How Much Milk Should A Newborn Drink? | Feeding Basics

Newborn feeding basics

New babies eat often. In the first days and weeks, many feed 8–12 times in 24 hours. Sessions vary. Some are quick snacks, others linger. That’s normal. Offer the breast or bottle when you see early cues, not just by the clock. Breastfed babies tend to take smaller, more frequent feeds. Bottle-fed babies often stretch feeds to every 3–4 hours. Both patterns can work when you follow cues and growth.

How much milk should a newborn drink per day: cues and ranges

Per feed, expect a gentle climb. On day one, tiny tummies only hold drops. By the end of week one, many take 45–60 ml per feed. Through the first month, typical feeds reach 90–120 ml for many babies. Across the day, formula totals usually stay under 946 ml (32 oz daily ceiling). Breastfed babies vary more from feed to feed but end up near similar daily energy needs. Watch the baby, not the clock; steady weight gain and relaxed, drowsy post-feed behavior point to enough milk.

Early week intake by age (guide)

Age	Typical Feed Size	Notes
Day 1	5–7 ml (1–1½ tsp)	Frequent feeds build supply
Day 3	22–27 ml (4–5 tsp)	Stomach capacity grows quickly
End of Week 1	45–60 ml (1½–2 oz)	Many babies show longer stretches

Breastfeeding amounts: what you can track

You can’t see ounces at the breast, so lean on what you can measure. Feed 8–12 times daily in the early weeks, including at night. Expect a soft jaw rhythm and steady swallows. After a good feed, many babies unlatch on their own, look relaxed, and may drift to sleep. If a nap runs long and several feeds were short, offer another session.

Hunger and fullness cues

Early cues include stirring, stretching, hand-to-mouth, rooting, and lip smacking. Crying is a late cue and can make latching harder. During a bottle, pause for pacing and check for relaxed hands and slower sucking as fullness arrives. Turning away, sealing the lips, or dozing off after a steady feed often signals “I’m done.”

Diaper and weight patterns

Wet diapers tell a clear story. Expect one or two wets on day one and day two, then more each day. After the first week, six or more wets daily is common. Stools shift from dark meconium to mustard-yellow, loose, and seedy with breastfeeds. Formula stools often look tan and pasty. Weight checks with your clinic confirm intake. Small day-to-day swings happen; steady weekly gain matters most.

Bottle and formula: practical volumes

If you use formula, start small in the first days: 30–60 ml per feed every 2–3 hours. As weeks pass, many bottles land near 90–120 ml. A rule for full-formula feeding is 2 to 2½ ounces per pound per lb daily, up to a daily cap near 32 ounces. Spacing often settles around every 3–4 hours, though growth spurts can bunch feeds closer. Let the baby set the pace.

Pumped milk and mixed feeding

Pumped milk in a bottle follows similar sizes. Early bottles often hold 45–90 ml. Use paced bottle feeding so the baby leads and doesn’t overfill just because milk flows. Hold the bottle more horizontal, pause often, and switch sides midway to mimic the rhythm at the breast. If you split days between breast and bottle, aim for many short, calm sessions rather than large catch-up bottles.

Night feeds and growth spurts

Night feeds keep supply and growth on track. Many babies need several night feeds in the first months. Short bursts of extra feeding, called cluster feeding, tend to pop up in the evening or during spurts in the first weeks. Offer more sessions, keep bottles modest, and expect stretches to lengthen again.

When amounts may shift

Some situations call for closer attention to intake. Babies born early or small may tire fast and need more frequent, smaller feeds. Jaundice, tongue-tie, or latch pain can cut transfer; skilled help can get feeds back on track. Reflux signs can look like hunger or refusal; smaller, paced feeds may reduce spit-up. If weight gain slows, raise feed counts and seek hands-on guidance from your care team.

Safe preparation and pacing tips

Wash hands, use clean bottles, and mix formula exactly as the label states. Water that’s too strong or too weak changes calories and can be unsafe. Make fresh formula for each feed when you can, or refrigerate made-ahead bottles right away and use within the stated time on the label. Discard leftover milk from a used bottle after two hours at room temp. For pumped milk, store in small 60–90 ml portions to cut waste, and warm gently in a bowl of warm water, not a microwave.

