Feeding by age · Week 4
How much should a 4-week-old eat?
Last reviewed November 2026 against AAP, CDC, NHS and WHO guidance · Sources
Quick answer
Most 4-week-olds take about 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) of formula or expressed breast milk per feed, 7–9 times in 24 hours, for roughly 20–30 oz (600–900 ml) a day. Breastfed babies usually nurse 8–12 times a day. At one month, many babies settle into a more predictable rhythm. Follow your baby's cues.
- Per feed
- 3–4 oz (90–120 ml)
- Feeds / 24h
- 7–9
- Daily formula
- 20–30 oz (600–900 ml)
On this page
How much should a 4-week-old eat?
| Formula | Breast milk | |
|---|---|---|
| Per feed | 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) | 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) per bottle of expressed milk; at the breast, your baby leads |
| Feeds in 24 hours | 7–9 | 8–12 breastfeeds |
| Daily total | 20–30 oz (600–900 ml) | About 700–900 ml (23.5–30 oz) from around 4–5 weeks |
| Typical gap | Every 3–4 hours | Every 2–4 hours |
What's happening at 4 weeks?
By the end of the first month, the AAP says most formula-fed babies take at least 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) per feed, about every 3–4 hours. Many babies start to show a more predictable rhythm, even if nights are still busy.
Breastfed babies often still nurse 8–12 times in 24 hours. If you pump, Ireland's HSE notes babies from about 4–5 weeks take around 90–120 ml (3–4 oz) per feed and 700–900 ml a day.
This is also when breast milk intake starts to level off. Breastfed babies don't need much more milk each month the way formula charts might suggest.
How much formula does a 4-week-old need by weight?
The AAP's rule of thumb uses weight instead of age: about 2½ oz of formula per pound of body weight a day, and no more than about 32 oz (960 ml). In the UK, the NHS uses a similar guide of 150–200 ml per kg a day after the first week. Both are rough checks, not targets.
| Baby's weight | Per day (AAP, 2½ oz per lb) | Per feed at 7–9 feeds |
|---|---|---|
| 8 lb (3.6 kg) | About 20 oz (600 ml) | 2–3 oz (60–90 ml) |
| 9 lb (4.1 kg) | About 22.5 oz (675 ml) | 2.5–3 oz (75–90 ml) |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | About 25 oz (750 ml) | 3–3.5 oz (90–105 ml) |
Sample 4-week-old feeding schedule
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1:00 am | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 4:00 am | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 7:00 am | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 10:00 am | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 1:00 pm | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 4:00 pm | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 6:30 pm | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
| 9:30 pm | Milk feed: 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) bottle, or a breastfeed |
Eight feeds about 3 hours apart is one common shape at four weeks. Breastfed babies often fit in one or two extra. Responsive feeding (offering milk when your baby shows hunger cues) matters more than the clock.
What are hunger and fullness cues at 4 weeks?
Hungry
- Rooting toward your chest or the bottle
- Fists to mouth and sucking sounds
- Puckering or smacking lips, clenched hands
- Fussing that builds; crying comes later
Full
- Closes mouth or pushes the nipple out with the tongue
- Turns head away from the breast or bottle
- Relaxed, open hands
- Fidgety or easily distracted once the edge is off
What changes next week?
Week 5 is often a calmer stretch between growth spurts, with bottles of 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) and slightly longer daytime gaps.
Read next: How much should a 5-week-old eat?
When to call your pediatrician
- A rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby 3 months or younger. The AAP says to call right away, even if your baby seems otherwise well.
- Fewer wet diapers than expected for their age (fewer than 6 a day from about day 5), or dark yellow urine.
- Very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, floppy, or unusually quiet.
- Refusing feeds, or feeding poorly several times in a row.
- Signs of dehydration: dry mouth, no tears, or a sunken soft spot on the head.
- Forceful or green vomiting, or vomiting after most feeds.
- Red, black (after the first meconium poops) or white/pale gray poop.
- Yellow skin or eyes that spread or deepen, or any yellow color in the first 24 hours.
- Trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, or your baby is limp or very hard to wake: call 911 (or your local emergency number) now.
If something feels wrong, trust that feeling and call. You never need a reason beyond worry.
Questions parents ask
How many ounces should a 1-month-old drink?
About 3–4 oz (90–120 ml) per feed, 7–9 times a day, for roughly 20–30 oz (600–900 ml) in 24 hours. The AAP describes at least 3–4 oz per feed, about every 3 to 4 hours, by the end of the first month.
Does a 4-week-old still need night feeds?
Yes. Most babies this age still eat at night, and that's expected. The AAP notes that it's usually between 2 and 4 months that many formula-fed babies drop the middle-of-the-night feed.
How much breast milk should I leave for a 4-week-old?
Ireland's HSE suggests about 90–120 ml (3–4 oz) per feed from around 4 to 5 weeks. Many parents leave a few smaller bottles plus a spare, since breastfed babies often take less from a bottle than expected.
How do I know my 4-week-old is getting enough milk?
Look at diapers and growth more than ounces. Six or more wet diapers a day, regular poops, a baby who seems content after most feeds, and steady weight gain at checkups are the signs the AAP points to. If any of these slip, call your pediatrician.
Related guides
- Baby feeding chart by age: ounces and mlA baby feeding chart from week 1 to 12 months: ounces and ml per feed, feeds per day and daily totals for formula and breast milk, with sources.
- How to tell if your baby is getting enough breast milkSigns a breastfed baby is getting enough: wet and dirty diapers by day, weight gain, swallowing and contentment after feeds, plus the warning signs to act on.
- Cluster feeding: what's normal and how to get through itCluster feeding is feeds bunched together, often in the evening. When it happens, how long it lasts, how to tell it from low supply, and how to cope.
- Newborn feeding schedule: what a day really looks likeSample newborn feeding schedules for breastfed, formula-fed and combo-fed babies, from the first week to 3 months, with feeds per day and gaps between feeds.
- Paced bottle feeding, step by stepHow to pace a bottle feed: positioning, a horizontal bottle, breaks every few sucks and fullness cues. Works for breast milk and formula, and for every caregiver.
Free tools
Sources
Last reviewed November 2026. Numbers are ranges from these public health sources; 1 oz ≈ 30 ml.
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Amount and Schedule of Formula Feedings
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How Much Formula Does My Baby Need?
- HSE (Ireland's public health service): How much breast milk to express
- CDC: How Much and How Often to Breastfeed
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: Fever and Your Baby
- AAP · HealthyChildren.org: How to Tell if Your Breastfed Baby is Getting Enough Milk
Feedoo Baby shares general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. If you're worried about feeding, weight gain, diapers or your baby's health, call your pediatrician, midwife or health visitor.