I remember staring bleary-eyed at my baby one night, watching her gulp down milk with all the determination of a tiny marathon runner. I was obsessed: Was she getting enough? Too much? Was I supposed to know by instinct (spoiler: I did NOT)? If you’re googling, pacing, and second-guessing your newborn’s feeds, let’s skip the guilt. Here’s what I’ve learned by trial, error, and talking to every nurse who’d listen.
What ‘Normal’ Looks Like: There’s More Than One Answer
No two babies eat exactly alike. My first gobbled anything she was offered, my second was fussy, grazing all day like a miniature cow. But even with all that variety, there are some real benchmarks for how much a newborn should eat at each age. The key? Accept a little flex—some feeds are epic, others are just snacks.
Curious about WHY newborns’ eating patterns feel completely unpredictable? Pop over to Why Does My Newborn Not Sleep? for some big-picture sanity!
Newborn Stomachs: Tiny but Mighty
Before diving in, did you know your baby’s stomach is ridiculously small at first? We’re talking the size of a cherry on day one (seriously!). That’s why feeds are little and often—there’s just nowhere for all that milk to go yet!
There’s a handy breakdown here: Baby Stomach Size by Age. It makes all those constant top-ups feel a bit more logical, I promise.
Day-by-Day and Week-by-Week: Feeding Amounts by Age
Birth to 3 Days: The Teeny-Tiny Stage
- Amount per feed: 5-10ml (about 1-2 teaspoons) per feed
- Feeds per day: 8-12 times (sometimes even more)
- Total over 24 hours: Roughly 30-60ml (1-2 ounces)
Colostrum (aka liquid gold) is all a healthy newborn needs right now—formula or breastmilk, it’s just small drops. My midwife told me not to panic if the ‘appetite’ didn’t look big enough. If there are wet nappies, they’re getting what they need!
3 Days to 1 Week: Building Up
- Amount per feed: 15-30ml (about 3-6 teaspoons)
- Feeds per day: 8-12 times
- Total over 24 hours: 120-240ml (4-8 ounces)
This stage felt relentless. My little one seemed to nurse or bottle-feed constantly, and I worried if I could keep up. But those frequent, tiny feeds are what help milk supply get going (and fill their rapidly growing tummies).
1 to 2 Weeks: Hungry and Growing
- Amount per feed: 30-60ml (1-2 ounces)
- Feeds per day: 8-10 times (sometimes more)
- Total over 24 hours: 240-480ml (8-16 ounces)
I’ll admit, this is when I started losing track. Nappies, feeds, naps, all blurred together. The best rule: if baby is feeding actively and giving you those lovely heavy wet nappies, you’re on the right track.
2 to 4 Weeks: Settling Into a Rhythm (Sort of)
- Amount per feed: 60-90ml (2-3 ounces)
- Feeds per day: 7-9 times
- Total over 24 hours: 420-780ml (14-26 ounces)
This was the stage when I finally felt a teeny bit less anxious about feeds. My baby started giving clear hungry cues (rooting, hand-sucking, those funny snuffly noises), and I got better at reading her signals.
1 to 2 Months: Baby’s Doing the Ordering!
- Amount per feed: 90-120ml (3-4 ounces)
- Feeds per day: about 6-8 times
- Total over 24 hours: 540-960ml (18-32 ounces)
At this point, feeds start to spread out slightly—sometimes a glorious 3 hours between! Still, cluster feeds in the evenings happened ALL the time in our house.
2 to 6 Months: Growing, Smiling, Sucking More!
- Amount per feed: 120-180ml (4-6 ounces)
- Feeds per day: 5-6 times
- Total over 24 hours: 600-1080ml (20-36 ounces)
If your little one is leaping up percentiles or taking shorter/longer feeds, that’s OK. Growth spurts around 3 and 6 weeks (and again at 3 months, then 6 months) turn some babies into round-the-clock snackers or guzzlers.
Check out the bigger picture of these months in Baby 0-6 Months What to Expect. Honestly, so much feels easier once those feeds settle.
The Breastfed vs. Formula-Fed Newborn
This one made my head spin at first. The short version:
- Breastfed newborns usually feed more often but might take smaller amounts per feed, as breastmilk digests quickly
- Formula-fed newborns tend to space out feeds a little more as formula digests slower, but take slightly bigger bottles
Both are totally normal and healthy. The main thing is watching for hungry cues and trusting those nappies.
You can read more on external resources like this simple NHS guide.
Wet Nappies, Weight Gain, and Baby Clues
If your newborn is having at least 6 wet nappies a day after the first week, is gaining some weight each week, and seems generally content after most feeds, you’re doing brilliantly. My son’s weight bounced around, which made me a bit neurotic—but the health visitor kept repeating, “feeds, nappies, content babies.”
Why Some Days Feel Off
Some days your baby will eat non-stop. Other days, they nap more and graze. Growth spurts, teething, cluster feeds (which you can read about in Gentle Newborn Sleep), or even warm/cold weather can throw off routines. It’s normal, and it won’t last forever—promise!
When Should You Worry?
Trust your gut! If your newborn:
- Has fewer than 4 wet nappies in 24 hours after day 4
- Seems very lethargic or refuses most feeds
- Isn’t gaining weight
- Has forceful or projectile vomiting
- Struggles to breathe or seems floppy
Get checked by a doctor or midwife right away. There’s no such thing as a silly question if you’re worried—my motto: better to check than to stress all night.
You’ll also find comfort in Why Nights Feel Harder for New Parents for those really uncertain times.
Tips for Stress-Free Feeds (From a Potty-Stained T-Shirt Mum)
- Keep water and a snack by your feeding chair (mum hunger is real)
- Keep a note of feeds for the first few weeks (I genuinely forgot everything otherwise)
- Ask for help with burping, especially at 3am—my partner became our champion burper
- Trust baby’s cues—my youngest pulled off dramatically whenever she’d had enough!
- Take a breath and watch their sweet little lip curl at the bottle or breast. That moment made even the tough nights a tiny bit magical.
The Takeaway: How Much Should a Newborn Eat Really?
Babies aren’t robots. There are real numbers, absolutely, but every baby finds their groove. If you’re wondering, “how much should a newborn eat?”—remember, wet nappies, good weight gain, and a satisfied baby almost always mean you’re nailing it.
And if you’ve made it through even one day of feeding a newborn, you deserve a hug (and a hot drink that’s not been microwaved four times).
Want more honest, experience-based advice about newborn stages? Check out my full guide: Baby 0-6 Months What to Expect. You’re not alone—even if it feels like you’re the only one awake at 3:17am!