Newborn feeding guide

How much milk should a newborn drink per feed?

A full-term newborn usually starts with about 2 to 10 mL per feed on the first day and builds to at least 60 to 80 mL per feed by the end of the first week, across at least eight feeds in 24 hours. A newborn stomach is small, so small and frequent feeds are normal. The amounts below are a reference range. Baby cues, nappy output, weight checks, and your care team always come first.

First week per-feed amounts: full-term babies

These ranges assume at least eight feeds in 24 hours. They are a floor to aim for, not a cap. Some babies take more.

  • 0 to 24 hours: 2 to 10 mL per feed
  • 24 to 48 hours: 5 to 15 mL per feed
  • 48 to 72 hours: 15 to 30 mL per feed
  • 72 to 96 hours: 30 to 60 mL per feed
  • 96 to 120 hours: at least 60 to 80 mL per feed

Preterm or small babies

Babies born before 37 weeks, or at or below the third centile, often follow a slightly different early pattern. This status should come from your care team or a neonatal growth chart, not from birth weight alone.

  • 0 to 24 hours: 5 to 10 mL per feed
  • 24 to 48 hours: 10 to 30 mL per feed
  • 48 to 72 hours: 30 to 50 mL per feed
  • 72 to 96 hours: 50 to 60 mL per feed
  • 96 to 120 hours: at least 60 to 80 mL per feed

After the first week

Once the first five days pass, a common daily baseline is around 150 mL per kilogram of body weight per day, divided across the day's feeds. The per-feed amount should not drop below the first-week floor of at least 60 to 80 mL. Real bottle sizes vary with the number of feeds, your baby's cues, weight, and care-team advice, so treat any single number as a starting point.

What about breast feeds?

You cannot measure how much milk a baby takes at the breast from time on the breast alone. Instead of chasing a millilitre figure, track how often your baby feeds, how they settle, their nappy output, and their weight. If you express or top up, the bottle amounts above still apply.

How to know your baby is getting enough

Output and growth tell you more than any single feed amount. Watch for:

  • steady weight gain checked by your midwife, nurse, or doctor
  • from day five, at least six wet nappies in 24 hours
  • regular dirty nappies in the early weeks
  • a baby who feeds well and settles after most feeds

For the nappy side of this, see how many wet and dirty nappies a newborn should have.

This page is a reference range only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for professional care. If you are worried about feeding, weight, or your baby's wellbeing, contact your midwife, Plunket nurse, doctor, or local care team. Baby cues and clinical judgement always take priority.

Track feeds without the guesswork

Tiny Tells shows a recommended next feed and a per-feed guide based on these ranges, and logs bottle and breast feeds in a couple of taps. It keeps everything private on your iPhone and your own iCloud, with no accounts and no tracking.

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