Newborn feeds start tiny and rise fast: about 5–15 mL on day two, 30–60 mL by day four, then 45–90 mL every 3–4 hours in week one.
Feeding in the first weeks can feel like a moving target. Stomach capacity grows each day, milk supply ramps up, and wake windows shift. Below you’ll find clear mL ranges by age, simple weight-based math, diaper checkpoints, and safe bottle rules that keep your baby fed and comfortable.
How Many mL Should A Newborn Drink Per Feed And Day?
Amounts climb step by step across the first days. Colostrum volumes are small, then intake rises quickly as milk comes in. By the end of week one, many babies take about 45–90 mL per feed on a 3–4 hour rhythm. Daily totals also track with body weight. A common bottle guideline is about 2.5 ounces per pound per day, which is close to 165 mL per kilogram per day. See the AAP feeding guide for the core numbers.
| Age | Typical mL Per Feed | Feeds In 24 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 2–10 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 2 | 5–15 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 3 | 15–30 mL | 8–12 |
| Day 4 | 30–60 mL | 8–12 |
| Days 5–7 | 45–90 mL | 8–10 |
| Weeks 2–4 | 60–90+ mL | 7–9 |
Those early ranges match hospital charts that show stomach size rising from about 5–7 mL on day one to the mid-20s by days three to five, and around 60–85 mL by days ten to twelve. That steady climb explains why day one feels like sips, then feeds stretch out as volume grows.
Breastfeeding: Cues And Frequency
Offer the breast 8–12 times in 24 hours in the early weeks. Watch for early cues: stirring, mouth opening, rooting, hand to mouth. Crying is a late cue. Frequent, cue-based feeds help supply and keep intake matched to need. Short cluster runs in the evening are common and help many babies settle before a longer stretch.
Bottle Feeding: mL Targets And Pace
For formula, daily intake after the first week often lands near 150–200 mL per kilogram per day, which aligns with the 2.5 ounces per pound per day rule noted above. Split that daily total across feeds based on your baby’s rhythm. Use paced bottle feeding so your baby sets the speed. Hold the bottle level, tip only enough to fill the nipple, pause often, and stop when satiety cues show. No need to “finish the bottle” if your baby is done.
Daily Intake By Weight: Quick Math In mL
Weight-based math keeps prep simple. Pick a target inside 150–200 mL per kilogram per day, then divide by the number of feeds. Here are sample ranges:
- 3.0 kg baby: 450–600 mL per day. With 8 feeds, that is about 55–75 mL per feed.
- 3.5 kg baby: 525–700 mL per day. With 8 feeds, that is about 65–90 mL per feed.
- 4.0 kg baby: 600–800 mL per day. With 7–8 feeds, that is about 75–115 mL per feed.
These are guides, not rigid caps. Growth, sleep, and hunger cues set the real rhythm. If many feeds end with a full bottle and fussing, your target may be high. If many feeds end with a quick finish and early hunger, the target may be low. Adjust in small steps and watch diapers and comfort between feeds.
Age-By-Age Walkthrough: Days 1–14
Day 1
Expect tiny volumes and frequent latching. Colostrum is thick and rich, and tummies are small. Two to ten mL per feed is common. Aim for lots of skin-to-skin time and offer both breasts. If using bottles for any reason, slow flow teats and small pours keep pace gentle.
Days 2–3
Feeds become more active. Five to fifteen mL per feed on day two and around fifteen to thirty mL on day three fit many babies. Milk is increasing, stools shift from dark meconium toward green, and wet nappies start to pick up.
Days 4–5
Milk comes in for most families during this window. Many babies move to thirty to sixty mL per feed by day four. Stools turn mustard yellow and look loose or seedy. Expect more audible swallowing and longer content stretches after feeds.
Days 6–7
Forty-five to ninety mL per feed fits many babies now, with 8–10 feeds in 24 hours. Pumped milk volumes also begin to look steadier if you are expressing. Growth checks during this window help confirm trends.
Week 2
Rhythms settle. Many babies hover near sixty to ninety mL per feed, though growth spurts can bump intake on some days. A steady daily total inside the weight-based range and calm periods between feeds point to a good fit.
