
Paced bottle feeding is a technique that gives your baby more control over the feeding pace. It involves slowing down the flow of milk into the bottle's nipple and into your baby's mouth, which can help to prevent overfeeding and reduce gas. To do this, hold your baby in a semi-upright position and hold the bottle horizontally to slow the flow of milk. This method can be beneficial for bottle-fed babies on formula or for babies who are both bottle- and breastfed.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Bottle position | Horizontal, with a slight tilt |
Baby's position | Semi-upright, supported head and neck |
Flow of milk | Slowed by using a slow-flow nipple |
Baby's control | Baby decides when to take breaks and when they are full |
Benefits | Reduced risk of overfeeding, gas, reflux, choking, ear infections, and "nipple confusion" |
What You'll Learn
Hold the baby semi-upright
Holding your baby in a semi-upright position while feeding is a key part of paced bottle-feeding, a technique that gives your newborn more control over the pace of their feeding. This method is recommended by experts as it helps to prevent overfeeding, gas, tummy trouble, choking, and reflux.
To hold your baby in a semi-upright position, prop them up at a 45-degree angle with their head and neck aligned, supporting their head in the crook of your arm. You can also place a pillow under your arm for extra support. It is important to ensure that your baby is comfortable and secure in this position.
Holding your baby semi-upright while feeding has several benefits. Firstly, it slows down the flow of milk, giving your baby time to recognise when they are full and helping them to eat more slowly. This can help to prevent overfeeding, which can cause discomfort and possibly obesity later in childhood. Secondly, this position can aid digestion and reduce gas, as your baby is less likely to swallow air while feeding. It also reduces the risk of choking and spitting up, as well as preventing milk from flowing into the Eustachian tubes, which can lead to middle ear infections.
By holding your baby in a semi-upright position during feeding, you allow them to be in control of the feeding process, encouraging them to recognise and respond to their body's hunger and fullness cues. This not only helps to promote a healthy relationship with food but also makes feeding time a more positive and enjoyable experience for both you and your baby.
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Tickle their top lip with the bottle
Tickling your baby's top lip with the bottle is a great way to encourage them to latch onto the bottle. This method is especially useful for newborns who are still learning how to feed from a bottle. Here are some tips on how to effectively tickle their top lip to promote a good latch:
Encourage a Wide Latch
With your finger, gently tickle your baby's top lip to encourage them to open their mouth wide. This technique mimics the way a baby would latch onto a breast. By tickling their lip, you can help them open up and create a deep latch, which is important for effective feeding.
Positioning the Bottle
When tickling the baby's lip, ensure that the bottle is positioned correctly. Hold the bottle horizontally, parallel to the ground, to prevent any milk from flowing out. This positioning also slows down the flow of milk, giving your baby more control over the pace of their feeding.
Allow Self-Pacing
Once your baby has latched onto the bottle, allow them to sip for a short duration (20-30 seconds) and then lower the bottle to give them a break. This method of paced bottle-feeding helps your baby learn to pace themselves, take breaks, and listen to their natural hunger and fullness cues.
Be Patient and Persistent
It might take a few tries for your baby to get used to this new feeding technique, so be patient and persistent. Chances are, it will only take a few feeding sessions for both you and your baby to get the hang of it.
Other Tips
- Experiment with different bottle nipples. Try using a slow-flow nipple designed for newborns to help slow down the flow of milk and encourage your baby to work for their milk.
- Try different feeding positions. Holding your baby facing out to look around the room or propped up on your legs can help with bottle-feeding.
- Try feeding while moving around. Gently bouncing or swaying while feeding can help some babies take to the bottle more easily.
- Burp your baby often during and after feeding to prevent discomfort and gas.
- Always ensure the feeding environment is calm and comfortable for both you and your baby.
Remember, every baby is unique, so don't be afraid to experiment with different techniques and positions until you find what works best for your little one.
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Allow them to suckle without milk
Allowing your baby to suckle without milk is a key part of paced bottle feeding, a method of feeding that gives your baby more control over the pace of their meal and how much they want to eat.
