Newborn formula needs vary by weight and age; start with 45–75 ml per feed and about 400–700 ml per day, then adjust to hunger cues.
What This Newborn Formula Chart Shows
Feeding a tiny belly is about steady rhythm, not forcing a bottle. The chart below sums up typical per-feed amounts and a rough daily total during the first six weeks. It’s a guide, not a race. If your baby wants a little less or a little more on a given day, that’s normal.
Newborn Formula At A Glance (By Age)
| Age | Typical Amount Per Feed | Approx Daily Total |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5–7 ml (1–1½ tsp) | 8–12 tiny feeds; totals vary |
| Day 2 | 10–15 ml (2–3 tsp) | 8–12 feeds; totals vary |
| Day 3 | 15–30 ml (½–1 oz) | ~120–240 ml (4–8 oz) |
| Days 4–6 | 30–60 ml (1–2 oz) | ~240–480 ml (8–16 oz) |
| Week 2–3 | 45–75 ml (1½–2½ oz) | ~360–600 ml (12–20 oz) |
| Week 4–6 | 60–90 ml (2–3 oz) | ~480–720 ml (16–24 oz) |
Newborn Formula Amount Chart: Daily And Per-Feed Guide
Offer a bottle every 2–3 hours at first, then closer to every 3–4 hours by the end of the first month. If your baby finishes quickly and still roots or licks lips, add ½–1 oz more. If they slow, turn away, or milk dribbles, pause and try paced feeding, then stop when satisfied.
Weight Rule You Can Use
A simple rule helps cross-check the chart: about 2½ ounces (75 ml) of formula per pound of body weight in 24 hours, with an average ceiling near 32 ounces (960 ml). For a 7 lb newborn, that’s roughly 17–20 oz per day, split across 8–10 feeds in week one and 6–8 feeds by week four. Treat the math as a range, not a quota. See the AAP’s guidance on formula amounts for details. Use it as a range.
Hunger And Fullness Cues
Early hunger looks like stirring, hand-to-mouth, rooting, and soft fussing. Late hunger shows up as hard crying, which can make latching on the bottle tough. Fullness shows as relaxed hands, slower sucks, turning the head, sealed lips, and dozing off. Follow the cues; the chart will fall into place.
How Often To Feed In The First Weeks
Most formula-fed newborns take 8–12 feeds in 24 hours during the first days and then settle into about every 3–4 hours as stomach size grows. It’s okay to wake a sleepy baby in the early weeks if a stretch goes past four hours. Regular, calm feeds help keep intake steady. See the CDC’s page on how much and how often to feed infant formula for timing ranges.
Bottle And Nipple Tips
Start with a slow-flow nipple to match a newborn’s easy pace. Hold the bottle more horizontal than vertical; tip just enough to keep the nipple half-filled with milk so air isn’t the main course. Try “paced bottle feeding”: give several swallows, lower the bottle, let baby breathe, then resume. Switch sides in your arms to mimic the change of sides at breast.
Mixing And Safety Basics
Read the can’s scoop directions every time. Measure the water first, then add powder, and level the scoop—no heaping. Use safe water. Warm a bottle under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water; skip the microwave. Use prepared formula within two hours (or within one hour of the start of a feed). If you chill a fresh bottle right away, use it within 24 hours. Toss leftovers from a used bottle; saliva plus formula invites bacteria.
Storing, Warming, And Re-warming
Mix bottles in batches only if you can chill them right away. Label each one with the open date. Warm under running warm water or by placing the bottle in a bowl; swirling beats shaking, which can add bubbles. Skip re-warming the same bottle twice. Once a bottle sits at room temp for two hours, or a feed has been underway for one hour, discard what’s left. If you cooled a fresh bottle right after mixing, use it within 24 hours. For trips, keep bottles on ice in an insulated bag and move them to a fridge on arrival.
First Month Notes
Diapers tell the story. Expect at least 6–8 wet diapers a day after the first week, plus regular soft stools. A day with one lighter feed or one hungry day happens. Steady weight gain across the month matters more than a single number from yesterday.
How To Read Growth Alongside The Chart
Intake and growth work together. After the first week, most babies gain roughly 150–210 grams per week in the early months. That trend, along with steady diaper counts and a content baby between feeds, tells you the volume is on track. A single big spit-up or a lighter day doesn’t erase a good week.
