A 5-day-old baby typically drinks 1 to 2 ounces of formula per feeding, every 2 to 3 hours. That works out to roughly 8 to 12 feedings in a 24-hour period, for a daily total of somewhere between 12 and 20 ounces. Every baby is slightly different, so the exact amount depends on your newborn’s hunger cues and how well they’re gaining weight.
Why the Range Is So Small
A 5-day-old baby’s stomach holds only about 22 to 27 milliliters, which is less than one ounce. By the time your baby finishes even a small bottle, that tiny stomach is nearly full. This is why newborns eat such small amounts but need to eat so frequently. Trying to push more than 2 ounces at this stage can overwhelm the stomach and lead to more spit-up.
Over the coming weeks, stomach capacity grows quickly. By the end of the first month, most formula-fed babies move up to 3 to 4 ounces per feeding and start spacing meals a bit further apart. But at five days old, small and frequent is exactly what your baby needs.
How Often to Feed
Plan on offering a bottle every 2 to 3 hours, measured from the start of one feeding to the start of the next. If your baby sleeps longer than 4 to 5 hours during these early weeks, wake them up for a feeding. Newborns lose a small percentage of their birth weight in the first few days, and consistent feeding helps them regain it by around 10 to 14 days of age. Once your pediatrician confirms your baby is back to birth weight and gaining steadily, you can generally let them sleep until they wake on their own.
Most newborns settle into 8 to 12 feedings per day. Some cluster their feeds closer together during certain stretches, especially in the evening, and then sleep a slightly longer block. That’s normal as long as the overall daily count stays in range.
Hunger and Fullness Cues to Watch For
Rather than watching the clock or the ounce markings on the bottle, let your baby guide you. Early hunger cues include putting hands to their mouth, turning their head toward the bottle (called rooting), and smacking or licking their lips. Clenched fists are another signal. Crying is actually a late sign of hunger, so try to offer the bottle before your baby gets to that point. A very upset baby has a harder time latching onto the nipple and may swallow extra air.
When your baby is full, you’ll notice them closing their mouth, turning their head away from the bottle, or relaxing their hands. These signals mean it’s time to stop, even if there’s still formula left. There’s no need to encourage your baby to finish every drop.
Signs Your Baby Is Getting Enough
Diaper output is the most reliable day-to-day indicator. By day five, your baby should produce at least six wet diapers in 24 hours. The number of dirty diapers varies more from baby to baby, but you should see at least a few each day during the first month. Urine should be pale yellow or nearly colorless. Dark or concentrated urine, or fewer than six wet diapers, can signal that your baby needs more formula.
Weight checks at your pediatrician’s office fill in the rest of the picture. Most practices schedule a visit within a few days of hospital discharge specifically to check weight. Steady weight gain, along with good diaper counts and a baby who seems content between feedings, tells you the intake is on track.
Overfeeding: What It Looks Like
Spitting up is common in newborns, but large amounts of spit-up after feedings often point to overfeeding. When the stomach gets filled past its small capacity, the excess comes right back up. If your baby is frequently spitting up large volumes, pulling their legs up in discomfort, or seeming fussy right after finishing a bottle, try offering slightly less formula and feeding a bit more often instead. Smaller, more frequent meals put less pressure on the stomach while still delivering the same total daily intake.
A Sample Day at Five Days Old
A rough outline for a 5-day-old might look like this: offer 1 to 1.5 ounces every 2 to 3 hours through the day and night, for about 10 feedings total. Some feedings your baby will drain the bottle, and others they’ll stop after half an ounce. Both are fine. Over a full 24-hour stretch, you’re aiming for a total somewhere in the range of 12 to 20 ounces, but the per-feeding amount matters less than the overall pattern of regular eating, adequate wet diapers, and a baby who settles between meals.
Within the next week or two, you’ll likely notice your baby starting to take slightly larger bottles and going a bit longer between feedings. This progression happens naturally. Follow your baby’s lead, and the volumes will increase at a pace that matches their growing stomach.