In the first days, newborns take 30–60 mL per feed, rising to about 60–90 mL by week 1 and 75–120 mL by weeks 2–4.
New parents ask this on day one, and the answer changes fast during the first month. Babies have tiny bellies at birth, then their intake climbs as milk supply builds or bottle volumes increase. Numbers help, but your baby’s cues lead the way. This guide gives clear ranges, plain signs, and easy math so you can feed with confidence.
Newborn Milk Intake At A Glance
Use these ranges as starting points. Feed to cues and adjust within the band. Breastfed babies skew to smaller, more frequent feeds; bottle-fed babies take larger, spaced feeds.
| Age | Per Feed | Feeds/24h |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | 30–60 mL (1–2 oz) | 8–12 feeds |
| Days 4–7 | 45–90 mL (1.5–3 oz) | 8–12 feeds |
| Weeks 2–3 | 60–90 mL (2–3 oz) | 8–12 feeds |
| Week 4 | 75–120 mL (2.5–4 oz) | 7–9 feeds |
These bands line up with guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC.
Why Amounts Rise In Weeks One To Four
Colostrum comes first, in small but rich volumes. Over the first week, supply shifts toward mature milk and bottle volumes trend up. At the same time, stomach stretch grows, and babies get more efficient at the breast or bottle. That is why the per-feed range moves from about 30–60 mL early on to 75–120 mL by the end of the first month.
How Much Milk Does A Newborn Drink Daily?
Daily intake is the sum of each feed over 24 hours. Many babies land between 400 and 900 mL in the first month, depending on body size and feeding style. For formula, a handy rule is about 2½ ounces per pound of body weight per day, with an upper limit near 32 ounces in a day. Breastfed babies often spread a similar total across more feeds, so single feed amounts can look smaller while the day’s total still adds up.
Breastfed Baby: What To Expect
Plan on 8–12 feeds every 24 hours during the newborn stage. Early days may feel like one long cluster; that pattern helps supply. Swallows sound soft and regular, and your baby settles between feeds when the amount fits their need. If you are offering expressed milk, start with 30–60 mL in the first days and work toward 60–90 mL in the second week, adjusting to cues.
Formula-Fed Baby: What To Expect
Bottle-fed newborns often take 1–2 ounces per feed in week one, then 3–4 ounces by week four, with feeds spaced every 3–4 hours. Use responsive bottle skills: hold your baby upright, keep the bottle level to slow the flow, pause often for burps, and let your baby decide when the feed ends. Stop when lips soften, sucking slows, or your baby turns away. Forced extra ounces can cause spit-ups and discomfort.
Reading Hunger And Fullness Cues
Early hunger signs include stirring, hand-to-mouth, and rooting. Late cues include crying and stiffening. Offer the breast or bottle at early cues when you can. Fullness shows up as relaxed hands, longer pauses, or sleepy eyes. Staying cue-led keeps intake in the right zone without chasing strict clocks.
Sample 24-Hour Patterns In Week One
Every baby writes a different script, yet common patterns repeat. A breastfed baby may feed around 10–12 times with several clusters from dusk to midnight. A bottle-fed baby may eat 8–10 times with feeds around every 3 hours. Night feeds are normal through the first months and protect growth.
Signs Your Newborn Is Getting Enough
Weight checks trend in the right direction after the first few days. Wet diapers are regular. Stools shift from dark meconium to lighter yellow. Your baby has wakeful windows, soft skin tone, and steady energy for short spells of alert time. If something feels off, reach out to your care team for a quick review.
How To Size A Bottle Of Expressed Milk
When offering pumped milk, start on the low side and top up only if cues say so. In week one, many babies take 30–60 mL per bottle. In weeks two to four, 60–90 mL fits most feeds; some daytime bottles reach 120 mL as appetite grows. Use a slow-flow nipple and paced bottle-feeding to match a breast-like rhythm.
Burps, Pace, And Comfortable Feeds
Newborns swallow air. Gentle pauses help. Aim for one or two burp breaks per feed. Keep your baby more upright and tilt the bottle just enough to fill the nipple, not flood it. Switch sides at the breast to balance supply. Small tweaks like these often calm gassiness and cut down on spit-ups.
When Baby Wants More Than The Table Shows
Growth spurts pop up around weeks two and three. Feeds bunch closer and bottles empty quicker. That is normal. Offer another 15–30 mL if a bottle ends and cues say more. At the breast, switch sides more than once and let your baby linger. The surge usually passes within a couple of days.
