How Many Ounces To Feed A Newborn? | Smart Feeding Guide

Feeding a brand-new baby feels tricky the first week. Stomach size is tiny, feeding patterns are uneven, and every hour looks different. The goal here is simple: match ounces to need, read cues, and keep days calm. You’ll see quick, safe ranges below for each stage in the first month, plus a clear way to total daily ounces if you’re using bottles. These figures come from pediatric sources and fit both breast milk and infant formula. Feed responsively, pause often, and watch diapers and weight. If your baby shows strong hunger, offer more; if they turn away, stop. The charts help you start, then your baby leads the way.

How Many Ounces To Feed A Newborn Per Feeding

Start with age bands. Use the range that fits your baby today, then adjust within the band based on cues.

Age	Ounces Per Feed	Feeds Per 24 Hours
Day 1	0.5–1 oz	8–12
Days 2–3	0.5–1.5 oz	8–12
Days 4–7	1–2 oz	8–12
Weeks 2–4	2–4 oz	8–12 breastfed; 6–8 bottle-fed

These ranges align with pediatric guidance: tiny volumes on day one, steady gains after day two, and 3–4 oz by the end of the first month for most bottle-fed babies. Breastfed babies feed more often with smaller volumes. Both paths are normal.

Newborn Hunger And Fullness Cues

Watch the body language. Early hunger looks like rooting, hand-to-mouth moves, tongue flicks, lip smacks, and soft fussing. Crying is late. Fullness looks like slower sucking, relaxed hands, turning the head, or falling asleep at the breast or bottle.

Diapers help you track intake. Expect 2–3 wets per day in the first few days, then at least 5–6 wets daily after day five. Stools rise by day four, with several mustard-yellow poops for many babies on human milk.

If diapers or weight gain drift below targets, call your pediatrician. A sleepy newborn may need waking for feeds until birth weight returns, usually by days 10–14.

How Many Ounces A Day? Practical Math

Using bottles? A simple rule helps: about 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight across 24 hours, with a common cap near 32 ounces in a day. That guideline comes from the AAP guide on formula amounts and pairs with responsive feeding. If a bottle drains and your baby still shows hunger cues, add a little; if they push back, stop.

Breastfed babies don’t follow ounces as neatly, so use feeds per day. Expect about 8–12 nursing sessions in 24 hours, with spacing that stretches as milk supply and stomach size grow.

Breastfeeding Versus Bottle: What Changes

Breast milk flows in bursts; babies pace themselves and often pause. Bottles flow at a steady rate unless you tip and slow the angle. That difference explains why bottle-fed babies may take larger, quicker feeds and why paced bottle feeding helps match the rhythm of nursing.

Paced Bottle Steps

• Hold baby upright; keep chin free.
• Keep the bottle level so milk just fills the nipple.
• Let baby draw the milk; pause by tipping down each minute.
• Switch sides halfway to mimic nursing.

If spitting, gulping, or arching shows up, slow the pace or shorten the feed. A burp in the middle often helps.

Night Feeds, Waking, And Growth Spurts

Newborns need round-the-clock calories. In the early weeks, waking to feed every 2–3 hours keeps intake on track and supports milk production. If a stretch hits 4–5 hours and a feed is missed, wake the baby.

Surges in hunger are common at about 2–3 weeks and again near 6 weeks. Extra feeds for a day or two are normal during those spurts.

Safe Bottles, Burps, And Pace

Pick a slow-flow nipple for the first weeks. Keep baby upright during and after feeds. Aim for gentle burps midway and at the end. If gas or spit-ups worry you, shorten the session and offer another ounce later.

Never prop a bottle or add cereal to thicken milk. Both raise choking risk and don’t help sleep.

When To Call Your Pediatrician

Seek care soon if you see any of the following signs:

• Fewer than 3 poops and 6 wets per day after day five.
• Weight not back to birth level by two weeks, or steady loss after day five.
• Hard latch, painful nursing, or clicking sounds during feeds.
• Green vomit, repeated choking, or breathing trouble during feeds.
• Persistent jaundice, listlessness, or strong dehydration signs.
• Blood in stool, black stool after day five, or fever.
• Formula intake above 32 ounces most days.

Putting It All Together: Sample Day

Here’s a sample using an 8-pound baby. The daily target using the 2.5-oz rule lands near 20 ounces. Split across eight feeds, that’s about 2.5 ounces each. Early in week one you may see smaller, more frequent sessions. By weeks two to four, many babies handle 2–4 ounces per feed with a three-hour rhythm.

