What is the recommended amount of milk for a healthy, full-term neonate?

From the Guidelines

The recommended amount of milk for a healthy, full-term neonate is approximately 2-3 ounces (60-90 ml) of milk per feeding every 2-3 hours, with a total daily intake of about 150-180 ml per kilogram of body weight by the end of the first week of life. This recommendation is based on the most recent and highest quality study available, which provides guidelines for pediatric health behavior, including dietary intake for infants 1. According to this study, newborns feed about every 2-3 hours, or 8-12 times every 24 hours, and the amount eaten per feeding increases by about 1 ounce per month, plateauing at around 7-8 ounces per feed.

Key Considerations

• Feeding should be on demand, responding to the baby's hunger cues rather than adhering to a strict schedule.
• Signs that a baby is getting enough milk include 6-8 wet diapers daily, regular bowel movements, steady weight gain of 20-30 grams per day, and appearing satisfied after feeds.
• Breastfed babies may feed more frequently than formula-fed babies due to the faster digestion of breast milk.
• It is essential to use only breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula for any milk-based part of the diet, and to discourage the use of low-iron milks, such as cow's milk, goat's milk, and soy milk, until the age of 12 months 1.

Additional Guidance

• The American Heart Association recommends that infants be fed breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula, and that low-fat or reduced-fat milk not be introduced before the age of 2 years 1.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that infants aged less than 12 months who are not breastfed or are partially breastfed be given only iron-fortified infant formula as a substitute for breast milk 1.

From the Research

Recommended Amount of Milk for Neonates

The recommended amount of milk for a healthy, full-term neonate is a topic of interest in pediatric care.

• Breast milk is considered the optimal source of nutrition for infants, providing essential nutrients and benefits for growth and development 2, 3.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months after birth, with continued breastfeeding along with complementary foods introduced at about 6 months 3.
• A systematic review and meta-analysis found that the mean daily breast milk intake among healthy term infants exclusively breastfed up to 6 months was:
  • 624 mL per day and 135 mL/kg per day at 1 month
  • 735 mL per day and 126 mL/kg per day at 3 months
  • 729 mL per day and 107 mL/kg per day at 6 months
  • 593 mL per day and 61 mL/kg per day at 12 months 4.
• It is essential to note that breast milk intake can vary depending on infant age, body weight, and breastfeeding practices 4.
• While the exact amount of milk recommended for neonates may vary, the importance of breastfeeding and human milk in infant nutrition is well-established 2, 3, 5.

Breastfeeding and Weight Changes

• A systematic review of expected weight changes after birth for full-term, breastfed newborns found that:
  • Mean weight loss among neonates was 6% to 7% of birth weight by 2 days after birth
  • Mean weight loss was usually 7% to 8% by Day 3
  • The nadir of lost birth weight occurred on Days 2,3, or 4 after birth
  • By 10 to 14 days, most newborns regained their birth weight 6.
• Weight loss is commonly 7% to 8% of birth weight or greater by the third day after birth among healthy, full-term, breastfed newborns 6.