Newborn feeding schedule: how much milk and how often, month by month

A newborn feeding schedule is looser than most parents expect. Singapore General Hospital (SGH) says newborns feed every two to four hours, and that your baby, not the clock, should set the timing; it advises against fixed schedules such as every three hours. Breastfed newborns usually feed 8 to 12 times a day, KK Women's and Children's Hospital's (KKH) lactation service says. For formula, National University Hospital (NUH) says a newborn typically takes about 60ml every two to three hours, and KKH's dietitians work out the daily total by weight: 150 to 180ml per kg in the first month, dropping to 120 to 150ml per kg by four to six months. The table below sets it out month by month, followed by how to tell your baby is getting enough.

Newborn feeding schedule by age

The breastfeeding intervals are SGH's general guide; the formula feeds and daily totals are from KKH's 'Feeding in the first year' handout, which gives volumes in millilitres per kilogram of your baby's weight a day. Breastfed babies may feed more often than this, KKH notes, and that's normal.

The worked examples are simple sums from KKH's ranges with example weights. Your own baby's weight gives your own numbers. Our milk feeding calculator does the sum for you. HealthHub's early nutrition booklet gives another way to sense-check: around 500 to 750ml of milk a day for babies up to six months. SGH adds that many babies settle into their own schedule by one to two months.

How much formula per feed

Divide the daily total by the number of feeds. A 4.5kg baby at two months needs 130 to 160ml per kg a day, which is about 585 to 720ml. Spread over seven or eight feeds, that's roughly 75 to 100ml a bottle. Use the number as a guide and let your baby's cues decide.

• Offer the bottle when you see early hunger cues, and stop when your baby shows they're full. HealthHub's booklet says not to force your baby to finish the bottle if they seem full.
• Make up formula the way MOH sets out: boil the water and let it cool to no less than 70 degrees C, which means using it within 30 minutes of boiling. Use the milk within two hours, discard what your baby doesn't finish, and refrigerate any you won't use straight away for up to 24 hours.
• Test the temperature on your hand before feeding, as NUH advises.
• Don't add cereal or anything else to the bottle to make your baby sleep longer. HealthHub warns it can cause choking.

Our guide to bottle warmers and warming milk safely covers heating milk, and the formula cost calculator shows how long a tin lasts at your baby's intake.

Breastfeeding: why there's no millilitre target

You can't see how much a breastfed baby drinks, and you don't need to. KKH's lactation service describes feeds every two to three hours that last 15 to 45 minutes, and says it's common for babies to feed on demand 8 to 12 times a day. HealthHub, from the Health Promotion Board, asks you to aim for at least 8 feeds in 24 hours for the first four to eight weeks, and to follow your baby's hunger cues round the clock.

Judge intake by what comes out and how your baby grows. These are the signs Singapore's hospitals list:

• Six to eight wet nappies a day, with or without stools, and a baby who seems satisfied after feeds (SGH). NUH expects at least five to six wet nappies a day by the time you leave hospital.
• Clear urine and bowel movements two to five times or more a day (HealthHub).
• Steady weight gain, about 150 to 200 grams a week in the early months (HealthHub).

Growth spurts bring days of near-constant feeding. SGH puts them at around 7 to 14 days, 2 months, 4 months and 6 months, while HealthHub says 2 to 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months; either way, HealthHub notes a spurt lasts only a few days. Feeding more often is how your supply catches up. If you're worried about supply, our guides to increasing breast milk supply and breastfeeding support in Singapore cover what helps.

Cluster feeding

Some evenings your baby may want to feed every hour, or even more. SGH's infant feeding booklet calls this cluster feeding: babies feed often during one part of the day and then sleep a longer stretch afterwards. It's common, especially in the first weeks and during growth spurts, and it isn't a sign that your milk has run out. Keep offering the breast or bottle when your baby asks.

Nappies in the first week

Nappies are the easiest way to tell feeding is going well in the first days, before weight checks start.

The AAP adds that babies usually lose no more than 8 to 10% of their birth weight in the first days before gaining again. If urine stays pink after day 3, NUH says your baby may not be getting enough fluid; ask a doctor or lactation consultant.

