A one-week-old baby typically needs 1 to 2 ounces of formula per feeding, eating 8 to 12 times over a 24-hour period. That works out to roughly 12 to 20 ounces total per day, though every baby is slightly different. These amounts feel tiny, and that’s because a newborn’s stomach is still incredibly small.
How Much Per Feeding
At one week old, your baby’s stomach is about the size of an apricot. It can physically hold 1.5 to 2 ounces (45 to 60 mL) at a time. This is why feedings are small and frequent. Offering 1 to 2 ounces per bottle is the right range for this age. Some babies will drain the full 2 ounces, while others consistently take closer to 1 ounce and want to eat again sooner. Both patterns are normal.
A useful rule of thumb for any age in the first months: babies need about 2.5 ounces of formula per day for every pound of body weight. A 7-pound newborn, for example, would need roughly 17.5 ounces spread across the day. A smaller baby born at 6 pounds would need closer to 15 ounces. This calculation gives you a ballpark, not a rigid target.
How Often to Feed
Expect to feed your one-week-old every 2 to 3 hours, including overnight. That adds up to 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour stretch. Count the interval from the start of one feeding to the start of the next, not from when you finish. So if your baby starts eating at 2:00 PM, the next feeding would begin around 4:00 or 5:00 PM.
Some newborns cluster their feedings, eating every hour or so for a stretch and then sleeping a bit longer. Others are remarkably consistent. Don’t try to force a rigid schedule at this stage. Your baby’s hunger cues are the most reliable guide to timing.
Recognizing Hunger and Fullness
Crying is a late sign of hunger. Before that point, a hungry newborn will put their hands to their mouth, turn their head toward the bottle (called rooting), pucker or smack their lips, and clench their fists. Feeding at these early cues is easier for both of you, since a very upset baby has a harder time latching onto the nipple.
When your baby is full, you’ll notice the opposite: their mouth closes, their hands relax and open, and they turn their head away from the bottle. Some babies simply fall asleep. Resist the urge to coax them into finishing the last half ounce. Letting your baby stop when they show fullness cues helps them develop healthy self-regulation from the start.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
The best day-to-day indicator is diaper output. After the first five days of life, your baby should produce at least six wet diapers per day. The number of dirty diapers varies more, but you should see them regularly. Pale or light yellow urine is a good sign. Dark, concentrated urine or fewer than six wet diapers suggests your baby may need more formula.
Weight is the other key marker. It’s completely normal for newborns to lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first few days, mostly from fluid loss. By the end of the second week, most babies have regained their birth weight. Your pediatrician will track this at early checkups, so you don’t need a home scale to stay on top of it.
What Overfeeding Looks Like
Formula-fed babies are slightly more prone to overfeeding than breastfed babies, because milk flows from a bottle with less effort. An overfed newborn may spit up more than usual, have loose stools, and seem genuinely uncomfortable after meals. Swallowing excess air during a large feeding can also cause gas and belly pain, leading to more crying.
If your baby consistently seems fussy after full bottles, try offering a smaller amount (closer to 1 ounce) and feeding more frequently instead. Paced bottle feeding, where you hold the bottle more horizontally and let your baby take breaks, can also help slow the flow and give them time to register fullness.
What Changes After the First Week
Formula amounts increase quickly. By two weeks, many babies are taking 2 to 3 ounces per feeding. By one month, 3 to 4 ounces is typical. The stomach grows rapidly, and so does your baby’s appetite. The 2.5 ounces per pound per day guideline continues to apply as weight climbs, so the daily total rises along with it.
The feeding frequency gradually spreads out too. While a one-week-old eats 8 to 12 times daily, a one-month-old often settles into 7 to 8 feedings. Overnight stretches between feeds slowly lengthen, though “sleeping through the night” is still months away for most babies. For now, those small, frequent bottles are exactly what your newborn needs.