A newborn starts small, taking just 1 to 2 ounces per feeding in the first few days of life. That amount increases steadily over the first month as the baby’s stomach grows, reaching about 3 to 4 ounces per feeding by the end of week four. The exact amount varies depending on whether your baby is breastfed or formula-fed and how quickly they grow, but understanding the general trajectory helps you know what to expect.
Why Newborns Drink So Little at First
A newborn’s stomach is remarkably tiny. On the first and second day of life, it’s roughly the size of a cherry and holds only 2 to 10 milliliters per feeding, which is less than half an ounce. By days three and four, the stomach has stretched to walnut size, holding 15 to 30 milliliters (about half an ounce to one ounce). Between one and three weeks, it reaches the size of an egg.
This rapid growth in stomach capacity is why feeding amounts change so quickly during the newborn period. Trying to push more milk than the stomach can comfortably hold leads to spit-up, fussiness, and discomfort. Letting your baby set the pace and gradually increasing volumes as the stomach grows is the most reliable approach.
Feeding Amounts Week by Week
For formula-fed newborns, the CDC recommends starting with 1 to 2 ounces every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life. Most babies settle into a pattern like this over the first month:
- Days 1 to 3: 0.5 to 1 ounce per feeding
- Days 4 to 7: 1 to 2 ounces per feeding
- Weeks 2 to 3: 2 to 3 ounces per feeding
- Week 4: 3 to 4 ounces per feeding
A common weight-based guideline is to multiply your baby’s weight in kilograms by 150 milliliters to get the total daily intake, then divide by the number of feedings. A baby weighing about 8 pounds (3.6 kg), for example, would need roughly 540 milliliters (about 18 ounces) spread across the day. Divided into eight feedings, that’s a little over 2 ounces each time.
Breastfed babies are harder to measure in ounces because you can’t see how much milk they’re transferring at the breast. Instead, breastfed newborns typically feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, or roughly every 2 to 4 hours. Each session might last 10 to 20 minutes per side. Rather than tracking volume, breastfeeding parents rely on output (diapers) and weight gain to confirm the baby is getting enough.
How Often to Feed
Newborns eat frequently because their stomachs empty fast. Breastfed babies average 8 to 12 feedings per day, sometimes clustering several feedings close together, especially in the evening. Formula-fed babies tend to eat slightly less often, around 6 to 8 times per day, because formula takes longer to digest.
Watching the clock is less important than watching your baby. Feed on demand rather than on a rigid schedule, especially in the first few weeks when your baby is establishing feeding patterns and, if breastfeeding, helping build your milk supply. Some stretches between feedings will be two hours, others closer to four. Both are normal as long as your baby is gaining weight.
Hunger and Fullness Cues to Watch For
Crying is actually a late hunger signal. Before that, a hungry newborn will put their hands to their mouth, turn their head toward a breast or bottle (called rooting), pucker or smack their lips, and clench their fists. Catching these early cues makes feeding calmer and easier for both of you.
When your baby has had enough, they’ll close their mouth, turn their head away from the breast or bottle, and visibly relax their hands. These signals are reliable. Forcing a baby to finish a bottle past these cues can cause discomfort and may lead to overfeeding over time. If your baby consistently leaves half an ounce in the bottle, try preparing smaller amounts to reduce waste.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Since you can’t measure every feeding precisely, diaper output is one of the most practical indicators of adequate intake. After day five, a well-fed newborn produces at least six wet diapers per day. Stool patterns vary more widely, but regular bowel movements (especially the transition from dark meconium to yellow, seedy stools in breastfed babies) signal that milk is moving through the system.
Weight gain is the gold standard. Healthy newborns gain about 1 ounce per day in the first few months, which adds up to roughly 5 to 7 ounces per week. Most babies lose a small percentage of their birth weight in the first few days, then regain it by 10 to 14 days of age. Your baby’s pediatrician will track this at each visit, so you don’t need a home scale unless one is recommended.
Signs of Overfeeding
Overfeeding is more common with bottle feeding than breastfeeding because the flow from a bottle requires less effort, making it easier for a baby to take in more than they need. Frequent, forceful spit-up after feedings, excessive gassiness, and general fussiness after eating can all point to getting too much volume at once.
One common culprit is a bottle nipple with a flow rate that’s too fast. If milk drips out quickly when you tip the bottle upside down, your baby may be swallowing faster than they’d like. Choosing a slow-flow nipple and holding the bottle at a slight angle (rather than tipping it straight down) gives your baby more control over the pace. If your baby turns away or closes their mouth, trust the signal and stop the feeding even if there’s milk left.
Water and Other Liquids
Newborns do not need water. Breast milk and formula provide all the hydration a baby requires. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk or formula as the sole source of nutrition for about the first six months. At around six months, small amounts of water (4 to 8 ounces per day) can be introduced in a cup. Giving water to a young infant can fill their stomach without providing calories or nutrients, interfere with feeding, and in rare cases cause dangerous electrolyte imbalances.