Bottle Feeding 101!
I still remember my first visit to a baby shop—it was completely overwhelming. An entire wall dedicated to bottles? Seriously?!
How was I supposed to choose the right one? And did I even need one?
I saw labels like:
Breast-shaped
Newborn flow
Anti-colic
What did any of this mean? Should I go for glass or plastic? And why were there 8oz bottles — was I supposed to be pumping that much?
SO.MANY.QUESTIONS…… If just reading this gives you a headache, you're not alone!
There are countless bottle options out there, each designed to persuade you to buy with clever marketing strategies. So, let me share some bottle-feeding tips that I often give to my clients:
1. Define Your Bottle-Feeding Goals
Think about when you'll need to be away from your baby. Are you returning to work just weeks after birth, or will it be a while before you’re apart from your little one? The timing of bottle introduction depends on your specific situation.
2. Don’t Wait Too Long
While general advice might suggest waiting 4-6 weeks to introduce a bottle, every baby is different. Aiming for around the 4-week mark is often a good starting point, but delaying past 12 weeks can make it more challenging to introduce a bottle. By that time, babies develop stronger preferences for what they want to suck on, making it trickier to switch between breast and bottle. That said, it’s not impossible—I’ve helped a client successfully introduce a bottle to her 12-week-old baby!
3. Match the Flow Rate
Choose a bottle with a flow rate similar to breastfeeding. Your milk flow doesn’t increase over time, so most breastfed babies do well with a newborn or slow-flow nipple—this is often enough even as they get older.
4. Practice Paced Bottle-Feeding
Paced bottle-feeding respects your baby’s natural feeding rhythm, helping them transition smoothly between breast and bottle.
5. Don’t Overthink Bottle Size
Most breastfed babies (after one month) take in about 2-4 ounces of milk per feed, and sometimes up to 5 ounces. This means you don’t need those large 8oz bottles for regular feedings.
6. Choose a Gradually Sloped Nipple
Look for bottles with nipples that have a gradual slope. This shape supports your baby’s natural sucking motion, similar to breastfeeding. When a baby nurses, the nipple changes shape in their mouth—bottles with a gradual slope mimic this action.
Bottles that resemble a breast "at rest"—like Como Tomo, Tommee Tippee, or Avent—can lead to a shallow latch.
While some babies manage fine with these, if your baby has latching challenges or needs to switch between breast and bottle, you may want to try these options instead:
Lansinoh Momma
Evenflo Balance+
Dr. Brown's Natural
Pigeon SS Wide Neck
7. Reach Out for Support
If you're facing difficulties or have any questions about bottle-feeding, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Whether you’re feeding at the breast or bottle, I respect every approach and am here to support you on your journey.
Still having difficulty?
You can book a 1:1 bottle feeding consultation with me here.
You've got this!
Kitty xx
P.S. — Curious about what paced bottle-feeding looks like? Here’s my favourite video to share with clients. Watch it here.