How Much Formula Milk To Give A Newborn? | Safe Start

New parents ask this on day one: how much formula should a newborn drink? A clear guide helps you feed with confidence, keep growth steady, and avoid overfilling small tummies. The amounts below come from pediatric guidance and public health services, paired with simple cues so you can adjust for your baby.

Newborn Formula Amounts At A Glance

Use this quick view as a starting point. Feed responsively and stop when your baby shows they are done.

Age	Typical Amount Per Feed	Feeds In 24 Hours
First days	1–2 oz (30–60 ml)	Every 2–3 hours
End of week 1	2–3 oz (60–90 ml)	8–12 feeds
Weeks 2–4	3–4 oz (90–120 ml)	6–8 feeds
By 2 months	4–5 oz (120–150 ml)	6–7 feeds

HealthyChildren.org from the American Academy of Pediatrics outlines the early range and the common daily cap of about 32 oz per day, while the NHS stresses responsive feeding and watching nappies. Read more on the AAP’s guide to formula amounts and schedules.

How Much Formula Milk To Give A Newborn By Day And Week

First 48 Hours

Small and frequent wins. Early feeds sit around 1–2 oz per session. Expect short gaps and sleepy pauses. If your baby wakes often, that is normal this week. Offer the bottle when you see early hunger signs such as rooting, lip smacking, or hands to mouth.

End Of Week One

Intake climbs. Many babies take 2–3 oz per feed and stretch to every 3 hours. If a long nap pushes a feed past 4–5 hours in the first weeks, wake your baby and offer a bottle so they do not miss needed calories, a tip echoed by the AAP.

Weeks Two To Four

Moves toward 3–4 oz per feed with 6–8 feeds in a day. Nights may space out a bit, yet plenty of newborns still wake for one or two bottles. Empty bottles do not always mean more is required; some babies enjoy sucking even after they have taken enough.

Weight-Based Daily Guide: 150–200 ml/kg And The 2½ oz/lb Rule

There are two common ways to size total daily formula for a young baby.

Metric Method (ml/kg)

Public health services in the UK often quote 150–200 ml of formula per kilogram of body weight per day once you are past the first few days. That sets a lower and upper guide. A 3.5 kg newborn would land between 525 and 700 ml across 24 hours, split into feeds.

US Method (oz per lb)

The AAP shares a simple rule of thumb: about 2½ oz of formula per pound of body weight per day, with a daily ceiling near 32 oz. A 7 lb baby would average around 17–20 oz in a day, spread across 8 or so feeds early on.

These are guides, not targets. Stop when your baby turns away, seals lips, slows sucking, or looks relaxed and sleepy. If bottles run dry at many feeds and your baby still cues strongly, add a little next time.

Hunger And Fullness Cues You Can Trust

Hunger Cues

Early: stirring, hand-to-mouth, lip smacking, rooting. Later: fussing or crying. Offer the bottle at the early stage so feeds stay calm.

Fullness Cues

Turning head away, sealing lips, slower sucks with longer pauses, relaxing hands, falling asleep near the end. End the feed at those signs. Do not push to finish a set number of ounces.

Wet And Dirty Diapers

The NHS notes that from a few days of age most babies have around six wet diapers in 24 hours, pale yellow urine, and regular soft stools. Weight checks over time tell the real story. If nappies are scant or dark, call your midwife, health visitor, or pediatrician.

When A Newborn Seems Too Hungry Or Not Hungry Enough

Some days bring cluster feeds; other days bring long naps. Short term swings are normal. Look for patterns over several days. That’s okay.

Baby Seems Extra Hungry

First check pace. Slow the feed, pause to burp, and give time for fullness to register. If the bottle is empty at many feeds and hunger cues return soon after, raise each feed by ½ oz (15 ml) and watch diapers and comfort.

Baby Often Leaves Milk

Try a slower-flow teat, more pauses, and smaller offers. Let your baby stop early without pressure. Many newborns take varied amounts across the day.

Daily Formula By Baby Weight (Guide)

The table below uses the 150–200 ml/kg range. Pick the line closest to your baby’s weight. Stay under the common daily cap of about 32 oz (960 ml) unless your clinician advises otherwise.

