How Much ML To Feed A Newborn? | Calm, Clear Guide

How Many Ml To Feed A Newborn Per Feed: Age Guide

Feeding in the early weeks changes fast. Tiny tummies fill quickly, then stretch. Use the age bands below as a starting point, then follow your baby’s cues. If your baby turns away, slows down, or relaxes their hands, that’s a stop sign. If they root, lick their lips, or bring hands to mouth, offer more.

Quick Reference Table (First Month)

This table lines up common bottle amounts for expressed breast milk or formula. Ranges reflect normal variation. Keep bottle pacing slow and pause mid-feed.

Age	Typical Ml Per Feed	Feeds In 24 Hours
Days 1–3	30–60 ml	8–12
Days 4–7	45–60 ml	8–12
Weeks 2–3	60–90 ml	7–10
Week 4	90–120 ml	6–8

Why Ml Change Across The First Weeks

On day one, intake is small. As milk supply builds and your baby grows, each feed increases. By the end of the first month, many babies take 90–120 ml about every 3–4 hours. That lines up with pediatric guidance and keeps daily intake on track.

Breastfeeding, Pumped Milk, And Formula

Whether you nurse at the breast or offer a bottle, the goal is the same: feed on cue and let your baby decide when to stop. With bottles of expressed milk, pour smaller portions to cut waste, then add a little more if your baby still shows hunger signs.

Weight-Based Daily Targets

After the first week, many services suggest a daily target based on body weight. A simple rule is 150–200 ml per kilogram per day for formula-fed babies (NHS). The American Academy of Pediatrics shares a similar figure using pounds: about 75 ml per pound per day. These are guardrails, not strict quotas.

Feeding Frequency And Cues

In the early days, expect 8–12 feeds across 24 hours. Some babies cluster feed. Others nap longer stretches. Watch the baby, not the clock. Signs your baby wants to eat include stirring, mouth opening, sucking motions, and bringing hands to the mouth. Crying is a late sign.

Fullness Signs To Watch

• Slower sucking, longer pauses, or turning the head away
• Relaxed hands and body, sleepiness near the end
• Milk dribbling while interest drops

Daily Intake By Weight (After Week One)

Use this weight table to plan your day. Pick your baby’s weight, find the daily total, then divide by the number of feeds you expect. The per-feed column assumes eight feeds as an easy yardstick.

Baby Weight	Daily Total (150–200 ml/kg)	Per Feed If 8 Feeds
2.5 kg	375–500 ml	47–63 ml
3.0 kg	450–600 ml	56–75 ml
3.5 kg	525–700 ml	66–88 ml
4.0 kg	600–800 ml	75–100 ml
4.5 kg	675–900 ml	84–113 ml
5.0 kg	750–1000 ml	94–125 ml

Signs Your Baby Is Taking Enough

Growth and diapers tell the story. After day five, look for at least six wet diapers each day. Stools shift from dark to yellow in the first week. Steady weight gain across days and weeks is the big marker. The CDC newborn basics page lists day-by-day diaper patterns you can use as a cross-check.

Simple Bottle Pacing Steps

1. Hold the bottle more horizontal so milk flows steadily, not fast.
2. Let your baby pause often; tip the bottle down during breaks.
3. Switch sides midway to mimic a breast switch and give a short burp break.

Sample Day Schedules You Can Tweak

Every baby writes a slightly different script. These sample days show how the math might look once you pick a daily total based on weight. Adjust the number of feeds to suit your baby’s rhythm.

Sample: 3.2 Kg Baby On 160 Ml/Kg

Daily total: about 510 ml. With eight feeds, that’s around 60–70 ml each. If your baby wakes early or has a long nap, slide a little volume between nearby feeds rather than stretching one bottle far above the usual range.

Sample: End Of Month One

Many babies settle near 90–120 ml per feed every 3–4 hours. That often lands at 600–720 ml per day for a 4–5 kg baby, which matches the weight-based targets.

Breastfeeding And Bottles: Pumped Milk Tips

When you pump, store milk in 60–120 ml portions so you can warm what you need without waste. If your baby regularly leaves milk in the bottle, pour less next time and add more if needed.

When To Offer More

Offer a little more if your baby drains the bottle and still shows clear hunger signs. Add 15–30 ml and reassess. Big jumps make overfeeding more likely with bottles.

When To Talk With Your Baby’s Doctor

Reach out if feeds feel like a struggle, diapers drop off, stools stay dark after the first week, or you see gulping with frequent spit-up. Share your logs and the ranges you’re aiming for so your care team can tailor advice.

Safety And Practical Notes

Prep And Storage

Follow the tin for formula mixing, use safe water as advised locally, and discard any bottle left out for two hours or more. Pumped milk keeps in the fridge for short windows; label each bottle with date and time and rotate stock.

Night Feeds

Night feeds are normal. Many newborns eat every 3 hours around the clock. If weight gain is steady and your care team gives the go-ahead, you can let one longer stretch happen at night and shift a small amount to daytime feeds.

Growth Spurts

Short surges in appetite pop up around week two and again near week three to four. During these windows, offer feeds a bit sooner and expect intake to nudge up briefly.

Putting It All Together

Start with per-feed ranges for your baby’s age, aim for a daily total that fits their weight, and let cues lead the fine-tuning. With that simple loop—range, total, cues—you’ll keep bottles sized right and your baby content.