Paced Bottle Feeding
- Alison Haswell
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
Introducing a bottle to your baby can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re also breastfeeding. Many parents worry about flow, latching, and how to keep feedings calm and comfortable. Paced bottle feeding offers a gentle, effective way to slow the flow, mimic breastfeeding, and make mealtimes more positive for both you and your baby.
Just like breastfeeding, bottle feeding is a skill that takes practice—for both babies and new parents. It’s generally recommended to introduce the bottle around 3–4 weeks, and learning paced bottle feeding can make the transition smoother. This method is an alternative to traditional bottle feeding that slows the flow of milk and more closely mimics feeding at the breast.
Benefits of paced bottle feeding include:
Keeping your baby engaged during feeds
Supporting safe swallowing and regulated breathing
Encouraging a positive bonding experience
Helping prevent preference for the faster-flowing bottle
Paced feeding works by using the bottle as a lever to control the milk flow. Here’s how to do it:
Sit your baby upright.
Position the nipple on your baby’s chin to encourage a wide mouth opening.
Insert the bottle nipple pointing toward the roof of the mouth, allowing your baby to latch.
Keep the bottle parallel to the floor (or tip the end slightly down) so milk doesn’t immediately rush out.
After 20–30 seconds, tilt the bottle slightly up to allow more milk and a slightly faster flow. The nipple should be half full of milk.
When your baby slows or stops sucking, tip the bottle down to pause the flow.
Resume feeding by slowly lifting the bottle again when your baby starts sucking.
Repeat until your baby finishes the feed.
If you have questions about paced bottle feeding or need help choosing the right bottle nipples, we’re happy to help!
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