Night Feeds And Sleep Windows
Newborns aren’t wired for long stretches yet. In the first two weeks many eat around the clock without a set pattern. By weeks 3–4, many take a longer stretch once per day; for some that happens at night. You can tilt calories toward daytime by feeding every 3 hours during the day, then offering one “dream feed” before your own bedtime. If a night stretch goes beyond 4–5 hours in the first weeks, wake for a bottle so daily totals keep pace.
Common Bottle Troubles And Simple Fixes
Gulping and gas? Try a slower-flow nipple, keep the bottle angle shallow, and burp more often. Lots of milk leaking at the corners of the mouth points to flow that’s too fast or a nipple that’s too large. Long, sleepy feeds can come from a flow that’s too slow or a baby who’s simply tired—offer a mid-feed burp and a diaper change to perk up. Frequent spit-up can follow big, fast feeds; smaller, more frequent bottles for a day or two can help.
Ready-To-Feed, Powder, Or Liquid Concentrate
All three meet nutrition standards when mixed right. Ready-to-feed is the least fuss and handy for the early days or for travel; it also avoids water questions. Powder is budget-friendly and widely available. Liquid concentrate sits between the two. Whichever route you take, stick to the mix printed on the label. Thinning formula with extra water lowers calories and can be unsafe; extra-strong mixes are hard on a newborn’s kidneys.
Travel, Workdays, And On-The-Go Bottles
Make fresh bottles before you head out and keep them cold in an insulated bag with ice packs. Use chilled bottles within 24 hours; once you take one out and warm it, the two-hour clock starts. If you won’t have a fridge, bring sealed ready-to-feed bottles and a clean nipple. Pack extra bibs and burp cloths so you’re not rationing mid-day.
Preemie And Low Birth Weight Notes
Babies born early or small often need a tailored plan. Some use higher-calorie formula, and many feed more often with smaller volumes. Your neonatal or pediatric team will set targets and timing for weight checks. If your baby tires during feeds, handle bottles gently, keep sessions shorter, and allow extra pauses.
Teaming Formula With Vitamin D And Iron
Standard infant formula already includes vitamin D and iron at levels designed for infancy. Unless a doctor gives other directions, separate drops aren’t needed for babies who take only formula. If you’re mixed feeding, your doctor may suggest drops until daily formula volume rises.
When To Adjust The Chart
Bump the per-feed volume by about ½–1 oz if several feeds in a row end with an empty bottle and clear hunger cues. Trim back a bit if spit-up increases, stools turn watery, or feeds drag on with lots of dribbling. Growth spurts can bring a few very hungry days; they pass.
| Weight | Approx Daily Total | Per Feed If 8 Feeds |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (2.7 kg) | ~15 oz (450 ml) | ~2 oz (60 ml) |
| 7 lb (3.2 kg) | ~17–20 oz (510–600 ml) | ~2–2½ oz (60–75 ml) |
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | ~20 oz (600 ml) | ~2½ oz (75 ml) |
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | ~22–23 oz (660–690 ml) | ~2¾–3 oz (80–90 ml) |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | ~25 oz (750 ml) | ~3–3¼ oz (90–100 ml) |
Red Flags And When To Get Help
Call your baby’s doctor without delay for fewer than five wet diapers after day five, dark yellow urine, no stool for several days with distress, frequent forceful vomiting, a fever, or any sharp drop in appetite. Trust your gut—if something feels off, reach out.
Sample Day Plan, Weeks 1–6
Here’s a simple way to build a day that fits the chart while staying flexible:
Week 1–2
Offer 30–60 ml every 2–3 hours (8–12 feeds). Use the slow-flow nipple and lots of pauses.
Week 3–4
Offer 60–90 ml every 3 hours (about 8 feeds). If a stretch passes four hours, wake for a feed.
Week 5–6
Offer 75–120 ml every 3–4 hours (6–8 feeds). Many babies start skipping one night feed as intake rises in daylight hours.
Across all weeks: burp midway and at the end, switch arms, and keep the bottle angle gentle. Night feeds stay calm and dim; daytime feeds can include short, alert play after a burp. Calmly.
Final Pointers
- Keep powder dry and the lid tight; most cans need to be used within a month of opening.
- Store unopened cans in a cool, dry spot.
- Wash hands, bottles, and rings before each prep.
- Write the open date on each can so you’re not guessing.
- If water safety is in doubt, boil then cool for newborn use.
- Formula is ready to serve as is; no cereal in the bottle.