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I am an expert at bottle-feeding infants. I am a former NICU nurse and have bottle-fed hundreds of infants. I am also a mother of twins, now 12 years old, and did not have the knowledge I have now when my girls were born. If you would like some tips on how to bottle-feed your infant, or you’re expecting and looking to educate yourself before your newborn’s arrival, this post is for you!
1. Positioning Tips
As you can see in the picture above, this is how most of us have been taught to bottle-feed infants. This is how I bottle-fed my infants. It’s just natural, and everyone does it. However, after becoming a NICU nurse, I learned a more efficient way to bottle feed infants; many with respiratory, cardiac, or digestive issues need extra help.
That’s not to say that the position in the above picture is wrong. Sometimes, you just want to hold your baby close and love on them while feeding them, and there is nothing wrong with that. Some of us need that extra closeness when we’re going through a stressful time or we’re just cherishing every moment we have with our baby. But there are also times when your baby loves that closeness a little too much, and they’d rather just sleep than eat, but you know it’s actually time for them to eat. Then they’re up 20 minutes later, complaining that they’re hungry. Time to show your baby you mean business!
If you have an infant with cardiac or respiratory issues, some of these tips may help; however, I encourage you to seek help from your pediatrician or occupational therapist as you may have certain limitations or requirements regarding bottle-feeding. Using the wrong-sized nipple or positioning your infant other than instructed by your pediatrician/occupational therapist could cause your baby to choke and have other health complications.
Things To Consider
- The mo
st efficient way I’ve learned to begin feeding infants is by positioning their bottom on your mid-thigh gently holding their upper back while supporting their head, and holding them semi-upright. I’ve found that most babies like this position. Babies learn so quickly that it’s time to eat when they’re in this position. It also allows their airway to be open, so there is less risk of choking. I find this position also makes you more alert. It helps you to focus on the feed instead of being tempted to fall asleep. Before you know it, the bottle is gone, and you haven’t even had a chance to burp your baby! Believe me, we’ve all been there. Those first three to four months can be rough. I believe this is just one step to helping you and your baby implement a feeding routine.
Save Your Back
- Another thing to consider is saving your back. Maybe you already have back issues or developed them throughout your pregnancy. This position allows you to offload that extra weight. Your baby may be tiny now, but he/she will grow and become heavy. It’s important to take care of yourself, and when you’re tired and in pain, repositioning the extra weight of your baby can be so much relief that we often take it for granted.
Extra Support
- You may find it helpful to put a pillow underneath the arm that is holding your baby’s head and maybe even behind your back or neck. This offers you extra support and allows you to relax and enjoy the feed. Whether you’ve had a C-section or given birth vaginally, there’s a good chance you’re in some sort of pain along with being extremely tired. Give your body the extra support it needs to be able to focus on your precious infant instead of being forced to think about your pain. If you haven’t taken anything for pain or simply prefer not to, this can help when it’s time for your baby to eat NOW!
2. Starting The Bottle-Feed
Sometimes actually getting your baby to start sucking and taking in breast milk or formula can be very frustrating. Every baby knows when they’re hungry and that they want to eat, but they have to learn how. I’ve witnessed so many parents become anxious just trying to insert the nipple into their infant’s mouth while realizing their baby has no idea what just entered their mouth, let alone know how to drink from the bottle.
Steps
- Just start slow.
- Introduce the bottle to your baby by gently touching the nipple to your infant’s lips.
- Let them register the sensation of something touching their lips, and hold it there for your infant to explore.
- Let them draw the nipple into their mouth on their own; they will want to eventually. This prevents your baby from getting upset and becoming confused about what’s taking place. It gives them the lead and can prevent them from choking or taking in extra air that may eventually lead to a belly ache.
- If they open their mouth and they still don’t take in the nipple, try inserting it gently into the side of their cheek and just hold it there for a few seconds.
- If this doesn’t work, try it a few times. Be gentle and patient. Eventually, your baby will get the hang of it and start to suck.
If they don’t, that’s when I would reach out to your pediatrician and let them know what’s going on. They can help you. There may be something wrong other than not knowing how to eat.
3. How Do You Know Your Infant Is Getting Milk/Formula?
The next big hurdle is knowing whether your infant is taking in formula or breast milk!
The easiest way to tell is to look at the end of the bottle while your baby is eating. You should start to see little tiny bubbles in the liquid while your baby is sucking, and the liquid in the bottle should start to go down.
Not Seeing Results?
If your infant keeps sucking and you don’t see any bubbles, or nothing seems to be happening, it may be time to go up a nipple size on your bottle. If your baby is eating and they’re drooling everywhere and have to take frequent breaks to prevent choking it may be time to go down a nipple size. Whatever brand of bottle you choose there will be different size nipples as your baby grows.
