In the first week, most newborns take 2–60 mL per feed, rising to about 60–90 mL by week two and ~750 mL across a day by one month.
New babies feed often and in small amounts. Milk volume grows fast across the first days. Knowing average milliliters helps parents pace feeds, read hunger cues, and spot when a check with a clinician makes sense.
How Many Milliliters Of Breast Milk Per Newborn Feed: Day-By-Day
Every baby is different, yet the ranges below line up with common patterns seen in nurseries and lactation clinics. Use them as guardrails, not rigid targets. Watch diapers, weight trends, and your baby’s mood between feeds.
| Age | Per Feed (mL) | Feeds/24h |
|---|---|---|
| Birth–24 hours | 2–10 | 8–12 |
| 24–48 hours | 5–15 | 8–12 |
| 48–72 hours | 15–30 | 8–12 |
| 3–4 days | 30–60 | 8–12 |
| End of week 1 | 45–60 | 8–12 |
| Week 2 | 60–90 | 7–10 |
| Weeks 3–4 | 60–120 | 7–9 |
Why are the first numbers tiny? A newborn stomach starts off the size of a large marble and empties fast. Small, frequent feeds match that size and protect latch learning. By the fourth day, milk “comes in,” diapers turn seedy and yellow, and per-feed volumes jump.
Daily Intake: What A Newborn Drinks Across 24 Hours
Across the first month, intake climbs toward an average of about 750 mL per day, with a broad normal range from 570 to 900 mL. That range reflects body size, feed style, and time at the breast. Once supply and demand settle, daily volume stays fairly steady through the next months even as babies grow longer and heavier.
Breast Versus Bottle Of Expressed Milk
At the breast, babies self-pace. With bottles of expressed milk, flow is fixed by the nipple and gravity. Use paced bottle feeding to mirror breast flow: hold the bottle horizontal, pause often, and switch sides mid-feed. Most newborn bottles fall in the 45–90 mL range in the first two weeks.
Hunger And Satiety Signals
Early cues include stirring, mouth opening, rooting, and hand-to-mouth. Crying comes late and can make latch harder. Toward the end of a good feed, arms soften, hands relax, and the jaw shows slow, deep sucks. A sleepy pause then a calm release tells you the tank is full.
What Shapes How Much Milk A Newborn Drinks
Volume stems from a mix of factors. Some relate to the baby (gestation, birth weight, tongue function). Others relate to milk transfer (position, latch, flow). A few relate to feeding method (breast only, expressed milk, or a mix). Here is a quick run-through.
Gestation And Birth Weight
Late preterm and smaller babies tire faster and may take shorter, more frequent feeds. They might need extra hand expression or pumping after feeds while skills mature. Care teams sometimes suggest small top-ups in the first days for these babies while working toward full breastfeeds.
Latch, Position, And Transfer
Deep latch makes a huge difference. Aim the nipple toward the roof of the mouth, wait for a wide gape, then bring baby in close. Listen for swallows. If you hear only light nibbling for long stretches, try a breast compress, a brief burp, or a switch to the other side.
Feed Spacing And Night Feeds
Eight to twelve feeds in 24 hours keeps supply on track and keeps per-feed volumes reasonable. Long gaps can lead to a heavy, fast let-down next time, which some babies handle better than others. Night feeds still count; many babies take two to four at first.
When Numbers Point To A Recheck
Numbers guide, but your baby’s output and weight tell the real story. In the first week, look for at least six wet diapers by day five, plus regular stools that shift from dark meconium to mustard-yellow. After day four, steady weight gain resumes.
Red Flags Worth A Call
- Fewer than six wet diapers by day five, or dark urine after the first days
- No stool for 24 hours in the first week, or stools that stay dark
- Ongoing, painful latch or nipple damage
- Sleepiness so deep that feeds are short or skipped
- Baby not back to birth weight by two weeks
Simple Ways To Raise Transfer
Skin-to-skin time, rooming-in, and cue-based feeds all help. Hand express a little before latch if the breasts feel very full; the softer areola often improves grip. If bottle top-ups are needed, try small amounts first, then offer the breast again.