What if my newborn seems always hungry?

Run through cues first. A baby rooting right after a full, calm feed may want comfort or a change in position. Try a burp, skin-to-skin, or a brief pause. If feeds are short and the baby keeps waking early, offer another session sooner and see if swallows pick up. For bottle feeds, slow the flow with paced technique or a slower nipple and watch the baby relax into a steadier pattern.

How to read growth with your feeding plan

Track feed counts, wet diapers, and wake-sleep stretches for a few days rather than judging a single session. A log can reveal patterns: short, frequent morning feeds with longer afternoon bottles; or vice versa. Share that pattern at checkups. Care teams can weigh before and after a breastfeed when needed. If you’re pumping, note time of day; supply often peaks in the morning.

Breastfeeding comfort tips that help intake

A wide, deep latch helps transfer. Line up nose to nipple, wait for a big open mouth, then bring baby in chest-to-chest. Chin and nose near the breast, lips flanged, and ears-shoulders-hips in one line all help good milk flow. Switch sides when swallowing slows. If nursing hurts past the first moments, ask for hands-on help.

Setting bottle size and pace

For the first month, keep bottles small and steady rather than pushing big jumps. Many babies do well with 60–90 ml, then 90–120 ml by four weeks, with breaks for burps. Hold the baby upright, keep the bottle tilted just enough to fill the nipple, and pause every few minutes. Respect stop signals, even if milk remains.

Formula daily volume guide

Baby Weight	Daily Total	Per-Feed (8 feeds)
6 lb (2.7 kg)	12–15 oz (355–444 ml)	1.5–1.9 oz (45–56 ml)
8 lb (3.6 kg)	16–20 oz (473–591 ml)	2.0–2.5 oz (59–74 ml)
10 lb (4.5 kg)	20–25 oz (591–739 ml)	2.5–3.1 oz (74–92 ml)

Common questions parents ask

“How do I know the daily limit?” For formula, stay under 946 ml daily unless your clinician advises otherwise. “Do bigger babies need bigger bottles?” Often yes, but pace matters. “Can I stretch night feeds?” In the early weeks, long gaps can cut intake, so offer feeds if sleep stretches go beyond 4–5 hours. “What about pacifiers?” Use after feeding is going well so hunger cues stay clear.

Milk math for pumping days

Pumping parents can set bottle sizes with simple math. Take weight in pounds, multiply by 2 to 2½ for a daily ounce range, then divide by the feeds you plan. Many babies sip smaller bottles during care hours and then nurse more in the evening. Date each bottle, offer the oldest first, and store in 60–90 ml portions to limit waste. Thaw in the fridge when you can and warm by standing the bottle in warm water.

Safe formula prep quick list

Use safe water, measure powder and water exactly as the label states, keep the scoop dry, and cap containers tightly. Refrigerate mixed formula right away if not serving. Warm by standing bottles in warm water and test on your wrist. Discard leftovers from a used bottle after two hours at room temp.

A simple day might include morning breastfeeds, a late-afternoon cluster, and night sessions, totaling nine to eleven feeds with 60–120 ml bottles and breastfeeds woven between naps and diaper changes.

Red flags that warrant a call

Call your pediatrician fast for fewer than six wets after day five, no stool by day four, fewer than eight feeds a day, strong yellow urine, listless behavior, fever, repeated choking at the bottle, or forceful vomiting. Trust your gut. If feeds are hard, seek hands-on help early, including a lactation visit, since small tweaks with latch, position, nipple flow, or pacing often restore calm intake and comfort.

Key takeaways for newborn feeds

Feed early and often. Watch your baby’s cues and diapers. Keep first bottles modest. Use paced technique. For formula, aim for 2 to 2½ ounces per pound per day, with a daily ceiling near 32 ounces. For breastfeeds, expect 8–12 sessions in 24 hours and rely on relaxed post-feed behavior and steady growth as your gauge. Adjust as your baby shows you their rhythm, and reach out for help if feedings feel off.