps the baby sense fullness and trims spit-up.
Night Feeds And Growth Spurts
Night feeds build supply. A stretch of three or four hours is fine if diapers and weight stay on track; just fill the rest of the day with solid sessions. Some evenings bring a flurry of short feeds. That burst meets hunger and also settles the baby. Keep water by your chair, burp between sides, and change a diaper before the last side to spark one more good latch.
When The Numbers Seem Off
If intake seems low, start with latch and position. The baby’s mouth should open wide, chin in, and more areola showing above the top lip than below. You should hear steady swallows and see the jaw move with a smooth rhythm. Try breast compressions to boost flow during active sucking. If your baby looks sleepy before five minutes, switch sides and come back later for another short snack.
Red Flags That Need A Call
- Fewer than eight feeds in a day after the first couple of days.
- Fewer than three poops and fewer than six wets by day five.
- Persistent sleepiness during feeds plus weak swallowing.
- Hard nipples, new pain, or cracks that do not ease with a deeper latch.
- Yellow skin that spreads beyond the face, or poor weight gain after day five.
Practical Tips That Make Ounces Add Up
Make Latch Easy
Try skin-to-skin before feeds, bring the baby to your level, and wait for a wide open mouth. Aim the nipple toward the palate. If the latch pinches, slip a clean finger in to break the seal and try again. A deep latch draws milk with less effort.
Switch Sides With Purpose
Start on the side that feels fuller. When swallows slow, compress, then switch. If the baby still wants more after the second side, return to the first. This pattern often gives another rich let-down.
Pumped Milk Logistics
Label by date and portion sizes that match newborn needs. Two-ounce and one-ounce bags waste less than big bottles. Warm gently in a bowl of warm water and swirl to mix the fat. Do not microwave breast milk. Pace the bottle and stop when your baby relaxes.
Sample Days That Fit The Ranges
Day Three Sample
Ten feeds. Two overnight, four in the morning, two in the afternoon, two in the evening. Per-feed aim near 1 oz. That pattern lands near 10 oz for the day, give or take based on the baby’s pace.
Week Three Sample
Eight feeds. One overnight, three in the morning, two in the afternoon, two in the evening. Per-feed aim near 2–2.5 oz. That lands near 16–20 oz in the day, with room for one top-up if naps ran long.
Answers To Sticky Questions
“Can You Overfeed A Newborn On Breast Milk?”
At the breast, the baby works for the flow and stops when full, so true overfeeding is rare. Bottles can deliver milk faster than the baby expects. Pacing fixes most of that. Use the starter portions above, pause often, and watch for relaxed hands and longer pauses near the end.
“Why Is My Baby Feeding Every Hour?”
That burst is common in the evening or during a growth jump. Offer both sides, keep the baby close, and rest when the next nap arrives. If the whole day only adds up to six or seven feeds, wake the baby earlier and aim for smaller, more frequent sessions.
“How Do I Know Milk Transfer Is Good?”
Swallows you can hear, a steady jaw, and diapers that rise to the counts above. The breast should feel softer after a feed. Your baby should be calm and sleepy, not rigid or tense. Weight checks at the clinic round out that picture.
Key Takeaways You Can Put To Work
- Week one looks small but frequent: 0.5–2 oz per feed, 8–12 feeds.
- Weeks two to four grow to 1.5–3 oz per feed, still 8–12 feeds.
- Use small bottle portions first; top up only with clear hunger cues.
- Diapers and weight tell you if intake fits your baby today.
- When in doubt, ask for a latch and transfer check at your clinic.
Parent hack: keep a small note in your phone listing today’s feeds, ounces, and diaper counts. Snap a photo of one good latch to copy next time. Share the note with a partner so both of you can log bottles and naps. Tiny habits like these make the first month smoother. Sleep comes easier.
For more background on feeding rhythm and diaper patterns, revisit the CDC guide on how much and how often. For per-feed mL figures and the stomach-size model used above, see the Great Ormond Street Hospital resource.