Most newborns start near 30–60 ml per feed in week one and move toward 60–90 ml by week two; watch hunger cues, diapers, and steady weight gain.
Newborn Feeding In Ml: The Short Context
New babies eat often. Their stomachs are tiny, so the amount per feed is small, yet the total across 24 hours can be sizeable. The ranges below give clear targets in ml without forcing a rigid clock. Every baby has a style, and that’s okay. Your goal is simple: responsive, paced feeds that match cues and growth.
How Many Ml Should A Newborn Eat Per Feed: Real-World Rhythm
Use these ballpark ranges for bottle feeds in the first month. They line up with pediatric guidance on early volumes and the typical growth to 3–4 ounces (about 90–120 ml) per feed by the end of month one.
| Age | Typical Intake Per Feed (ml) | Feeds Per 24 h |
|---|---|---|
| First week | 30–60 | 8–12 |
| Weeks 2–3 | 60–90 | 7–9 |
| End of first month | 90–120 | 6–8 |
Why ranges? Hunger shifts across the day. Some feeds are “snacks,” some are “full meals.” If your baby drains a bottle and still roots, offer a little more. If they slow down, turn away, or get fidgety, that’s your stop sign. A calm, paced style keeps intake right-sized.
Breastfeeding, Pumped Milk, And Bottles
When nursing at the breast, ml counts aren’t obvious, and that’s fine. You can still use the per-feed ranges when offering expressed milk in a bottle. Many babies eat at least eight times a day early on, then stretch out as stomach capacity grows. For bottle volumes across the first months and a daily cap near 32 ounces, see the AAP’s guidance on amounts and schedules.
Day-By-Day: The First Weeks
Days 1–2
Expect small, frequent feeds. Whether it’s colostrum or a tiny starter bottle, 30–45 ml can satisfy a newborn this early. Many will cue again within 2–3 hours. Skin-to-skin time helps babies wake to feed and keeps the pattern steady.
Days 3–7
Intake rises. A lot of babies land near 45–75 ml per feed, still about 8–10 feeds a day. Diapers pick up: several wet diapers and at least one stool a day after the first few days signal good intake. If a feed runs long and the latch looks shallow, take a brief burp break, then relatch or resume the bottle with a gentle pace.
Week 2–4
Feeds get a bit larger, often 60–90 ml, and spacing slowly stretches. By the end of month one, many babies handle 90–120 ml per feed without trouble, with 6–8 feeds across a day. If your baby prefers many small feeds instead of fewer large ones, that pattern works too.
Weight-Based Math For Formula
If you want a daily total that scales with size, use this widely used range: 150–200 ml per kilogram of body weight across 24 hours for babies under 6 months. This range appears in NHS bottle-feeding advice and fits everyday experience for most families. It’s a guide, not a quota you must hit every day; cues come first. Source: NHS Wales, formula milk common questions.
| Baby Weight | ~150 ml/kg Per Day | ~200 ml/kg Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 kg | 375 ml | 500 ml |
| 3.0 kg | 450 ml | 600 ml |
| 3.5 kg | 525 ml | 700 ml |
| 4.0 kg | 600 ml | 800 ml |
| 4.5 kg | 675 ml | 900 ml |
| 5.0 kg | 750 ml | 1000 ml |
Example: a 3.5 kg newborn might drink 525–700 ml total in a day. Split across eight feeds, that’s roughly 65–90 ml each feed. Growth spurts may push the top of the range; quiet days may sit near the bottom. If totals run well beyond the range and your baby looks tense or gassy, slow the pace and see if smaller, more frequent feeds feel better.
Daily Maximums And Why They Matter
There’s also a practical ceiling. Many pediatric sources set a daily cap near 32 ounces, about 960 ml, for most babies. That number isn’t a goal; it’s a do-not-routinely-exceed marker unless your baby’s doctor has set a different plan. If bottles empty fast and your baby still wants to suck, a pacifier can meet that need without pushing unneeded volume.
Reading Hunger And Fullness
Hunger looks like:
- Stirring, hand-to-mouth, rooting, lip smacking.
- Fussing, then crying if early cues aren’t answered.
Fullness looks like:
- Slowing sucks, relaxed hands, turning away from the nipple.
- Dozing off mid-feed or pushing the bottle out.
Follow the cues. Offer more when hunger signs continue and swallow sounds stay strong. Pause when signs of fullness show up. Responsive feeding keeps intake aligned with appetite and cuts down on spit-ups and gas.
Paced Bottle Feeding Keeps Ml On Track
Paced feeds help babies self-regulate. Hold the bottle more horizontal, let your baby pause, and switch sides halfway so both eyes and arms get equal time. Burp once or twice during the feed. This setup slows the flow, trims air swallowing, and makes it easier to spot the “I’m done” signal before the bottle is empty.
What About Breastfed Newborns?
At the breast, you can’t see ml, so you watch behavior, diapers, and weight trends. Newborns usually nurse 8–12 times a day at first. Audible swallows during active sucking, softer breasts after a feed, and plenty of wet diapers are strong green flags. If you pump and bottle your milk, the same per-feed ranges from the table work nicely, since stomach size is the same no matter the milk source.
Night Feeds, Cluster Feeds, And Growth Spurts
Evenings can bring back-to-back feeds called clustering. That’s a normal way to tank up before a longer stretch of sleep. Growth spurts tend to pop up around week 2–3 and again near week 6. Intake climbs for a day or two, then settles. Offer on cue and you’ll match the surge without forcing a bigger bottle at every feed.
Diapers And Weight: Your Built-In Dashboard
Wet diapers climb after the first few days; six or more a day with pale urine usually means good intake. Stools shift from dark meconium to yellow or brown by the end of week one. Steady weight gain across checkups is the clearest proof that the ml you’re offering fits your baby.
Formula Mixing And Safety Notes
Measure powder and water exactly as the tin directs. Use hot water for powdered formula and cool before feeding. Made-up formula has a short fridge life and an even shorter room-temperature window. Safe prep and storage protect your baby and your own hard-won sleep.
Easy Ways To Tweak Intake
If feeds seem too small
- Add 10–15 ml to the next bottle and see if your baby still cues early.
- Offer an extra mini-feed between regular feeds during a growth spurt.
If feeds seem too large
- Slow the flow with a paced hold and a slower teat.
- Pause mid-feed for a burp and a reset. Many babies stop there.
Red Flags That Need A Call
- Fewer than four wet diapers a day after day four.
- Fast breathing, listless behavior, or hard vomiting.
- Regular feeds over 120 ml in week one or daily totals near 960 ml with signs of distress.
If any of these show up, phone your pediatric clinic for advice that fits your baby’s history and growth chart.
Quick Reference: Ml Targets You Can Trust
Start near 30–60 ml per feed in week one, grow toward 60–90 ml in weeks two and three, then 90–120 ml by the end of month one. Across a day, a weight-based range of 150–200 ml per kg helps size total intake, and most babies don’t need more than about 960 ml in 24 hours unless told otherwise. Use cues and diapers to keep you on course.