A newborn eats surprisingly little at first, starting with just 1 to 2 ounces per feeding in the first week and gradually working up to about 32 ounces total per day by the end of the first month. The exact amount depends on whether your baby is breastfed or formula-fed, how old they are in days, and how quickly they grow. Here’s what to expect week by week.
Why Newborns Eat So Little at First
A one-day-old baby’s stomach holds only about 5 to 7 milliliters, roughly one teaspoon. By day three, it stretches to hold about 22 to 27 milliliters. At one week old, the stomach can hold 45 to 60 milliliters (1.5 to 2 ounces) per feeding. This rapid but still tiny growth is why newborns need to eat small amounts very frequently rather than taking large bottles right away.
It also explains why babies lose weight in the first few days. Healthy, full-term breastfed newborns commonly lose 7% to 8% of their birth weight by day three, and the lowest point usually hits between days two and four. Some breastfed babies lose 10% or more. This is normal. Most newborns regain their birth weight by 10 to 14 days after birth.
Feeding Amounts: Week by Week
First Week
Babies should eat no more than about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 ml) per feeding. For breastfed babies, that translates to roughly 8 to 12 nursing sessions in 24 hours, with each session lasting anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes per side. Because breast milk is digested quickly, those frequent feeds are essential for establishing your milk supply and keeping your baby nourished during the period when colostrum transitions to mature milk.
Weeks Two Through Four
During the rest of the first month, babies gradually increase their intake until they reach 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 ml) per feeding. By the end of month one, total daily intake for a formula-fed baby typically reaches around 32 ounces (960 ml). Breastfed babies are harder to measure in ounces, but they generally continue nursing 8 to 12 times a day, and feeding sessions may get slightly shorter as they become more efficient at the breast.
The Weight-Based Formula for Daily Intake
A useful rule of thumb for formula-fed babies: plan for about 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight per day. So a 9-pound baby would need roughly 22.5 ounces spread across the day’s feedings. This scales naturally as your baby grows, though total intake should generally stay at or below 32 ounces in 24 hours. If your baby consistently seems hungry beyond that amount, it’s worth discussing with your pediatrician, since the issue is often pacing or feeding cues rather than a need for more volume.
For breastfed babies, this calculation doesn’t apply in the same way. Breast milk composition changes throughout the day and across weeks, so volume alone doesn’t tell the full story. Breastfed babies regulate their own intake more effectively at the breast than from a bottle, which is one reason pediatricians track weight gain rather than ounces consumed.
How to Tell Your Baby Is Eating Enough
Since you can’t measure what a breastfed baby drinks, output is the best proxy. After day five, your newborn should produce at least six wet diapers per day. The number of soiled diapers varies more from baby to baby, but in the early weeks, several per day is typical. Steady weight gain at your pediatrician’s check-ups is the most reliable confirmation that feeding is on track.
Your baby’s behavior between feedings matters too. A baby who is satisfied after a feed will usually relax their hands, release the breast or bottle on their own, and seem calm or sleepy. A baby who is still hungry will stay tense, keep bringing their hands to their mouth, or root toward the breast or bottle again.
Recognizing Hunger and Fullness Cues
Crying is actually a late hunger signal. Earlier, easier-to-catch signs include your baby turning their head toward your breast or the bottle, smacking or licking their lips, putting their hands to their mouth, and clenching their fists. Feeding before your baby reaches the point of crying makes for calmer, more effective feedings.
Fullness cues are equally important, especially for bottle-fed babies who can be nudged to finish a bottle even when they’ve had enough. When your baby closes their mouth, turns their head away from the breast or bottle, or relaxes their hands open, they’re signaling that they’re done. Respecting these cues helps prevent overfeeding, which can cause discomfort, spitting up, and fussiness after a feed. If your baby drinks more than their stomach can hold, they may bring milk back up or seem unsettled even though they just ate.
Breastfed vs. Formula-Fed: Key Differences
Breastfed newborns eat more often than formula-fed newborns because breast milk digests faster than formula. Eight to twelve sessions per day is the standard range, and some babies cluster-feed in the evenings, nursing every 30 to 60 minutes for a few hours before a longer stretch of sleep. This is normal and doesn’t mean your supply is low.
Formula-fed babies tend to eat on a slightly more predictable schedule, typically every three to four hours, because formula takes longer to digest. The per-feeding amounts are easier to track, which can feel reassuring but also creates a temptation to focus on the number on the bottle rather than on your baby’s cues. A baby who drains 4 ounces one feeding and only takes 2 the next is self-regulating, not being difficult.
Regardless of feeding method, the overall pattern is the same: small, frequent meals in the first week that gradually increase in volume and space out slightly as the stomach grows and your baby becomes more efficient at eating.
Signs Your Baby May Need More
Some babies go through growth spurts around days 7 to 10, and again around 3 weeks and 6 weeks. During these periods, your baby may suddenly want to eat more often or seem unsatisfied with their usual amount. For breastfed babies, the best response is to nurse on demand, which signals your body to increase milk production. For formula-fed babies, you can offer an extra half-ounce or ounce per feeding and watch for fullness cues.
A baby who is consistently not getting enough will show clear signs: fewer than six wet diapers after day five, persistent fussiness that doesn’t resolve with feeding, weight loss beyond the first week, or lethargy and difficulty waking for feeds. These warrant a prompt call to your pediatrician, not a wait-and-see approach.