How much should a newborn eat? Breast milk and formula by age
How often newborns breastfeed, formula amounts by age in ml and oz, hunger and fullness cues, signs your baby is getting enough, and vitamin D advice.
Educational content only, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or health visitor about your child.
In this article
- How often should a newborn breastfeed?
- What is cluster feeding?
- How much formula does a newborn need by age?
- What are a baby's hunger and fullness cues?
- How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?
- Does my baby need vitamin D?
- Can I give my baby water or put cereal in their bottle?
- When should my baby start solid food?
- Should I track my baby's feeds?
Breastfed newborns usually feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, sometimes every 1 to 3 hours in the first days. Formula-fed babies take about 30 to 60 ml (1 to 2 oz) per feed in the first week, building to 90 to 120 ml (3 to 4 oz) by the end of the first month and 180 to 240 ml (6 to 8 oz) by 6 months. Most babies drink no more than about 960 ml (32 oz) of formula a day. The best guide is your baby: feed when they show hunger cues and stop when they show they are full.
This guide is educational, not medical advice. Every baby is different, so if you have questions about your baby's feeding or weight, talk to your midwife, health visitor, doctor or paediatrician.
How often should a newborn breastfeed?
The CDC says breastfed babies typically feed about 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. In the first few days, many newborns want to feed every 1 to 3 hours. Over the following weeks, feeds usually settle to about every 2 to 4 hours, though patterns vary a lot.
The NHS advice is simple: feed your baby as often as they want and for as long as they want. Breastfeeding works on supply and demand, so frequent feeding in the early weeks helps build your milk supply.
Some newborns are very sleepy and need waking for feeds. The CDC suggests gently patting, stroking, undressing your baby or changing their nappy (diaper) to wake them.
Nursing pillow
Takes the weight off your arms and back during feeds.
What is cluster feeding?
Cluster feeding is when your baby feeds very often over a few hours, sometimes roughly every hour, then may sleep for a longer stretch. The CDC describes this as normal. It often happens in the evening and during growth spurts. It does not mean your milk supply is low.
Long sessions can make nipples sore. If feeding hurts, ask your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist to check the latch.
Lanolin nipple cream
Soothing balm for the first weeks of feeding.
How much formula does a newborn need by age?
The AAP gives these typical amounts for formula-fed babies. They are averages, not targets. Some babies take a little more, some a little less.
| Age | Amount per feed | How often |
|---|---|---|
| First week | 30 to 60 ml (1 to 2 oz) | On demand, when baby shows hunger |
| End of first month | 90 to 120 ml (3 to 4 oz) | About every 3 to 4 hours |
| 2 to 4 months | Gradually more, guided by weight | Many no longer need a middle of the night feed |
| By 6 months | 180 to 240 ml (6 to 8 oz) | 4 to 5 feeds in 24 hours |
A rough rule from the AAP: on average, babies take about 75 ml (2.5 oz) of formula a day for every 450 g (1 lb) of body weight. Most babies drink no more than about 960 ml (32 oz) in 24 hours.
The AAP also says that in the first few weeks, if your formula-fed baby sleeps longer than 4 to 5 hours and misses feeds, you should wake them and offer a bottle.
The NHS does not give a fixed table. It says newborns need quite small amounts at first, that the amount varies from baby to baby, and that you should feed when your baby shows hunger signs rather than to a set schedule. If your baby consistently seems to want much more or much less than the amounts above, talk to your doctor or health visitor.
Anti-colic baby bottles
Vented bottles that help reduce swallowed air. Start with two sizes.
What are a baby's hunger and fullness cues?
Responsive feeding means watching your baby rather than the clock or the bottle markings. Both the NHS and AAP encourage it for breastfed and formula-fed babies.
Early hunger cues (NHS):
- Getting restless or stirring
- Rooting, turning their head and opening their mouth
- Sucking on their fists or fingers
Crying is a late sign of hunger. Feeding before crying starts is usually easier for both of you.
Signs your baby is full:
- Slowing down, pausing or turning away from the breast or bottle
- Seeming content and drowsy after a feed (CDC)
- Getting fidgety or easily distracted during a bottle (AAP)
If you bottle feed, hold your baby fairly upright, let them pause, and do not push them to finish the bottle. Some babies keep sucking because they enjoy it, not because they are hungry. The AAP notes some babies just want a dummy (pacifier) after a feed.
