Newborn milk needs start near 5–10 mL per feed on day 1, rising to about 45–60 mL by day 7 and 90–120 mL by week 4.
New babies eat often, and the amount in each feed changes fast. The first days bring small sips of colostrum. By the end of the first month, most babies take larger, steadier feeds. This guide puts the numbers so you can match mL to age, weight, and cues.
How Much Milk A Newborn Needs In mL: Daily And Per-Feed Guide
| Age | Per Feed (mL) | Feeds/24h |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 5–10 | 8–12 |
| Day 2 | 10–20 | 8–12 |
| Day 3 | 22–27 | 8–12 |
| Days 4–6 | 30–60 | 8–12 |
| Day 7 | 45–60 | 8–12 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 45–90 | 8–12 |
| Weeks 4–6 | 90–120 | 7–9 |
These ranges work for breast milk or formula and reflect typical full-term babies. Always watch your baby, not just the clock. Hungry babies root, lick lips, and bring hands to mouth; content babies relax and release the nipple.
Numbers above match the shift from tiny colostrum feeds to mature milk. AAP guidance also gives a handy rule for bottle volumes: about 2.5 ounces per pound of body weight per day, with a cap near 32 ounces in 24 hours. In metric, that’s roughly 75 mL per pound per day, up to about 960 mL total.
Why Early Feeds Are Small Yet Frequent
On the first day, a newborn belly is tiny. Colostrum is thick and rich, so small amounts go a long way. Frequent feeds help milk come in and keep baby satisfied. By day 3, many babies handle near 25 mL each feed; by one week, closer to 45–60 mL is common. That jump can feel sudden, so plan for more frequent burps and extra diaper changes.
Breastfeeding: What Changes Week By Week
Days 0–3: Colostrum Phase
Expect 8–12 feeds in 24 hours. Each feed may be brief yet powerful. Hand expression after latching can boost transfer and comfort. You’ll notice sticky, golden milk and a sleepy newborn who perks up with skin-to-skin.
Days 4–7: Milk Volume Rises
Milk lightens in color and flows more easily. Per-feed volumes move toward the 30–60 mL range. Many babies settle into longer stretches between some feeds, cluster at certain times of day.
Weeks 2–4: Steadier Rhythm
Feeds often land in the 60–120 mL range, spaced every 2–3 hours, with one or two longer stretches at night. Growth spurts can bring bursts of near-hourly nursing. Offer both sides and let baby finish the first side before switching to help transfer higher-fat milk.
If you bottle your expressed milk, pace the bottle so baby leads. A slow flow nipple and brief pauses help match the breast rhythm and prevent overfilling.
Bottle Feeding: How Much Formula In mL
Formula amounts rise with weight and time between feeds. Use your baby’s cues and the daily limit from pediatric guidance as guardrails.
Weight-Based Daily Estimate
Multiply baby’s weight in pounds by 2.5 to get daily ounces. Convert to mL by multiplying ounces by 30. Round to what fits your routine and watch baby’s signals.
Daily Upper Limit
Most babies don’t need more than 32 ounces of formula in 24 hours (about 960 mL). If bottles are pushing past that mark day after day, check flow rate, pacing, and burping. Some babies keep sucking for comfort even when full.
mL–Ounce Quick Conversions
30 mL = 1 oz; 60 mL = 2 oz; 90 mL = 3 oz; 120 mL = 4 oz. Mark bottles at these points for fast prep at night.
Timing And Frequency That Work
Breastfed newborns often eat every 2–3 hours from the start of one feed to the next. Bottle-fed newborns commonly space feeds near every 3–4 hours. That said, brief stretches outside these ranges happen, especially during growth spurts. Aim for at least 8 feeds in 24 hours in the early weeks; the CDC lists 8–12 as a common range. Short daytime naps can keep feeds closer together. Night stretches lengthen as weight climbs and latch improves. That’s normal.
Hunger Cues And Fullness Signals
Early Hunger Cues
Lip smacking, tongue flicks, rooting, bringing hands to mouth, and fussing. Offer the breast or bottle at this stage for a calm latch or seal.
