Most newborns start with just 1 to 2 ounces of milk per feeding, gradually increasing to about 2½ ounces per day for every pound of body weight. But the right amount changes quickly as your baby grows, and it depends on age, weight, and whether you’re breastfeeding or using formula. Here’s what to expect from the first days through the first year.
The First Week: Smaller Than You Think
A newborn’s stomach is remarkably tiny. On day one, it holds only about 5 to 7 milliliters, roughly the size of a cherry. By day two, it expands to the size of a walnut (22 to 27 milliliters), and by day seven it reaches the size of an apricot (45 to 60 milliliters). This is why newborns eat such small amounts so frequently.
If you’re breastfeeding, the actual volume in those early feeds is minimal: 2 to 10 milliliters in the first 24 hours, rising to about 1 to 2 ounces per feed by the end of the first week. Total daily intake on day seven is typically 10 to 20 ounces. For formula-fed babies, the CDC recommends starting with 1 to 2 ounces every 2 to 3 hours. Either way, expect 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour period.
One to Six Months: The Weight-Based Rule
Once you’re past the first week, a simple guideline applies to formula-fed babies: offer about 2½ ounces of formula per day for every pound your baby weighs. So a 10-pound baby would need roughly 25 ounces spread across the day’s feedings. This calculation works well up to about 6 months, though most babies cap out around 32 ounces daily even as they get heavier.
Breastfed babies are harder to measure in ounces because they feed directly. The best approach is to feed on demand, typically every 2 to 4 hours, and watch for signs that your baby is getting enough (more on that below). Breastfed babies tend to self-regulate their intake, taking what they need at each session.
Growth Spurts Change the Pattern
Just when you think you’ve figured out your baby’s schedule, a growth spurt hits. These typically happen around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. During a spurt, babies get fussier and want to eat more often, sometimes as frequently as every 30 minutes. This is normal and usually lasts a few days. Breastfed babies cluster feed to signal your body to produce more milk. Formula-fed babies may need an extra ounce or two per bottle temporarily.
Six to Twelve Months: Adding Solids and Water
Once solid foods enter the picture around 6 months, milk remains the primary source of nutrition, but your baby’s total milk intake gradually decreases as they eat more food. Most babies in this range still drink 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk or formula daily, with that number tapering as solids become a bigger part of meals.
This is also when you can introduce water for the first time. Between 6 and 12 months, offer 4 to 8 ounces of water per day. Small sips with meals are enough. Before 6 months, babies don’t need water at all because breast milk or formula provides all the hydration they require.
Fruit juice should wait until after your baby’s first birthday. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no juice before 12 months, and even after that, limiting it to 4 to 6 ounces per day for children ages 1 to 6. Juice offers no nutritional advantage over whole fruit.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Since babies can’t tell you they’re hungry or full with words, they rely on physical cues. In the first five months, hunger looks like hands going to the mouth, head turning toward the breast or bottle, lip smacking, and clenched fists. Fullness looks like a closed mouth, head turning away, and relaxed hands.
Older babies (6 months and up) are more obvious. They’ll reach for food, open their mouth eagerly, and get visibly excited when they see a meal coming. When they’re done, they push food away, close their mouth, or turn their head.
Diaper output is another reliable indicator. After day five, a well-hydrated newborn produces at least 6 wet diapers in 24 hours. Fewer than that can signal your baby isn’t getting enough milk, and it’s worth checking in with your pediatrician. Steady weight gain over weeks is the most dependable sign that feeding is on track.
Transitioning to Cow’s Milk at 12 Months
At 12 months, you can introduce whole cow’s milk, but not before. Toddlers need about 2 servings of dairy per day. Going beyond that can actually be counterproductive: too much cow’s milk makes it harder for a child’s body to absorb iron from food, which can lead to deficiency over time. Think of cow’s milk as one part of a varied diet, not a replacement for the volume of formula or breast milk your baby was drinking before.
Quick Reference by Age
- Day 1: 2 to 10 mL per feed (breastfed) or 1 to 2 oz every 2 to 3 hours (formula)
- Day 7: 1 to 2 oz per feed, 10 to 20 oz total per day
- 1 to 6 months: About 2½ oz per pound of body weight daily (formula), or on-demand breastfeeding every 2 to 4 hours
- 6 to 12 months: 24 to 32 oz of breast milk or formula, plus 4 to 8 oz of water daily, plus solid foods
- 12 months and up: Whole cow’s milk (about 2 dairy servings per day), water, and table foods