Bottle feeding a newborn baby can be challenging to navigate. New parents often have many questions about how to bottle feed a baby. Lurie Children’s experts have all the information about how to position a baby for feeding, how much newborn babies should eat and the pace at which they should feed. Read more tips below from gastroenterologist and expert on infant feeding, Dr. Mark Fishbein.
How should you position a baby for bottle feeding?
A cradle position is typically utilized. A side-lying position may be beneficial for premature babies struggling with a cradle position. Side-lying can be done by placing the baby on your lap and laying them on their side. Once they are slightly bigger you can transition to a cradle position. The same positions are recommended for breastfed babies.
How much should babies eat?
Every child is different. Newborns need to be fed every 2-3 hours and infants need to be fed every 3-4 hours. Throughout the first year of life, you should discuss formula expectations with your primary care provider.
Are there any key differences between bottle-feeding a newborn and an infant?
Newborns may need more pacing than infants when it comes to bottle feeding. For newborn babies, you should tip the bottle empty every 4-6 swallows to allow for a breathing break. Feeding should take less than 30 minutes for all children who bottle feed.
Find a bottle that works for your baby. Not all nipples are made the same and babies' mouths are differently shaped. Trial a bottle for 2-3 days to see if your baby takes to the brand. Once you find a bottle that works well do not switch between nipple levels or bottles. This will only confuse your baby. Move up in nipple size when your baby starts to pull at the bottle for the milk to come faster or when the baby is collapsing the nipple.
How do you pace bottle feeding?
Paced feeding provides breaks from drinking the bottle to let your baby breathe. You can pace a few different ways. One way to give the baby a break is to tip the bottle empty while keeping the nipple in the baby's mouth and waiting for them to take a breath. You can also remove the nipple from the baby’s mouth and allow the baby to breathe, then place the nipple lightly on the lips for the baby to return to feeding. Not all babies require pacing.
How often do you need to burp a baby while bottle feeding?
Do not stop during a feeding to burp a baby unless your baby initiates the break by pulling off the nipple. Burp your baby after they finish their bottle. If your child is experiencing spitting up, try to keep them upright and out of equipment for up to 30 minutes after the feed.
If your baby is experiencing coughing, choking, gulping or gagging on the bottle discuss a speech-language feeding evaluation with your primary care provider.
When do babies stop drinking formula?
Typically, babies should stop drinking formula around 12 months and start to transition from formula to whole milk. But it is important to remember that your child needs to consume enough solid foods to support whole milk. You should talk to your primary care provider to confirm that your child is eating enough.
Lurie Children’s researchers are currently studying bottle feeding in healthy infants from 1 to 5 months old. To participate, caregivers must send us a feeding survey and a home video of their infant bottle feeding. For more study information please click here.
Give your baby only breast milk or infant formula in a bottle. Hold your baby close when you feed him or her a bottle. Do not prop or leave the bottle in your baby's mouth. This can increase your baby's risk of choking, ear infections, and tooth decay.
Hold your baby in a semi-upright position for bottle feeds. Support their head so they can breathe and swallow comfortably. Brush the teat against your baby's lips and when they open their mouth wide let them draw in the teat. Always give your baby plenty of time to feed.
Most newborns need eight to 12 feedings a day — about one feeding every two to three hours. Look for early signs of readiness to feed. Signs include moving the hands to the mouth, sucking on fists and fingers, and lip smacking. Fussing and crying are later cues.
Once the saliva has been introduced, the longest a bottle of breast milk, milk, formula, or any other food is safe is less than two hours, even if refrigerated. If the baby doesn't finish it, throw it out.
Your baby should not gasp, cough, or cry while bottle-feeding. If your baby drinks too fast, tip the bottle down to slow their feed or take the bottle away. You can tell if your baby is swallowing too fast when: They're not taking a breath between swallows.
By the end of the first month, most babies consume at least 3 or 4 ounces per feeding, about every 3 to 4 hours. By 6 months old, they may take in 6 to 8 ounces at each of 4 or 5 feedings in 24 hours. Also at about 6 months old, solid foods should start to be added to a baby's diet.
Healthcare providers recommend breastfeeding your baby for at least six months, and ideally for at least two years. For the first six months, breast milk should be your baby's primary source of nutrition. At six months, you can start introducing additional sources of nutrition like baby cereal and other solid foods.
Bottles should never be propped up. Babies should never be put to sleep with a bottle. This can cause cavities to develop. All babies, whether breast or bottle fed, should be offered a feeding whenever they show signs of hunger.
Allowing the child to use the bottle without restriction (e.g., walking around with a bottle) or as a pacifier. Routinely using nursing bottles, cups, or pacifiers improperly. Using a pacifier dipped in sweet agents such as sugar, honey, or syrups.
1. Impact on baby's nutrition and development. Continuing bottle feeding for too long can have an impact on the baby's overall nutrition and development. As the baby grows, their nutritional needs change, and transitioning to solid foods becomes crucial for meeting those needs.
1. They way baby latches to mother's nipple and the way baby sucks from bottle are totally different, this leads to nipple confusion in baby and later breastfeeding becomes a lot more painful process psychologically and physically.
Letting children bottle-feed longer than this can cause them to: Skip meals. Little ones who sip on bottles during the day often don't feel hungry at mealtimes. This may mean they're getting less of the fiber and rich nutrients found in solid foods.
One reason bottle feeds are not a good idea particularly in the early weeks is the effect on the mother's breasts. If the breastmilk is not released regularly (for example, if a feed is missed) the breasts quickly become over-full and engorged, which can lead to problems such as inflammation and mastitis.
Test the flow of formula or breastmilk before bottle-feeding. Hold your baby close on a slight incline and keep the bottle at an angle. Let your baby decide when they've had enough to drink. Avoid leaving your baby unattended or putting your baby to bed with a bottle.
The warmed bottle should be held at an angle tilted just enough to fill the nipple to allow baby to keep control of when and how fast the milk comes. Tickle the baby's mouth to encourage an open mouth. Then, aim the nipple toward the top of the mouth for them to latch.
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