How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?
Nappies and weight are the two best signs. The NHS says to expect:
- First 48 hours: usually only 2 or 3 wet nappies
- From day 4: at least 2 soft, yellow poos a day for the first few weeks
- From day 5: at least 6 heavy, wet nappies every 24 hours
Our guide to newborn poop and wet nappies explains what is normal in more detail.
Other good signs from the NHS include hearing your baby swallow, cheeks staying rounded while sucking, your baby coming off the breast on their own, seeming content after most feeds, and being alert when awake.
Most babies lose some weight in the first few days, then start gaining steadily. Your midwife and health visitor will weigh your baby and plot them on a growth chart. Our baby weight gain guide and baby growth calculator help you understand those numbers.
Ask for help early if your baby is very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, has fewer wet nappies than expected, looks yellow, or you are simply worried. If your baby has no wet nappy for 8 hours or more, or seems floppy or very unwell, get urgent medical help, and call your emergency number in an emergency.
Does my baby need vitamin D?
Yes, but the US and UK advice differs slightly.
| Who | AAP (US) | NHS (UK) |
|---|---|---|
| Breastfed or partly breastfed | 400 IU a day, from the first few days | 8.5 to 10 micrograms a day, from birth to 1 year |
| Formula-fed | Supplement unless drinking about 1 litre (32 oz) of formula a day | No supplement if drinking more than 500 ml (about a pint) a day |
| Later | Continue until enough fortified milk or formula | 10 micrograms a day from 1 to 4 years, plus vitamins A and C from 6 months to 5 years |
400 IU is the same as 10 micrograms. Your baby still needs a supplement even if you take vitamin D yourself. Ask your pharmacist, health visitor or doctor which drops to use.
Can I give my baby water or put cereal in their bottle?
Water. The AAP says babies under 6 months do not need extra water on top of breast milk or formula. The NHS says breastfed babies do not need water before starting solids, and formula-fed babies may need small sips of cooled boiled water in hot weather. From around 6 months, you can offer sips of water from a cup with meals.
Juice. The NHS says babies under 12 months do not need fruit juice.
Cereal in a bottle. The AAP advises against it. It can increase the risk of choking or breathing food into the lungs, and can lead to overfeeding. If your doctor recommends thickened feeds for a medical reason such as reflux, follow their advice.
When should my baby start solid food?
The WHO, NHS and AAP recommend starting solids at around 6 months, when your baby shows the signs of readiness. Until then, breast milk or formula gives them everything they need. Milk stays their main drink through the first year. Our starting solids guide walks you through first foods, allergens and choking hazards.
Should I track my baby's feeds?
In the early weeks it is hard to remember when your baby last fed or how many wet nappies there have been. A simple log makes appointments easier.
Baby Growth Tracker Pro lets you log feeds, sleep, nappies, growth and milestones in a tap, and works offline. For more guides like this one, visit our baby care hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many ounces should a newborn drink?
The AAP says about 1 to 2 oz (30 to 60 ml) per feed in the first week, rising to 3 to 4 oz (90 to 120 ml) by the end of the first month. Breastfed babies are not measured this way, so watch nappies and weight instead.
How long should a newborn go between feeds?
Breastfed newborns often feed every 1 to 3 hours in the first days and every 2 to 4 hours after that. Formula-fed babies usually feed about every 3 to 4 hours by the end of the first month. Wake a newborn who sleeps more than 4 to 5 hours and misses feeds in the first weeks.
Can I overfeed a formula-fed baby?
It is possible, which is why responsive feeding matters. Watch fullness cues, let your baby pause, and do not encourage them to finish every bottle. Most babies drink no more than about 960 ml (32 oz) a day.
Is cluster feeding a sign of low milk supply?
Not usually. Cluster feeding is normal, especially in the evening and during growth spurts. Wet nappies, poos and steady weight gain are better guides to whether your baby is getting enough.
Does a breastfed baby need water in hot weather?
The NHS says breastfed babies do not need water before starting solids, though they may want to feed more often. Formula-fed babies may need small sips of cooled boiled water in hot weather.
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