A newborn drinks very little milk at first, starting at just 5 to 7 ml (about 1 to 2 teaspoons) per feeding on day one. That amount increases steadily over the first two weeks as your baby’s stomach grows, reaching roughly 60 ml (2 ounces) per feeding by day 10. By one month of age, most babies take in 75 to 120 ml (about 2.5 to 4 ounces) per feed.
Why Newborns Start With So Little
At birth, your baby’s stomach is roughly the size of a marble. It physically cannot hold more than about 5 to 7 ml at a time, which is why those early feedings of colostrum (the thick, concentrated first milk) are so small yet perfectly adequate. This tiny capacity is one reason newborns need to eat so frequently: there simply isn’t room to take in a large volume at once.
By around day 10, the stomach has stretched to the size of a ping-pong ball, holding about 60 ml (2 ounces). This growth happens gradually, so each day your baby will naturally take in a bit more per feeding without needing to be pushed or scheduled into larger amounts.
Feeding Volumes Day by Day
There’s no single chart that every baby follows perfectly, but here’s a realistic picture of how intake typically progresses during the first two weeks:
- Days 1 to 2: 5 to 15 ml per feed (1 to 3 teaspoons). Colostrum is nutrient-dense, so these tiny amounts deliver what your baby needs.
- Days 3 to 4: 15 to 30 ml per feed (0.5 to 1 ounce). If you’re breastfeeding, this is when transitional milk starts coming in and volume rises noticeably.
- Days 5 to 7: 30 to 60 ml per feed (1 to 2 ounces).
- Days 8 to 14: 60 to 90 ml per feed (2 to 3 ounces).
These numbers apply to both breastfed and formula-fed babies, though with breastfeeding you won’t see exact milliliters unless you’re pumping or doing weighted feeds. The progression is the same either way: small amounts that build gradually.
How Often Newborns Need to Eat
Because each feeding is small, newborns eat frequently. Breastfed babies typically nurse 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period, sometimes clustering several feeds close together, especially in the evening. Formula-fed newborns generally eat every 2 to 3 hours, with at least 8 feedings per day recommended as a minimum.
The gap between feedings is measured from the start of one feed to the start of the next, not from the end. So if a breastfeeding session begins at 1:00 p.m. and lasts 30 minutes, the next feed might start around 3:00 p.m. That frequency feels relentless, but it matches the rapid stomach-emptying time in newborns and supports healthy weight gain.
Calculating Daily Formula Intake
For formula-fed babies, there’s a useful rule of thumb: your baby needs about 75 ml (2.5 ounces) of formula per day for every pound of body weight. A 7-pound newborn, for example, would need roughly 525 ml (about 17.5 ounces) spread across the day. Divide that total by the number of feedings, typically 8 to 10 in the early weeks, and you get about 50 to 65 ml per feed.
This formula works well through the first few months. As your baby gains weight, the daily total rises accordingly. Most babies cap out at around 960 ml (32 ounces) per day and don’t need more than that regardless of weight, but that ceiling won’t be relevant for weeks.
What Changes by One Month
By four weeks of age, most babies take 90 to 120 ml (3 to 4 ounces) per feeding and eat 7 to 8 times a day. Feedings become a bit more predictable, though growth spurts at around 2 to 3 weeks and again near 6 weeks can temporarily increase hunger and feeding frequency. During a growth spurt, your baby may want to eat every hour or two for a day or two before settling back into a more regular pattern.
Breastfed babies tend to maintain smaller, more frequent feedings compared to formula-fed babies, who often consolidate into slightly larger, less frequent meals. Both patterns are normal.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Since you can’t measure milliliters during breastfeeding, diapers and weight gain are the most reliable indicators. After day 5, your baby should produce at least 6 wet diapers per day. The number of dirty diapers varies more, but consistent wet diapers signal adequate hydration.
Weight gain is the other key measure. In the first three months, healthy babies typically gain 150 to 200 grams per week (about 5 to 7 ounces). Most newborns lose up to 7 to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days and regain it by around two weeks. Your pediatrician will track this at early checkups.
Reading Your Baby’s Hunger and Fullness Cues
Rather than watching the clock or counting milliliters, feeding on demand based on your baby’s signals is the most reliable approach. Early hunger cues include fists moving toward the mouth, head turning as if looking for the breast, lip smacking, and sucking on hands. These signs appear before crying. By the time a baby is crying from hunger, they’re already distressed, which can make latching and feeding harder.
Fullness looks like the opposite: your baby releases the breast or bottle nipple, turns their head away, and visibly relaxes their body. Open, unclenched fists are another sign of a satisfied baby. Trying to push more milk after these signals increases the risk of discomfort.
Signs of Overfeeding
Overfeeding is more common with bottle-fed babies because milk flows from a bottle with less effort, making it easier to take in more than the stomach can comfortably handle. Signs include frequent spitting up, gassiness, belly discomfort, loose stools, and fussiness after feeds. An overfed baby swallows extra air along with the excess milk, which compounds the discomfort.
Paced bottle feeding can help prevent this. Hold the bottle at a slight angle rather than tipping it straight down, pause every few minutes to let your baby catch up with their fullness signals, and stop when they show signs of being done. If you’re worried about intake, tracking wet diapers and weight gain gives you a much clearer picture than measuring exact milliliters at every feed.