When Baby Takes Less
Sleepy stretches happen, too. If a newborn goes longer than 3–4 hours without a feed during the day, offer a gentle wake-up and try. In the first weeks, most babies still need 8–12 feeds in 24 hours. A short day of lighter intake often balances out with a busy day next.
Paced Bottle-Feeding Steps
Hold your baby semi-upright, with head steady. Tick the nipple to the top lip and wait for a wide latch. Keep the bottle nearly level so milk flows slowly. Let your baby pause. Break the seal gently to add a burp. Watch for relaxed hands and softening jaw to end the feed.
Safe Prep And Storage Notes
Use freshly expressed milk or formula mixed as directed on the label. Wash hands, clean parts, and follow time-and-temp limits. Ready-to-feed formula is handy for the first days. Mixed powders need safe water and careful scoops. Discard leftover milk from a finished bottle to reduce the risk of germ growth.
Second-Month Preview
By weeks five to eight, single feeds often sit near 90–120 mL for many babies. Some take a bit more in bottles, with fewer total feeds. Babies still wake to eat at night. Daytime intake can spread out, and parents settle into a groove. Growth leaps and vaccine days can spike appetite for short runs.
Formula Day Totals By Weight
Here is a quick view using the 2½ oz per pound rule of thumb, capped near 32 oz in a day. Remember: cues come first.
| Weight | Daily Total | Daily Total (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lb (≈2.7 kg) | 15.0 oz/day | 444 mL/day |
| 7 lb (≈3.2 kg) | 17.5 oz/day | 517 mL/day |
| 8 lb (≈3.6 kg) | 20.0 oz/day | 591 mL/day |
| 9 lb (≈4.1 kg) | 22.5 oz/day | 665 mL/day |
| 10 lb (≈4.5 kg) | 25.0 oz/day | 739 mL/day |
| 11 lb (≈5.0 kg) | 27.5 oz/day | 812 mL/day |
Breast Or Bottle: Finding A Comfortable Flow
Flow that matches your baby’s rhythm keeps intake steady and stress low. You can shape flow with position, nipple choice, and pauses.
Signs Flow Is Too Fast
Milk leaks from the corners of the mouth, breathing looks rushed, or your baby coughs and pulls back. Try a slower nipple, hold your baby more upright, and tip the bottle less.
Signs Flow Is Too Slow
Your baby falls asleep within minutes, sucks hard with few swallows, or shows frustration. Warm the bottle, try a fresh nipple, or compress the breast during let-down to boost transfer.
Pumping And Milk Transfer Basics
Short, frequent sessions in the early days work well. Hand expression after a pump can move extra drops of colostrum. If you are building a small stash, label by date and use older bottles first. When another caregiver offers a bottle, align timing with your baby’s usual window to keep the daily total on track.
Simple Math You Can Use
Here is a quick way to turn weight into a bottle plan. Take weight in pounds and multiply by 2.5 to get a rough daily ounce total. For metric, multiply weight in kilograms by 150 to 180 to get mL per day. Divide the total by the number of feeds you expect.
Example: a 3.5 kg newborn weighs about 7.7 lb. Using the rule above, the day’s total is near 19 oz (about 560 mL). If you plan 10 feeds, each one averages around 55–60 mL. Some will be a bit less, some a bit more. Cues set the final call.
What Not To Stress About
One feed by itself rarely tells the whole story. View the whole day calmly. A light feed can be followed by a hearty one. The bottled amount your friend’s baby takes may not fit your baby’s needs. Growth, wake windows, and tummy comfort vary.
When To Call Your Clinic
Reach out fast if your newborn is hard to wake for feeds, looks listless, has few wet diapers, or skin and lips look dry. Feeding is only one piece; behavior and hydration matter too. A quick call can reset the plan and ease worry.
Quick Troubleshooting
Spit-Ups After Feeds
Try smaller portions, longer pauses, and an upright hold for 20–30 minutes. Check nipple flow; too fast can cause gulping. Keep burp cloths handy and pace feeds with gentle pauses between swallows.
Sleepy Baby, Short Feeds
Unwrap, change the diaper, and use skin-to-skin or a gentle back rub to wake. Offer both breasts or slow sips from the bottle.
Always Hungry Signs
Babies hit stretches with higher need. Add one extra feed or bump bottles by 15–30 mL for a day or two, then reassess.