How often should a newborn feed? What the NHS and the AAP say

In the first weeks a newborn's day is mostly feeding, sleeping and nappies, and it is hard to know whether the feeding part is going right. Two sources give clear numbers: the NHS in the UK and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), through its parent site HealthyChildren.org. Their figures differ a little, and both stress that babies vary. This is what they say, as of 28 October 2026.

This article is general information. It does not replace your midwife, health visitor, GP or paediatrician.

Breastfed newborns: 8 to 12 feeds, or more

The NHS gives a rough guide: in the first few weeks babies should feed at least 8 to 12 times, or more, every 24 hours. In the first few days that can mean a feed every 1 to 3 hours. The AAP puts it at about every 2 hours, typically 10 to 12 times in 24 hours.

Neither source sets a length for a feed. The NHS advice is to feed for as long as the baby wants, and it notes that after a few days feeds become fewer but longer. Feeding whenever and for as long as the baby wants is what the NHS calls responsive feeding, also known as on-demand or baby-led feeding.

The first milk, colostrum, is usually thick and golden yellow. It is very concentrated, so the NHS says a baby needs only about a teaspoonful per feed at first. A small amount early on is expected.

Bottle-fed newborns: amounts by age

For bottle feeding, the AAP gives these figures (ounces converted to approximate millilitres):

The AAP also gives a figure for breastfed babies: intake starts at around 1 oz per feed in the first weeks and rises to about 4.5 oz by one year. With breastfeeding you cannot see the amount, which is why the signs further down matter more.

The AAP warns that bottle-fed babies can keep sucking and overfeed more easily than breastfed ones. Overfeeding can cause stomach pain, wind, spitting up or vomiting. So the amounts in the table are a guide, not a target to hit at every feed.

Hunger cues: feed before the crying

Both sources say the same thing: crying is a late sign of hunger, and a crying baby is harder to feed.

The NHS lists the early cues as:

• getting restless;
• sucking a fist or fingers;
• making murmuring sounds;
• turning the head with the mouth open (rooting).

The AAP adds licking the lips, sticking out the tongue, putting a hand to the mouth, fussing and sucking on whatever is nearby. It also notes that sucking is not always hunger: babies suck for comfort too.

Signs that a baby has had enough, according to the AAP, include pulling away from the breast or bottle and raising the hands.

Is my baby getting enough milk?

With a bottle you can see the millilitres. With the breast you go by what the baby does and what comes out.

During and after the feed

The NHS lists these signs that breastfeeding is going well:

• the feed starts with a few rapid sucks, then long, rhythmic sucks and swallows with the odd pause;
• you can hear and see the baby swallowing;
• the cheeks stay rounded, not hollow, while sucking;
• the baby seems calm during the feed and comes off the breast on their own at the end;
• the mouth looks moist afterwards and the baby seems content after most feeds;
• your breasts feel softer after the feed, and your nipple looks about the same, not flattened, pinched or white.

If the baby falls asleep before the deep swallowing part of the feed, the NHS says they may not be properly attached. A midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter can check positioning and attachment.

Nappies

The NHS figures for breastfed babies:

• First 48 hours: usually only 2 or 3 wet nappies.
• From day 4: at least 2 soft, yellow poos about the size of a £2 coin every day for the first few weeks.
• From day 5: wet nappies become more frequent, with at least 6 heavy, wet nappies every 24 hours.

The AAP figures are close: 2 to 3 wet nappies a day in the first few days, then at least 5 to 6 a day after the first 4 to 5 days. Poos vary more than wet nappies, it says.

Disposable nappies soak up so well that it is hard to tell whether they are wet. The NHS suggests pouring 2 to 4 tablespoons of water into a clean nappy to feel what "wet" is like.

Weight

The NHS says it is normal for a baby to lose some of their birth weight in the first 3 to 4 days and to gain weight steadily after that. The AAP points to the growth chart at check-ups: if a baby stays within a healthy percentile range, they are probably getting enough.

When to ask for help

The NHS advice is short: if you are worried about how much milk your baby is getting, ask for help early. Your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist can look at a feed and point you to further support.

For a bottle-fed baby, the questions are the same: nappies, weight, and whether the baby seems content after feeds. Your health visitor or GP is the person to ask.

Keeping count without a notebook

At 3 a.m. it is easy to forget whether the last feed was at one or at two, and the midwife will ask how many feeds there were yesterday. A record of the last day or two answers that better than memory.

At X MAXIMUS LABS we make Rostik, which draws a baby's day as a clock: sleep as arcs and feeds as marks around the 24-hour face. Free download, with in-app purchases, on the App Store and Google Play. It is not a medical device.

Sources

• NHS, 'Breastfeeding: the first few days', reviewed 14 September 2026. nhs.uk
• NHS, 'Breastfeeding: is my baby getting enough milk?', reviewed 30 April 2026. nhs.uk
• Jain, S. and Bunik, M., American Academy of Pediatrics, 'How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?', HealthyChildren.org, updated 2 April 2024. healthychildren.org