In the first week of life, a newborn drinks about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 ml) per feeding, eating 8 to 12 times over 24 hours. That total climbs steadily over the first month as your baby’s stomach grows and feedings become more efficient. The exact amount depends on whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, your baby’s weight, and how quickly they grow.
Why Newborns Eat So Little at First
A newborn’s stomach at birth is roughly the size of a marble, holding just 1 to 2 teaspoons of milk. That’s why those first feedings are tiny and frequent. By day 10, the stomach has expanded to about the size of a ping-pong ball, holding around 2 ounces. This rapid change in capacity is why feeding volumes increase noticeably during the first two weeks without you needing to push larger amounts.
Breastfeeding Volumes
Breastfed babies typically nurse 8 to 12 times in 24 hours during the newborn period. In the first few days, your body produces colostrum, a thick, concentrated early milk, in very small quantities that match the marble-sized stomach. By the end of the first week, as your mature milk comes in, each feeding delivers more volume naturally.
One of the tricky things about breastfeeding is that you can’t see how much your baby is taking in. Instead of measuring ounces, you rely on output and weight gain. In the first three months, breastfed babies generally gain about 150 to 200 grams (roughly 5 to 7 ounces) per week. If your baby is hitting that range and producing enough wet diapers, they’re getting what they need.
Formula Feeding Volumes
Formula-fed babies follow more measurable patterns. The CDC recommends starting with 1 to 2 ounces of formula every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life. During the first week, feedings should stay at about 1 to 2 ounces per session. From there, most babies gradually increase to 2 to 3 ounces per feeding by the end of the second week, and 3 to 4 ounces by the end of the first month.
A useful rule of thumb: most formula-fed newborns consume about 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. So an 8-pound baby would take roughly 20 ounces spread across the day’s feedings. This isn’t a rigid target. Some babies eat a little more, some a little less, and amounts fluctuate day to day.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Hungry
Newborns signal hunger well before they start crying. Early cues include putting hands to their mouth, turning their head toward your breast or the bottle (called rooting), and puckering or licking their lips. Clenched fists are another sign. Crying is actually a late hunger signal, so feeding before that point makes the process easier for both of you.
When your baby is full, the signs are equally clear: they’ll close their mouth, turn away from the breast or bottle, and their hands will relax and open. Resist the urge to finish a bottle if your baby is showing these cues. Letting babies stop when they’re satisfied helps them develop healthy self-regulation from the start.
Growth Spurts Change the Pattern
Just when you think you’ve figured out a rhythm, your baby will suddenly want to eat constantly. Growth spurts typically happen around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months, though every baby’s timing is different. During these bursts, your newborn may want to feed every hour or cluster several feedings close together, especially in the evening. This usually lasts a few days.
If you’re breastfeeding, this frequent nursing is your baby’s way of signaling your body to produce more milk. It doesn’t mean your supply has dropped. Going along with the increased demand is exactly what builds your supply to match your growing baby’s needs. Formula-fed babies may simply take an extra ounce per bottle or want an additional feeding during these stretches.
Tracking Whether Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Diaper output is the most practical day-to-day measure. After day 5, a well-fed newborn produces at least 6 wet diapers per day, and the number of dirty diapers varies. In the first few days the counts are lower, which is normal since intake is still very small.
Weight checks at your pediatrician’s office fill in the bigger picture. Most newborns lose up to 7 to 10 percent of their birth weight in the first few days, then regain it by about 10 to 14 days old. After that, steady weekly gains of 5 to 7 ounces indicate adequate feeding.
Signs of Dehydration to Watch For
Occasionally, newborns don’t take in enough milk, and dehydration can develop quickly in such small bodies. Physical signs include a sunken soft spot (the fontanelle) on top of the head, sunken eyes, few or no tears when crying, very few wet diapers, and unusual drowsiness or irritability. A sunken fontanelle in particular is a signal to seek medical attention promptly. If you notice several of these signs together, or your baby seems increasingly difficult to wake for feedings, don’t wait to get help.