How Much Milk Does My Baby Need?

Understanding how much milk your baby needs can feel like a bit of a guessing game, especially in the early days. Whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or combining the two, having some guidance on typical volumes can help you feel more confident and in control. 

For an exclusively breastfed baby, you won't know how much they are taking. Once they regain their birth weight (usually by 2 - 3 weeks), you can monitor these things that are a good indication that they are drinking enough milk:

3 tablespoons of yellowy seedy poo (ideally in 3 one-tablespoon poos) every 24 hours. Sometimes they don't poo one day, so then expect double the next day!

5 heavy wet nappies - at least every other nappy should be wet

They settle between feeds (aren’t always crying)

They wake for feeds (aren't hibernating)

They gain 30 g a day. I recommend weighing every 2 weeks to check they have gained 420 g. (The daily weight gain ranges from 15 g - 60 g a day, so if your baby is not gaining an average of 30 g a day, talk to your healthcare provider for advice.)

If you want to give your baby a bottle of milk, here are some guidelines about how much they will need:

Newborns: From Birth to Day 5

In the first few days, your baby’s stomach is tiny (the size of a marble!) and their feeds are small but frequent. This can range from every hour to wanting to stay asleep for several hours. It is a good idea to encourage them to feed at least every 3 to 4 hours (we count this as the start of one feed to the start of the next feed).

Day 0 - 1:

• Breastfeeding babies usually drink from a few drops to 7 ml per feed
  
• Formula-feeding (babies need 60 ml per kg per 24 hours)
  e.g. A 3 kg baby needs about 180 ml total in 24 hours (around 25 ml per feed)

Day 2:

• Breastfeeding babies usually drink between 5 - 15 ml per feed
  
• Formula-feeding (babies need 90 ml per kg per 24 hours)
  e.g. A 3 kg baby needs about 270 ml total in 24 hours (around 34 ml per feed)

Day 3 / Day 4:

• Breastfeeding babies usually drink between 15 - 30 ml per feed
  
• Formula-feeding (babies need 120 ml per kg per 24 hours)
  e.g. A 3 kg baby needs about 360 ml total in 24 hours (around 45 ml per feed)

Between Day 5 - 10:

• Breastfeeding babies usually drink between 30 - 45 ml per feed
  
• Formula-feeding (babies need 150 ml per kg per 24 hours)
  e.g. A 3 kg baby needs about 450 ml total in 24 hours (around 56 ml per feed)
  

Remember, these numbers are just guidelines, and babies feed differently depending on their needs, health, and temperament. Always follow your baby's cues.

From 10 Days to 6 Weeks

Once your milk supply is established or bottle feeding is regular, the calculation changes slightly.

• All babies need between 150 ml and 180 ml per kg per 24 hours
  
• For a 3 kg baby, that’s between 450 ml and 540 ml per 24 hours
  
• Divide this by the number of feeds (typically 8 in 24 hours), and you get an average of 55 ml to 70 ml per feed
  
• As your baby grows, this volume will steadily increase. They will usually gain about 210 g each week, so they will need an additional 30 - 35 ml per feed/per week
  

From 6 Weeks Onward

Most babies will settle into feeding 6 to 8 times in 24 hours, and from 6 weeks the volume stays relatively steady. The amount of milk a baby needs varies from baby to baby and is usually within the range of 750 - 1500 ml per 24 hours.

• Daily total: an average of 1000 ml (some babies will drink more or less depending on growth spurts, temperament, or feeding method)
  
• Average per feed: 120 to 150 ml

Trust your instincts and follow your baby’s signals. Some feeds will be longer or larger, some shorter and lighter. That’s normal. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.