Practical Sizing For Bottles And Pump Sessions
Parents who pump often ask how much milk to leave for a single feed. Use body weight, not age alone, to size a starting bottle, then adjust to your baby’s pace. This table gives safe starting points for expressed milk during the first month.
| Baby Weight | One Bottle (mL) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| < 3.0 kg | 30–60 | Offer two short pauses |
| 3.0–3.9 kg | 45–75 | Paced bottle steps |
| 4.0–4.9 kg | 60–90 | Watch for relaxed hands |
| ≥ 5.0 kg | 75–105 | Many stop near 90 |
Sample Day With Mixed Feeding
Let’s say a one-month-old takes about 750 mL across the day. If three feeds are bottles and five are at the breast, size each bottle near 90 mL and leave the rest for breastfeeds. If your baby leaves milk often, reduce each bottle by 10–15 mL and slow the flow.
Evidence Anchors You Can Trust
You’ll find consistent guidance from pediatric groups and lactation bodies. Clinical protocols from lactation experts outline typical early volumes and when small supplements are considered while latch improves.
How To Use Ranges Without Stress
Ranges are tools, not grades. Babies wake more during growth spurts, cluster feed during the evening, and sip during warm days. Track wet and dirty diapers, watch how your baby behaves during and after feeds, and keep a simple log during the first week if that helps you spot patterns.
Quick Answers To Common “How Much” Moments
First 24 Hours
Think teaspoons, not ounces. Hand expression plus direct latch works well in this window. If milk seems slow, offer both breasts, then express a little into a spoon or small cup and offer it right away.
Days Two To Four
Milk volume rises fast. Feeds stretch a bit, and you’ll hear more swallows. Per-feed volumes in the teens to low thirties in mL sit on track for many term babies.
End Of Week One
Most babies take 45–60 mL per feed and still eat eight or more times per day. Stools look seedy and yellow, wet diapers climb, and weight begins to rebound.
Weeks Two To Four
Many feeds land in the 60–90 mL range, with a few 100–120 mL bottles for bigger babies or longer gaps. Daily totals hover near three-quarters of a liter for many dyads.
Breastfeeding Tips That Support Intake
- Start skin-to-skin early and often to spark cues and reflexes
- Offer both sides at each feed in the early weeks
- Try laid-back or cross-cradle holds for deep latch
- Use breast compressions during slow patches
- Switch sides when swallowing slows and the baby gets drowsy
- If using bottles, choose a slow-flow nipple and use paced technique
When To Seek Extra Help
Call your pediatric clinic or an IBCLC if pain is ongoing, if feeds last longer than an hour with little swallowing, or if diapers and weight trends lag. Support early brings quick relief and protects supply. Your team can watch a full feed, weigh before and after, and tailor a plan to your baby.
Ways To Estimate Intake Without Guesswork
Test Weighing (Weigh-Feed-Weigh)
A lactation clinic can weigh your baby, observe a full feed, then weigh again on a precise scale. The change in grams equals milliliters taken at the breast. This snapshot helps tailor plans when latch pain, early jaundice, or sleepy feeding muddies the picture.
Pumped Milk As A Benchmark
If a nurse suggests brief supplementation while skills improve, use small volumes that match stomach size. Think 5–15 mL in the first two days, moving toward 30–60 mL by day four. Keep pumping short and frequent to match how a newborn would nurse.
Comfort Tweaks That Lift Milk Transfer
Burps, Breaks, And Position Changes
Short pauses help babies reset and swallow air. Try upright burps at mid-feed, then return to the same side. If gulping and spluttering show up, lean back a little so gravity slows flow. If the baby drifts off with shallow nibbles, switch sides.
Hydration, Meals, And Rest For You
Drink to thirst and keep easy snacks nearby. A calm, supported posture protects your back and relaxes shoulders so you can hold the baby close without strain. Small comforts add up and make the round-the-clock rhythm more doable.
Special Notes For Twins And Smaller Newborns
Many twins and smaller babies reach the same daily totals by taking more sessions with smaller per-feed volumes. Tandem holds can help when both are eager; staggered sessions work well for many families too. Track diapers and get a weight check when needed, regularly.
Find clinical detail in the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine protocol on early supplementation, which outlines early per-feed volumes and safe strategies while transfer improves.