Late Hunger
Crying, frantic movements, stiff arms. Calm with skin-to-skin or a short cuddle, then feed.
Fullness Signs
Relaxed hands, slow sucking, turning away, or releasing the nipple. Pause, burp, and offer more only if baby leans back in.
Diapers, Weight, And Growth Checkpoints
Wet diapers climb across the first week. Expect two to three wet diapers per day in the first couple of days, then at least five to six after day four. Stools pick up as milk moves from colostrum to mature milk. Your pediatric visits track weight on a growth chart. Steady gains and lively alert time between feeds are good signs the intake is on target.
Sample 24-Hour Feeding Snapshot
Here’s a practical way to picture the day. On day 2, aim for 8–12 feeds. If feeds land every 2–3 hours, many will sit near 10–20 mL per feed. Night feeds count; set alarms if your newborn sleeps through long stretches. At week 4, many babies take 90–120 mL per feed every 3 hours, with one longer stretch at night. If a feed runs short, the next one often runs longer and the daily total still balances out.
Burps, Spit-Up, And Gas
Small air bubbles are common. A gentle mid-feed burp and a second burp at the end often solve it. If spit-up shows, check nipple flow, keep baby upright for 15–20 minutes after feeds, and try smaller, more frequent volumes for a day. Persistent forceful vomiting or green bile needs medical care.
What Changes With Pumping
If you pump in the early weeks, think like a newborn stomach. Small portions prevent waste and make warming fast. Store in 60–120 mL bags or bottles, then combine after warming only if baby wants more. Supply climbs across the month when milk is removed often and the fit and settings feel comfortable. If you pump in addition to nursing, keep sessions short and space them between feeds so baby still gets the breast first.
Preterm, Low Birth Weight, Or Jaundice
Some babies need specific plans. Late preterm babies can be sleepy and take less at a time. Babies with jaundice may tire before finishing. Your care team may set minimum volumes per feed and ask you to wake for feeds until weight and energy pick up. Extra skin-to-skin and frequent attempts help.
Night Feeds And Daytime Rhythm
Most newborns wake at night to eat. Keep lights low. Offer a full feed, change the diaper midway to re-wake if needed, then finish the feed. In daytime, open curtains, talk during changes, and fit in tummy-to-tummy time between feeds. Gentle structure by day can lengthen a night stretch later in the month.
Weight-Based Daily Estimate Table
| Baby Weight | Daily Total (mL) | Per Feed mL (8 feeds) |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 kg (6 lb 10 oz) | ~500–550 | 60–70 |
| 3.6 kg (8 lb) | ~600–650 | 75–80 |
| 4.5 kg (10 lb) | ~750–820 | 90–100 |
| 5.4 kg (12 lb) | ~900–980 | 110–125 |
Safe Prep And Storage Notes
Wash hands, measure powder with the scoop, and follow the tin’s water line. Mix fresh bottles for each feed when you can. If you prep ahead, chill fast and use within the window on your brand’s label. For expressed milk, label volume and date; store in small 60–120 mL portions to reduce waste.
How To Spot Overfeeding
Signs include gulping from a fast nipple, finishing bottles in minutes, arching, frequent spit-up, and needing to be held more upright to stay settled. Slow the flow, pace the bottle, and cut each feed by 15–30 mL to test comfort. You can always add a top-off. The goal is a calm baby who stops when full.
How To Spot Undereating
Red flags include few wet diapers after day four, scant stools, long sleepy stretches with weak suck, and slow weight gain at visits. Offer feeds more often, switch sides during nursing, or add a small top-up after the breast while you sort latch and milk transfer. Seek hands-on help if these signs don’t ease in a day.
Red Flags: Call Your Pediatrician
Get help right away if any of these show up: fewer than three wet diapers by day three, fewer than five by day five, no stool by day four, dark urine or dry mouth, weak suck, repeated vomiting, or hard belly with poor feeds. Call if daily intake drops for more than a day, or if bottles must exceed the 960 mL cap to keep baby settled.