Most newborns drink small, frequent bottles: usually about 1.5–3 oz (45–90 mL) every 2–3 hours in the first weeks, increasing gradually as they grow.

Quick Scoop: Typical Formula Amounts

  • First week: About 1–2 oz (30–60 mL) every 2–3 hours.
  • Remainder of first month: Often 2–4 oz (60–120 mL) per feed, still roughly every 3 hours.
  • Rule of thumb (first months): Around 2–2.5 oz of formula per pound of body weight per day (about 150–200 mL per kg per day), spread over 6–10 feeds.
  • Upper limit: Many pediatric groups suggest not routinely going over about 32 oz (950 mL) of formula in 24 hours for babies under 6 months unless your doctor advises it.

Example: A 7 lb newborn might take roughly 14–18 oz of formula in 24 hours at first, divided into small feeds, then move toward 18–24 oz as the stomach grows and feeds get larger.

How to Tell If It’s the Right Amount

Watch your baby more than the bottle. Signs your baby is likely getting enough :

  • Steady weight gain after the first 1–2 weeks (your pediatrician tracks this).
  • 6 or more wet diapers a day by the end of the first week.
  • Regular soft stools and a generally content baby between most feeds.

Signs you may be giving too much :

  • Frequent spit-up or vomiting after feeds.
  • Very tight, uncomfortable belly or lots of gas.
  • Consistently rushing to the 32+ oz per day range with a very young baby.

Signs baby may need more :

  • Persistent hunger cues after most feeds (rooting, sucking on hands, crying that doesn’t settle).
  • Poor weight gain on the growth chart.

Simple Mini-Guide by Age (First Month)

  • Days 1–3: Stomach is tiny; many babies take 0.5–1 oz (15–30 mL) per feed, very often.
  • Days 4–7: Many move to 1–2 oz (30–60 mL) every 2–3 hours.
  • Weeks 2–4: Often 2–3 oz (60–90 mL) every 3 hours; some may take up to 4 oz (120 mL) per feed as they near 1 month.

Feeding will not be perfectly “by the book.” A growth spurt might mean a few days of more frequent feeding, then it settles again.

Safety Pointers (Important)

  • Always mix formula exactly as the tin says; do not add extra powder to “fill them up,” as it can be dangerous for kidneys and digestion.
  • Hold your baby upright, pace the bottle, and let them pause or stop even if there is milk left; this helps avoid overfeeding.
  • Never prop the bottle or put a baby to bed with a bottle.
  • If your baby is premature, has medical issues, or was low birth weight, you must follow a pediatrician’s specific plan.

A Quick “Story” Scenario

Imagine a 9-day-old baby, Mia. She’s taking about 1.5 oz (45 mL) every 2–3 hours, then one day suddenly finishes 2 oz and still roots for more. Her parents slowly offer 2.5 oz at the next feed, and Mia seems satisfied, with plenty of wet diapers and normal spit-up. That gentle, stepwise increase—watching her cues and staying within daily totals—is exactly how many families find the “right” amount. Bottom line: Start with 1–2 oz every 2–3 hours in the first week, then gradually increase toward 2–4 oz per feed by the end of the first month, aiming for roughly 2–2.5 oz per pound of body weight per day, and adjust based on your baby’s hunger cues and pediatrician’s advice.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.