Breastfed Versus Formula-Fed: What Changes?
What Stays The Same
Hunger cues, satiety cues, and steady weight gain matter for both. Wet diapers and soft stools tell a clear story either way. Comfort during and after a feed is just as telling as the number on the bottle.
What Differs
At the breast, flow shifts during let-downs and babies often pause on their own. Measured mL per feed will vary when bottle feeding expressed milk. With formula, flow stays constant, so overfills can creep in if the nipple runs too fast or the bottle stays tipped up. Choose slow flow teats in the first weeks, keep the bottle low, and build in pauses.
Is Your Newborn Getting Enough?
Check diapers and weight trends. After day five, aim for at least six heavy wet nappies each day. In the early days, wet nappies often match day of life: two on day two, three on day three, and so on, until milk volume rises. Poos shift from black to green to yellow by day four to five. Weight usually dips at first, then returns to birth weight by about two weeks. The AAP page on nappies and output lays out these norms clearly.
| Age | Wet Nappies Per Day | Stools Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | 1–3 | Meconium, few |
| Days 3–4 | 3–6 | Green to yellow |
| Day 5+ | 6+ heavy | At least 2 soft yellow |
| Weeks 2–4 | 6–8 | Varies; many stay soft |
When Feeding Amounts Look Off
Signs Intake May Be Low
- Few wet nappies after day five.
- Hard stools or a dry mouth.
- Sleepy feeds with a weak suck.
- Weight not trending up after the early dip.
Reach out to your care team if you spot several of these. Help with latch, pumping plans, or bottle pacing can shift the picture quickly.
Signs Intake May Be High
- Frequent spit-up with arching or a tight belly.
- Very fast bottle finishes every time.
- Gulping that eases when you pause or swap to a slower teat.
Try paced bottle steps and smaller mL per feed. Let your baby lead. Satiety beats an empty bottle.
Safe Prep, Storage, And Warming For Formula
Mix to the label each time. Too much water thins nutrients; too little makes feeds too strong. Use prepared formula within two hours of mixing, or within one hour once feeding starts. If the bottle never touched the mouth, it can sit in the fridge up to 24 hours. Discard the rest. See the CDC storage guide for step-by-step details.
- Clean hands, bottles, rings, and teats before each use.
- Warm under warm running water or in a bowl of warm water. Skip the microwave.
- Test on your wrist; warm, not hot.
- Dump any leftover formula that sat out past the time limits.
Night Feeds And Cluster Feeding
Evening hours often bring a run of short, close-together feeds. Many babies take several small top-ups before a longer stretch. That pattern supports supply and helps settle. Offer both breasts during a session or split a planned bottle into two smaller pours with a brief pause in between. Keep lights low, keep the room calm, and use gentle burp breaks. At night, wake newborns who sleep past three to four hours until weight is back to birth weight and gains are steady. Once gains are steady, your baby can lead the timing at night while daytime feeds stay frequent.
Units And Conversions That Help
- 1 ounce ≈ 30 mL. So 2 ounces ≈ 60 mL; 3 ounces ≈ 90 mL.
- 2.5 ounces per pound per day ≈ 165 mL per kilogram per day.
- To split a daily total, divide by the planned number of feeds, then watch cues and tweak.
Practical Tips That Keep Feeds Smooth
- Track feeds and nappies for the first two weeks. A simple note helps spot patterns.
- Use skin-to-skin before latching or bottles. Babies feed better when calm.
- Burp mid-feed and at the end. Short pauses help comfort and intake.
- If using both breast and bottle, match bottle mL to the weight math and your baby’s cues.
- Book a weight check if you are unsure. Small tweaks early save stress.
Taking The Guesswork Out Of Newborn mL
Your plan can stay simple: follow cues, use weight-based math for bottles, and watch nappies. Early feeds may be 2–10 mL, then 5–15 mL, then 15–30 mL, then 30–60 mL by day four, with many babies near 45–90 mL per feed by the end of week one. Past the first week, totals near 150–200 mL per kilogram per day set a steady course. Add safe storage habits and calm, paced feeds, and you have a clear, baby-led path.