Another thing to keep in mind is to make sure the nipple is full of liquid. It’s easy to get distracted, and when you’re tired sometimes it’s a chore to hold the bottle upright, but it’s important so that your baby does not take in a bunch of air.
4. To Burp Or Not To Burp?
I can’t tell you how many parents or caregivers I have watched feed their infant an entire bottle and not burp their baby once. If you’ve never been a parent or take care of an infant, how are you supposed to know? That’s why I’m here to help you!
I recommend burping your infant every 10-15 MLS. Sometimes, if your baby has indigestion issues every 5 mL may help. It may seem like the feed is taking forever, but your baby will be more comfortable. When your baby eats they also take in some air, and they need to let that out to prevent an upset stomach. Most bottles have filters that are made to prevent taking in too much air, but they do still take in air.
To burp your baby you can place them over your shoulder and firmly pat their back. We see this all the time in movies, magazines…everywhere. However, if you’d like to save your back you can try this:
How To:
- First, put down the bottle
- Lean your baby forward, and with the hand that you used to hold the bottle allow your baby’s cheeks to rest in your hand. Be careful not to put them around the infant’s neck as that can cut off their airway.
- Just let their cheeks rest in your hand while supporting their neck and firmly pat or rub their back. Don’t be afraid to firmly pat your baby’s back. They will appreciate it.
- Wait for them to burp for around two to three minutes. Now some babies just will not burp! No matter what you do, or what position you put them in, they refuse. Just do your best.
If you’re having difficulties with indigestion, meaning projectile vomiting or your baby seems so uncomfortable that they just won’t stop crying, contact your pediatrician. It might be time to talk about switching the formula or assessing whether there may be some underlying cause for their discomfort. Please don’t ignore it! Don’t chalk it up as something babies just do. Go with your gut as a mom. You know your baby. Most of the time you’re right!
In the meantime, there are several techniques you can try.
- Lay your baby on their back
- Gently and slowly move their legs as if they are riding a bicycle
- Bring both legs into their chest, hold for a few seconds, then extend them.
- Try this a few more times, and if your baby seems to be enjoying it repeat as often as necessary. This can help relieve gas pains.
5. How Long Should I Feed My Baby?
Your baby should be done eating and satisfied in 30 minutes or less. Anything over 30 minutes should be concerning and needs to be assessed as to the reason it’s taking so long. It could be something as simple as nipple sizes. It could also mean that your baby may be getting sick.
6. How Often Should I Feed My Baby?
Every three to four hours is perfectly acceptable for a full-term baby. Anything over four hours is concerning and should be addressed. Some pediatricians say every three hours. If your pediatrician suggests every three hours I would follow their instruction; there’s probably a good reason they’re suggesting every three hours as it may be specific to your infant’s needs.
When To Contract Your Pediatrician
If your baby is not waking up to feed every three to four hours you need to contact your pediatrician. Your baby should be waking up ON THEIR OWN. Again, if your baby is not waking up on their own every three to four hours it is time to contact your pediatrician. Do not ignore it! It’s perfectly normal, as a first-time parent to think that maybe they just need the extra sleep. That is not the case! There may be some underlying health issues that need to be addressed right away. Dehydration, low blood sugar, and infection are just a few examples that can make your baby tired.
On the other hand, I strongly urge you to avoid snacking. Some babies will eat if there is a bottle in their mouth even if they just had a full meal. Allowing your baby to snack, meaning giving them small amounts of milk/formula between their normal feeding schedule, can be confusing for them. You have to teach your baby when it is appropriate to eat. Another very important reason to avoid snacking is for your sanity as a mother! You need rest! Taking care of yourself is the hardest part, but essential.
If they’re fussing I encourage you to try different ways of soothing them. Check to see if their diaper needs changed. It’s possible they could be tired and need a nap, or sometimes they’re bored and they just want to be held, played with, or talked to. They could simply want a pacifier. One of the most common ways a baby can soothe themselves is with a pacifier or soother. There are two schools of thought on this topic. In the NICU we used pacifiers/soothers a lot, and I will talk about those reasons and the pros and cons in another post. Another very effective way babies are soothed in the NICU is to use the 4moms mamaRoo. It has five motions and there are a variety of noises to choose from. They just can’t resist the combination of the two.
7. Pediatrician Follow-Up
After giving birth you will more than likely be instructed to follow up with your pediatrician in one to two days. After your follow-up, follow whatever guidelines your pediatrician gives you regarding how often to feed your baby. They will let you know when it’s safe for your baby to sleep through the night without a feed.
Thank you!
I hope you’ve found this information valuable. Thank you for taking the time to read my post. Check out my post Top 3 Bottles Parents Love. I’ve always used Dr. Brown’s in every hospital I’ve worked, and for myself, as they were recommended to me. I touch on some different popular brands and what makes them stand out. Until next time!