Baby Weight	Total Per Day (ml)	Total Per Day (oz)
2.5 kg (5 lb 8 oz)	375–500	12.7–16.9
3.0 kg (6 lb 10 oz)	450–600	15.2–20.3
3.5 kg (7 lb 11 oz)	525–700	17.8–23.7
4.0 kg (8 lb 13 oz)	600–800	20.3–27.0
4.5 kg (9 lb 15 oz)	675–900	22.9–30.4

Ranges give room for growth spurts and sleepy days most weeks. Your baby may sit near the lower bound on quiet days and the upper bound during busy spells.

Safe Prep, Storage, And Warming

Safety first, every bottle. A trusted resource covers the basics: the CDC page on formula preparation and storage. Here’s the gist:

• Wash hands and clean surfaces. Sterilise bottles and teats before first use; keep gear clean each day.
• Use safe water. In some settings boiled water is advised for young infants; cool before mixing. Follow local advice.
• Add water to the bottle first, then the powder. Use the scoop provided. Level it off. Stick to the label ratios.
• Shake to mix. Do not add extra water to stretch a tin. That can upset balance and growth.
• Use made-up formula within 2 hours at room temp, or store in the fridge and use within 24 hours. Discard leftovers from a used bottle.
• Warm bottles in a bowl of warm water or a warmer. Skip the microwave.

Night Feeds And Sleep Windows

In the first weeks, wake a baby who sleeps longer than 4–5 hours so feeds are not missed. As daytime intake increases, many babies lengthen the longest stretch at night. Daytime naps can be short; offer a feed when cues return instead of watching the clock. If weight checks trend well, your routine is working fine.

Overfeeding And The 32-Ounce Cap

The AAP advises keeping daily intake near or under about 32 oz (960 ml) for most babies. Drain-the-bottle habits can push past satiety. Pace feeds, switch sides halfway, and let your baby set the finish line.

Special Situations

Preterm Or Low Birthweight

Amounts and schedules can differ. Follow the plan set by your neonatal team or pediatrician, including any higher-calorie formula or fortifiers.

Reflux Or Spit-Up

Try smaller, more frequent feeds, slow pacing, and upright holding after the bottle. If weight gain stalls or feeding seems painful, arrange a check.

Hot Weather Or Illness

Offer regular feeds and watch diapers. Do not give plain water to a newborn. Formula already supplies water in the right ratio.

Bottle Technique That Helps Babies Self-Regulate

Paced bottle feeding keeps flow steady and gives your baby time to feel full. Hold your baby upright, keep the bottle more horizontal, and pause often. Switch sides to rest arms and keep eye contact fresh. Choose a slow-flow teat that shows gentle bubbles in the bottle during sucks.

Simple Math For Your Day

Plan A Day For A 3.2 kg Newborn

Using 150–200 ml/kg gives 480–640 ml per day. Split into 8 feeds and you get 60–80 ml (2–2.7 oz) per feed. If your baby takes more at one feed, the next one may be smaller.

Plan A Day For A 7 lb Newborn

Using 2½ oz per lb gives around 17–18 oz per day. With 8 feeds, that is roughly 2–2.5 oz each. If diapers and mood are great, you are right on track.

Common Formula Mistakes And Easy Fixes

Big wins come from small tweaks. Here are frequent pitfalls you can dodge:

• Pouring powder first: measure water first so every scoop hits the right ratio.
• Chasing ounces: watching the bottle instead of your baby can lead to overfeeding. Watch cues and end the feed when comfort returns.
• Fast-flow teats in week one: a quick stream shortens feeds and blunts fullness. Start slow-flow and step up only when sucking looks laboured.
• Reusing leftovers: once a bottle has touched a baby’s mouth, bacteria enter. Discard what remains after the window listed above.
• Skipping burps: gentle pauses reduce trapped air and fussiness. Many babies like a burp halfway and at the end.
• Microwaving bottles: hotspots risk burns. Use warm water instead.

When To Seek Extra Guidance

Reach out promptly if your newborn has fewer than four wet diapers after day four, dark urine, weak sucking, repeated vomiting, a sharp drop in appetite, or poor weight gain. A midwife, health visitor, or pediatrician can review feeding and growth with you.