Paced Bottle Feeding
Lauren Hughes
Pediatrician
Kansas City, KS
Dr. Lauren Hughes is a pediatrician practicing in Kansas City, KS. Dr. Hughes is a doctor who specializes in the health care of children. As a pediatrician, Dr. Hughes diagnoses and treats infections, injuries, diseases, and other disorders in children. Pediatricians typically work with infants, children, teenagers, and... more
What is paced bottle feeding?
Do you hold your baby in your arm or lay them on a flat surface to feed them? Uh oh!! Paced bottle feeding is the best way for ALL infants who get a bottle, regardless if it’s breastmilk or formula.
Why is paced bottle feeding important?
- If we hold an infant on their back and dump milk into their mouth, of course, they will swallow. Your baby has to breathe! By pacing them, we allow infants to control their intake.
- Babies will learn to eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full. This teaches them to recognize satiety (feeling full).
- By babies learning to stop eating when they’re full as infants, they will continue to follow that pattern in childhood. This will decrease the risk of childhood obesity.
- For breastfed babies, it allows easier transition between breast and bottle.
- It prevents overfeeding and therefore, fewer spit-ups/laundry!
How do I pace bottle feed?!
- For healthy growing infants, bottle feed on cues rather than a schedule.
- Use the slowest flow nipple possible
- Hold your baby in an upright position.
- Hold the bottle horizontal/perpendicular to your baby.
- Gently allow your infant to draw the nipple into their mouth rather than pushing it in. This allows your baby to control when the feed begins.
- For breastfed babies, there should be no milk in the nipple for the first 15-30 seconds to mimic a letdown. Babies should know they have to suck to get milk from both a bottle and breast.
- Allow your baby to get milk for 5-6 sucks and then tilt the bottle down for 2-3 sucks so they can swallow and breathe.
- Repeat for 10-20 minutes or until they’re done eating!
Do not force an infant to finish a bottle!
Do not wake a sleeping baby (above birth weight) to finish a bottle!
