How Much Formula Does a One Week Old Eat?

Weight is a more significant factor than calendar date in determining the amount of formula that a newborn should eat at 1 week of age. Most full-term infants weigh somewhere between 5 pounds 8 ounces and 8 pounds 13 ounces, according to the KidsHealth website. By the time a full-term, healthy newborn is 1 week old, he is well on his way to regaining the 7 to 10 percent fluid loss weight decrease a newborn usually experiences in the 72 hours after birth, typically regaining that weight by about 2 weeks of age.

  1. Weight Offers Guidance

    • For a newborn, the general guidelines for formula feeding are to offer 2.5 ounces of formula each day for every pound of the infant's body weight on a demand feeding schedule, according to HealthyChildren.org, a website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. You should expect to feed your 1-week-old every three to four hours, waking him up for a feeding if he sleeps longer than four to five hours. Because infants may vary the amount they eat from day to day, as well as from feeding to feeding, Sutter Health's Palo Alto Medical Foundation suggests putting 1 ounce more than you expect your baby to take in the bottle.

    Growth Spurts Increase Demand

    • The amount of formula an infant consumes each day gradually increases as she grows. You can expect a typical growth rate of about 1 ounce per day. However, sometimes that rate can increase sharply during a growth spurt, and your baby will need extra calories to fuel that fast growth. The average newborn has a growth spurt starting between day seven and day 10, with additional spurts of growth at 3 and 6 weeks of age, notes the KidsHealth website.

    Watch for Hunger Signals

    • There are common signs that your baby is hungry or didn't get quite enough during a feeding. These include making mouth motions, such as lip smacking and puckering, opening and closing his mouth, and sticking out his tongue. You may see his rooting reflex kick in as he turns his mouth towards a brush on his cheek. He may also push his fists or fingers into his mouth and turn his head from side to side in a seeking sort of manner. If you see these behaviors after a feeding, it might be time to increase the amount of formula in your newborn's bottles as your 1-week-old's first growth spurt might be underway.

    Monitor Diapers and Growth

    • You'll be able to tell if your 1-week-old is eating enough by his diapers and his growth. You should see six wet diapers and four soiled diapers during the early weeks. The urine should be light in color and smell. If your baby is not growing about 1 ounce per day or shows signs of dehydration, he may not be getting enough formula. Signs of possible dehydration include dark-colored, strong-smelling urine and dryness of the skin and mouth, notes the KidsHealth website. Contact your pediatrician if you see more serious signs of dehydration, such as orange crystals in a wet diaper, eight hours without urine, a sunken fontanel, sunken eyes and a lack of tears when crying.

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