A 5-day-old baby typically eats 1 to 2 ounces per feeding, with 8 to 12 feedings spread across a 24-hour period. That puts the total daily intake somewhere around 12 to 24 ounces, though individual babies vary. The exact amount depends on whether your baby is breastfed, formula-fed, or getting a combination of both.
Formula-Fed Babies at Day 5
The CDC recommends starting with 1 to 2 ounces of formula every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life. By day 5, most formula-fed newborns are comfortably taking closer to 2 ounces per feeding. With 8 to 12 feedings in 24 hours, that works out to roughly 16 to 24 ounces total per day.
Some babies will drain the bottle and seem hungry for more, while others consistently leave half an ounce behind. Both patterns are normal at this age. What matters more than hitting an exact number is that your baby is gaining weight, producing enough wet diapers, and settling between feedings.
Breastfed Babies at Day 5
Measuring ounces is trickier when you’re breastfeeding because you can’t see how much your baby takes in. At day 5, your body is in the middle of a major shift. For the first few days after birth, your breasts produce colostrum, a thick, concentrated early milk that comes in very small amounts. Between days 2 and 5, transitional milk gradually replaces colostrum. You may notice your breasts feel fuller and warmer, and the milk takes on a thinner, bluish-white appearance.
This transition means your baby is getting significantly more volume per feeding at day 5 than they were at day 1 or 2. Breastfed newborns eat frequently, often every 1 to 3 hours, for a total of 8 to 12 sessions in 24 hours. Each feeding session can last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per breast. Rather than tracking ounces, you’ll rely on diaper output and weight checks to confirm your baby is getting enough.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Wet diapers are the most reliable day-to-day indicator. After day 5, your newborn should produce at least 6 wet diapers in 24 hours. Fewer than that can signal inadequate intake. Stool frequency varies more widely, but you should see multiple bowel movements each day in the first week.
Weight is the other key measure. Breastfed newborns lose an average of about 6.6% of their birth weight before they start gaining, with the turnaround happening around day 2 or 3 on average. By day 5, most babies have stopped losing and are beginning to regain. Weight loss beyond 10% of birth weight raises concern and often leads a pediatrician to recommend supplementation or further evaluation. Your baby’s doctor will check weight at the first office visit, which usually falls within the first week.
Recognizing Hunger Cues
Newborns give a predictable sequence of signals when they’re hungry. The earliest signs are subtle: sucking on their hands, rooting (turning their head and opening their mouth when something touches their cheek), smacking or licking their lips, and increased alertness. These are the ideal moments to start a feeding, while your baby is still calm and ready to latch or take a bottle.
If those early cues go unnoticed, babies escalate to fidgeting, squirming, fussing, and excited arm and leg movements. Crying is a late hunger signal. A crying baby often has a harder time latching or settling into a feed, so catching the earlier cues makes feedings smoother for both of you.
Signs Your Baby Is Full
A satisfied newborn will slow their sucking, release the breast or bottle nipple on their own, relax their hands (clenched fists are actually a hunger sign), and turn their head away from the breast or bottle. Some babies fall asleep at the end of a feeding. If your baby consistently seems content for at least an hour or two after eating, they’re likely getting enough at each session.
Resist the urge to push your baby to finish every last drop in a bottle. Newborns are generally good at self-regulating their intake when you follow their cues.
Warning Signs of Dehydration
At 5 days old, dehydration can develop quickly if a baby isn’t feeding well. Signs to watch for include fewer than 6 wet diapers after day 5, a sunken soft spot on the top of the head, sunken eyes, few or no tears when crying, and unusual drowsiness or irritability. Dark yellow urine (instead of pale or clear) is another red flag. If you notice any of these, contact your pediatrician promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit.
Dehydration in newborns is particularly concerning because weight loss beyond 10% of birth weight has been linked to a higher risk of a dangerous salt imbalance in the blood. Early intervention, whether that means adjusting latch technique, increasing feeding frequency, or adding supplemental formula, can resolve the problem before it becomes serious.