How to Bottle Feed Your Baby Using Paced Bottle Feeding

Описание: If you are planning on introducing a bottle to your breastfed baby, it is usually recommended to to do it after breastfeeding is established and going well, generally around 4-6 weeks to avoid possible flow or texture preference. However, there are instances when a bottle needs to be introduced to the breastfed baby before 4-6 weeks. If and when you decide to give your baby a bottle, it is beneficial to know the Paced Bottle Feeding method. This method of bottle feeding helps to slow down the bottle feed for baby which can help prevent over feeding and help prevent baby from getting gassy from getting milk too fast. It is also hugely beneficial for babies that are going between breast and the bottle as it is going slower and baby will not likely get as frustrated if the breast Is not flowing as fast as the bottle in the traditional way of bottle feeding.
When introducing a bottle to your breastfed baby, you first need to pick out the type of bottle nipple you plan on using. There are two things to keep in mind when choosing a bottle nipple and that is the shape of the nipple itself and how fast the nipple flows. Ideally we want a bottle nipple that your baby will be able to open wide and latch deeply on. We have recently found that all the “wide based nipples” we used to think were ideal, we now realize are not so ideal and some babies have a hard time maintaining their latch on them, and then start latching shallow when they are back at the breast. We now I recommend using a bottle nipple that gradually increases in shape from narrow to wide which will allow baby to latch deeply and maintain their suction. The second factor to look for is the flow rate; you want to choose the slowest flow rate possible. This will help keep baby actively involved in the feed and prevent baby from getting used to a fast flow. If the flow goes too fast for a baby they can develop a preference for the faster flow and then get frustrated easily at the breast if it is not flowing as fast as the bottle. Keep in mind that you might have to purchase the slowest flow nipple separately. Today we are using the Dr Browns preemie nipple for demonstration. The preemie nipple is the slowest flow rate, it is not just meant for preemie babies, full term babies can actually use this nipple for many months.
When you are ready to feed your baby, get in a comfortable position and you want to have baby sitting in a more upright position verses laying on their back which is the way you would traditionally hold a baby to bottle feed. Holding babies upright while feeding helps protect baby’s airway and gives them more control of when they swallow. I always think about a garden hose turned on full blast as a kid and trying to drink out of it, it is just too overwhelming sometimes.
You will gently bring the bottle nipple towards baby’s mouth horizontally. Milk should fill the tip of the nipple to avoid any excess air, but if a little bit gets in, it’s ok. You can tap baby’s lips to get them to open wide, don’t force the bottle into their mouths, your baby will open when they are ready. Once baby has drawn the bottle nipple into their mouth, you can gently assist their lips in flanging outwards just as we expect to see them flanged at the breast.
Let baby start sucking the bottle nipple and then slowly raise the bottle horizontal to baby. Once they start sucking and swallowing you can either tilt the nipple downward to give them a break, or completely take the bottle nipple out of their mouths. When they start asking for more, you can offer it at that time. You can stop the feed to burp baby every ounce or so and you may even switch positions while bottlefeeding which will help in pacing the feed a little more and is similar to switching breasts while breastfeeding.
Ideally, we want the paced bottlefeed to take about 10-15 min. This way of feeding really slows down babies, it is less overwhelming for them to try and keep up with a fast flow, they have more time to digest their milk, and it also lets their fullness catch up with them. I also think that babies enjoy feeding in this manner more than trying to just keep up with the fast flow of milk.

This video is for educational purposes and is not intended to act as medical advice. if you need advice on how to bottle feed your baby, please reach out to your lactation consultant or pediatrician.