A newborn baby typically drinks about 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 ml) of milk per feeding during the first week, as their stomachs are very small at birth
. They usually feed every 2 to 3 hours, totaling about 8 to 12 feedings per day
. This means a newborn may consume roughly 16 to 24 ounces (480 to 720 ml) of milk daily in the first week. By around 4 to 5 weeks of age, the feeding amount per session increases to about 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 ml), with a typical daily intake peaking around 25 to 30 ounces (750 to 900 ml)
. For formula feeding, a common guideline is to offer about 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of the baby's body weight per day. For example, an 8-pound baby would need about 20 ounces per day, divided into multiple feedings
. In summary:
- First week: 1–2 ounces per feeding, 8–12 feedings/day (16–24 oz/day)
- Around 4–5 weeks: 3–4 ounces per feeding, about 25–30 oz/day
- Formula feeding: Approximately 2.5 oz per pound of body weight per day
Feeding on demand and watching the baby's hunger cues is important to ensure they get enough milk without overfeeding
