How much milk does a newborn need? A guide to newborn feeding amounts

What you need

How much milk does a newborn drink?

So how much do newborns eat? The wonderful thing about babies is that everyone is unique, and because of that, no baby will ever feed by the book. Here are a few feeding facts to help you answer the question, how much milk does a newborn need:

• At first, you will only produce small amounts of breast milk called colostrum, a yellowish, thick milk. 
• Colostrum is the perfect source of nutrients that your newborn needs with many immunologic properties. ²
• Your baby's tiny stomach is still adapting to digesting milk during its first few days. It's normal for your little one to take up to a week to adjust to their new feeding routine, which can cause a slight weight loss from their birth weight. ³
• Babies only ingest about one to two ounces per feeding, an amount that will increase to about two to three ounces at two weeks of age. So don’t worry if it seems that you aren’t producing much milk in these first few days after birth! 
• After this stage, most babies will need 2.5-3 oz of milk per pound, and this will be the general rule of thumb until your baby is six months old.
• Although it is tempting to stick to this, try not to be too strict. Volumes will naturally vary from feed to feed. 
• The feeding sessions will also change in terms of duration, starting between 10 to 30 minutes and gradually increasing as your newborn grows. 

How much milk does a newborn drink from a bottle

Now you have a rough idea of the answer to the question, ‘how much breast milk should a newborn drink’, what about when you are bottle feeding? If you decide to bottle feed your baby here are some key tips regarding the correct newborn feeding amount:

• If you have expressed breast milk into a bottle, you should feed your newborn for the same duration as with breastfeeding. 
• Should you choose to do so, pumping is a wonderful option to feed your baby breast milk, while giving your nipples a break and providing you with more control of timing and schedule.
• If you are providing formula in addition to breastmilk, or as alternative to breastmilk, then you should aim to offer your newborn one to two ounces per feed. 
• After two months this increases to two to four ounces, and by six months your baby will likely require six to eight ounces per feed.
  
  

If you have combination feeding concerns, the Philips Natural Baby Bottle with Natural Response Nipple might be the right bottle for your little one. Here’s a few ways it can help you ensure an easy transition between breast and bottle as you provide your baby with the correct newborn feeding amount:

1. The breast-shaped bottle nipple looks and works like the breast to provide a calm and comfortable feed for your baby. 
2.  Your baby can comfortably switch between breastfeeding and bottle feeding thanks to the intuitive bottle nipple opening and tip. 
3. Milk is released from the bottle nipple only during active drinking, when triggered by your baby's natural tongue compression, like at the breast. 
4.  During each rest period, your baby can take time to pause, which in turn signals the bottle nipple to stop the milk flow without drips. 
5. The unique technological advancements of this bottle nipple help support your baby's natural feeding rhythm to make combination feeding an effortless experience.

How much do newborns eat: Signs that your baby is full

How do you know when your baby is no longer hungry? Whether you choose breast or bottle, look out for these signs that may indicate your newborn is full and has reached their own individual newborn feeding amount⁴:

• Closes mouth
• Turns head away from your breast or bottle
• Reluctant to latch onto the bottle nipple
• Milk is dripping out of their mouth
• Starts to move their arms and legs
• Hands are open and relaxed
• Their body feels heavy and relaxed
• Falls asleep

If your baby shows any signs of being full, ensure that you stop breastfeeding or bottle feeding, even if the bottle is not empty.