Hunger and fullness cues

Feeding on cue works best when you catch the early signs. Crying is a late cue; NUH's breastfeeding chart puts it as 'calm me, then feed me'.

The cues above are drawn from SGH's infant feeding booklet, KKH's feeding handout and NUH's breastfeeding chart.

Night feeds and sleepy babies

Newborns can't get through the night without milk. HealthHub notes that in the early days a baby may wake as often as every two to three hours, and KKH's sleep guide says newborns usually wake every three to five hours at night for feeds. From five to six months, KKH says, most healthy babies no longer need overnight feeds.

Advice on waking a sleepy newborn differs. HealthHub's baby sleep page says you might need to wake your baby to feed after a four-hour stretch until they've regained their birth weight, while SGH's booklet generally recommends not disturbing a sleeping baby for a feed. Ask your baby's doctor which applies at the first check-up, especially if your baby had jaundice or was small at birth. SGH is clear on one point: don't 'dream feed' by dripping milk into the mouth of a baby in deep sleep, because of the choking risk.

Water, and when solids come in

A baby on milk alone doesn't need extra water. KKH's handout says no additional water is needed, and NUH says not to give plain water to a newborn. On hot days, offer feeds more often instead of water.

HealthHub advises starting solids at around six months, and not earlier than four months, because starting too early may raise the risk of food allergies and too much weight gain. KKH says most babies can start between four and six months if they've reached the developmental milestones. Our guides to starting solids and the weaning schedule pick up from there.

When to see a doctor

Get medical advice promptly if you notice any of these, drawn from SGH, KKH and NUH:

• Your baby is sleepier than usual, feeding poorly, and has fewer wet nappies, or none in the past 12 hours (SGH).
• Pale or cream-coloured stools, which SGH says are never normal.
• Vomiting, especially if it's green or projectile, beyond the usual small spit-ups (KKH).
• Refusing feeds several times in a row, or seeming floppy and lethargic (KKH).
• Pink-tinged urine, which NUH says can mean your baby isn't getting enough fluid.
• Weight that drops across two or more percentile lines on the growth chart (SGH).
• A fever of more than 37.5 degrees C under the arm in a baby under 3 months (NUH).

Our baby poop guide explains what normal nappies look like, and baby fever: when to worry covers temperatures in more detail.

When to see a lactation consultant in Singapore

KKH calls breastfeeding an acquired skill that needs counselling and support. Book a lactation consultant if feeds hurt, your baby struggles to latch, you're unsure your baby is getting enough, or your nipples are cracked or your breasts painfully full. Most public hospitals and polyclinics offer lactation support:

Our breastfeeding support guide covers latching and early problems, and the milk supply guide explains what raises supply.

Frequently asked questions

How much milk should a newborn drink per feed?

In the first days, very little: SGH says a teaspoon of colostrum per feed is enough, and NUH puts a typical formula feed at about 60ml every two to three hours for a newborn. In the first month, KKH works it out at 150 to 180ml per kg of body weight a day, so a 3.5kg baby takes about 525 to 630ml a day across eight or more feeds.

How often should a newborn feed?

Every two to four hours, SGH says, with your baby setting the pace. Breastfed babies commonly feed 8 to 12 times a day, and HealthHub suggests at least 8 feeds in 24 hours for the first four to eight weeks.

Should I follow a strict three-hourly schedule?

SGH advises against feeding by a fixed schedule such as every three hours. Feed when your baby shows hunger cues. Many babies fall into their own rhythm by one to two months.

Should I wake my newborn to feed?

Guidance differs. HealthHub says you may need to wake your baby after a four-hour stretch until birth weight is regained, while SGH generally recommends not disturbing a sleeping baby. Ask your doctor at the first check-up, especially if your baby had jaundice or was premature.

How do I know my breastfed baby is getting enough?

Look for six to eight wet nappies a day (SGH), clear urine, stools two to five times or more a day, and weight gain of about 150 to 200 grams a week (HealthHub). If nappies drop off or your baby is unusually sleepy, see a doctor.

When can my baby stop night feeds?

KKH says most healthy babies no longer need overnight feeds from five to six months. Some need them longer, so check with your doctor before dropping them.