To do this, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Prepare a 2- to 4-ounce bottle with a slow-flow nipple
Research has shown that even among nipples labelled "Slow" or "Newborn", the flow rates vary significantly, so consider asking your paediatrician for guidance.
Step 2: Hold your baby as upright as possible
Hold your baby as upright as possible in your arms while still comfortably supporting their head and neck. You can tuck a pillow under your arm for some extra support.
Step 3: Offer the bottle flat
Offer the bottle flat (horizontal to the floor) so that it's not tilted like in traditional bottle feeding. This makes it so your baby must actively suck to get the milk, as they do when breastfeeding.
Step 4: Brush the bottle nipple over your baby's top lip
Brush the bottle nipple over your baby's top lip and wait for them to open their mouth to accept the bottle.
Step 5: Allow your baby to suck on the nipple without milk
Allow your baby to suckle on the nipple without milk, then tip the bottle just enough to fill the nipple roughly halfway with milk and let your baby suckle for about three to five steady swallows (about 20 to 30 seconds), then take a break.
Step 6: Continue the "tip, three to five swallows, and a break" pattern
Continue the “tip, three to five swallows, and a break” pattern, and burp when necessary. Continue to monitor your baby's cues to see if they want more or if they’ve had enough to eat.
Benefits of paced bottle feeding
Paced bottle feeding helps prevent overfeeding compared to traditional feeding. It also reduces gas, tummy trouble, and choking. It eases the breast-to-bottle transition and helps prevent "nipple confusion". It also reduces the risk of choking and ear infections.
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Tip the bottle slightly to fill the nipple halfway
When you are ready to start feeding, tilt the bottle upwards slightly. This will encourage your newborn to work for the milk and prevent too much liquid from flowing out at once.
Allow your baby to take a few sips, then give them a short break by lowering the bottle so it is parallel to the ground. This will give your baby a chance to register how full they are and how much more they need, helping them to control their intake.
Continue the "tip, sip, and break" pattern, and burp your baby when necessary. Pay attention to your baby's cues to see if they want more or have had enough to eat.
The entire feeding session will likely take between 15 and 30 minutes. You will know your baby has had enough when they don't go back for more after a break or turn away from the bottle.
If your baby gets upset when you remove the nipple, tip the bottle downwards while it is still in their mouth. This will slow down or stop the flow of milk. Holding the bottle horizontal to the ground with only a slight tilt will also ensure that your baby doesn't get milk while they are pausing for a rest.
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Burp the baby when necessary
Burping your baby when necessary is an important part of the paced bottle-feeding technique. This method of feeding is designed to slow down the flow of milk to the baby and give them more control over the feeding pace. It can help to prevent overfeeding and the discomfort associated with swallowing air, such as gas.
To burp your baby, hold them upright and rock or gently pat their back to help them bring up any wind. You can also try rubbing their back. If your baby is upset when you remove the bottle teat, you can tip the bottle downwards while it is still in their mouth to slow or stop the milk flow. This can help to soothe them.
Babies feed in bursts of sucking with short pauses to rest. You can help to ''pace' the feed by partially moving the bottle teat out and then letting them draw it in again. This mimics the stop-start motion of breastfeeding and can help to avoid overfeeding. Interrupting the feed from time to time gives your baby a chance to register how full they are and how much more they need, helping them to control their intake.
Paced bottle-feeding is a good way to support yourself and your baby. It can be beneficial for babies who are bottle-fed and breastfed, and it can make it easier to transition between the two. It is important to remember that paced bottle-feeding may not work for all babies, and it is always best to consult your baby's healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about feeding.
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Frequently asked questions
Paced bottle feeding is a technique that slows down the flow of milk into the bottle's nipple and into your baby's mouth. This gives your baby more control over the feeding pace and how much they want to eat.
Hold the bottle horizontally, tipping it slightly to encourage your baby to work for the milk and prevent too much liquid from flowing out at once.
Paced bottle feeding helps avoid overfeeding, reduces gas, tummy trouble, and choking, eases the transition from breast to bottle, and helps prevent "nipple confusion".
Your baby is likely to be full when they start and stop eating often, slow down their sucking, ignore or push the bottle away, turn their face away, fidget, or get distracted easily.