How to Bottle Feed a Newborn?

For mixed or formula-fed babies, there is just as much bonding through cuddles and eye contact when using a bottle as there is through breastfeeding. It is also a beautiful way for Dad to be involved in the feeding and bonding experience. For the breastfeeding mum, replacing one or two feeds a day with a bottle is a chance for mum to have a break and maybe even catch up on some sleep.
Whether you are using infant formula or expressed breast milk, the same bottle-feeding techniques apply.

If you’re choosing between products for bottle feeds, explore our infant formula range for age-appropriate options.

Choosing the right teat

When choosing a flow for the bottle teat, it may take one or two attempts before you find the right pace. To test the flow, hold the bottle upside down when it’s filled with liquid. The liquid should drip steadily but not pour out.
It’s normal for a little leakage to occur at the corners of your newborn’s mouth while bottle feeding. This will stop as your baby gets older. However, if there is a significant amount of milk spilling from the baby’s mouth, and if the baby pulls away from the bottle, the flow may be too fast, and you may need to move to a slower flow teat.

Preparing the bottle

When preparing infant formula, the water needs to be sterilized by boiling it and allowing it to cool. Prepare the formula as per the instructions.

To warm the bottle, fill a separate cup with hot water and place the milk bottle in the cup. Let it sit for a few minutes to warm the milk. Always test the milk temperature on your wrist before giving it to your baby.

If the milk feels hot on your wrist, it is too hot. It should feel neutral, neither hot nor cold; this is the perfect temperature for feeding a baby, as it resembles the body temperature of breastmilk.

Feeding your baby

Feeding the baby in a slightly upright position will help any air bubble rise to the top, making burping easier. Put the teat against the baby’s lips. If the baby is hungry, their mouth will open and they will start to suck. Make sure to keep the bottle at an angle so the neck of the bottle is always filled with milk.
It’s a good idea to burp the baby halfway through the bottle. Letting a baby drink an entire bottle before burping may result in milk vomit.

If the baby does not stop sucking on the bottle, you may need to take the bottle away halfway through to burp the baby and release any air bubbles. Once the baby has burped, you can resume feeding. Make sure to burp the baby again at the end of the bottle.

Bottle feeding breastfed babies

Breastfed babies might find it difficult to pace themselves when drinking from a bottle. This is because breastfeeding allows the baby to control the flow of milk, whereas the milk flows in a steady supply from a bottle. Some babies can end up drinking too much too quickly, resulting in a big milk vomit shortly after the feed.
For babies that are both breastfeeding and bottle feeding, paced bottle-feeding can help to avoid bottle preference (where the baby prefers to drink from a bottle rather than from the breast).
Paced bottle-feeding is designed to mimic breastfeeding and involves letting the baby rest every few minutes.

When the baby doesn’t finish the bottle

Sometimes, newborns can fall asleep halfway through a feed. If your baby has fallen asleep during a feed, you can put the baby over your shoulder, rub their back, and stroke their head, legs, and tummy. This can help to wake your baby up to finish the feed.

A nappy change is also a good way to wake up a sleepy baby. If your baby doesn’t finish the bottle, there is no need to worry. Babies are very good at judging how much they need, and there is no need to force milk.

Always throw away any leftover milk after one hour, as storing a used bottle increases the risk for contamination.

This guide is for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose health conditions or make changes to medical treatments. Always consult with your healthcare professional for advice.