Sample clock, adjust as needed: 12 a.m., 3 a.m., 6 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. Watch cues and diaper counts; the clock is just scaffolding.

Some families prefer six feeds spaced at four hours. If that pattern fits your baby and growth stays on track, fine. Use the same math for totals and check satiety cues during each bottle or nursing session.

Ask about vitamin D drops if your baby drinks human milk. Many babies need 400 IU a day, starting soon after birth, given daily.

Quick Reference: Daily Totals By Weight

Baby Weight (lb)	Total Per Day (oz)	Per Feed If 3-Hourly
6	15 oz	1.9 oz
7	17.5 oz	2.2 oz
8	20 oz	2.5 oz
9	22.5 oz	2.8 oz
10	25 oz	3.1 oz
11	27.5 oz	3.4 oz
12	30 oz	3.8 oz
13	32 oz cap	4 oz

Use the table to plan bottles, then adjust to cues. If your totals press past the 32-ounce line most days, check in with your pediatrician about spacing or pace.

Troubleshooting Real-World Feeding

Baby Seems Hungry After Every Bottle

Try smaller pauses during the feed and offer an extra half ounce. Watch for lip smacks and steady sucking. If gulping fades and hands relax, that extra sip did the trick.

Baby Falls Asleep After One Ounce

Wake gently: switch diaper, place skin to skin, or try a brief burp. Offer again. Newborns tire fast, so two short sessions can add up to the right intake.

Baby Spits Up After Most Feeds

Shorten the session, keep your baby upright, and add a mid-feed burp. If spit-ups turn forceful, green, or persist with weight concerns, call your pediatrician.

Pumping And Mixed Feeding

Many families combine direct nursing with bottles of expressed milk. Match bottle sizes to recent nursing patterns, not freezer stash. A common pump session yields 2–4 ounces; a later bottle can use that full amount or be split in two small top-ups.

What Changes By The End Of Month One

By the fourth week, many babies take 3–4 ounces per feed and settle into 3- or 4-hour spacing, especially with bottles. Night sleep may stretch, yet total daily intake stays in the same range; fewer feeds just means bigger bottles.

Keep the upper limit in view. Most babies do well below 32 ounces a day. If intake jumps over that mark day after day, your clinician can review growth, bottle flow, and pacing.

Breastfeeding Numbers You Can Trust

Feeds per day tell the story when you can’t see ounces. Plan on 8–12 nursing sessions, many with both sides. Some sessions run short, others long; both are fine. What matters: steady weight gain, settled behavior after feeds, and healthy diaper counts.

Quick Checklist For Each Feed

• Start when early hunger cues appear.
• Hold baby upright; keep chin free.
• Tip the bottle so milk just fills the nipple.
• Pause for breath and a burp at least once.
• Stop when sucking slows and baby turns away.
• Log times, amounts, and diapers for a few days.

Bottom Line For Tired Parents

First days: 0.5–1 ounce per feed. Days 2–7: roughly 1–2 ounces. Weeks 2–4: 2–4 ounces. Aim for 8–12 feeds in 24 hours, with bottles often spacing to 3–4 hours by the end of month one. Use weight-based totals for formula, cap near 32 ounces, and let cues steer the rest. Trust your baby’s cues.

Ranges Come From Pediatric Guidance

The age bands and daily totals reflect current guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics for bottle feeding and the CDC’s guide for nursing frequency. These pages also explain on-demand feeding, waking sleepy babies, and watching diapers and weight. If your baby was born early or has a medical condition, your care team may set different numbers.

Sample Shopping List For Week One

Here’s a short list that keeps feeds smooth without clutter.

• Slow-flow nipples and two bottle sizes (4 oz and 8 oz).
• Burp cloths and extra bibs.
• Breast pump parts sized for comfort, plus storage bags.
• Vitamin D drops if nursing.
• A small notebook or an app for logs.
• A supportive pillow for comfy holds.

Ready Reference: One Glance Recap

Day 1: 0.5–1 oz. Days 2–3: 0.5–1.5 oz. Days 4–7: 1–2 oz. Weeks 2–4: 2–4 oz. Feeds: 8–12 in 24 hours. 2.5 oz per pound per day, cap 32 oz. Diapers after day five: ≥5–6 wets and stools.