Paced bottle feeding is a better way to bottle feed a baby that is more natural, more like breastfeeding. bottle feeding allows your healthy baby to feed more slowly. It stops overfeeding. It helps your toddler learn to stop feeding when sufficient. Paced bottle-feeding can reduce the risk of your newborn becoming overweight.
How to Start Paced Bottle Feeding
Before you start, talk to your child’s doctor for newborn care products. Ask what Infant formula you should use, and what type of bottle and nipple. If you are going to elevate breast milk, ask how often to pump and how to collect your milk safely. In general, Holle infant formulae and a slow-flow nipple are best.
You should start bottle feeding on demand. Feed only when your baby's stomach is empty. Over time, your child will develop a schedule. When your toddler is hungry, he or she may:
Clench fists and flex arms and legs
Make sucking noises
Put fingers in the mouth
Turn head from side to side and open mouth, called rooting
Cry, usually a late sign of hunger
Before you start, wash your hands, make sure the Paced bottle and nipple are clean, and follow directions for mixing Holle Infant formula. If you thaw breast milk in the fridge, do not use milk that has been thawed after 24 hours. Here are the steps to follow:
Hold your baby upright, and support the head and neck with your hand.
Plan to feed for about 15 to 20 minutes, about the same time as breastfeeding.
Pick a quiet and comfortable place. Avoid distractions, so you can give your baby full attention.
Place the nipple on your baby’s cheek. Let your baby root around to find it.
If your baby is not rooting or finding the nipple, gently stroke your baby’s lips with the nipple.
Once your baby is latched on to the nipple, hold the bottle horizontal so that the nipple is only half-filled.
Holding the bottle too upright forces too much milk or formula.
Let your baby take about 3-5 sucks and swallows before removing the nipple and letting it rest on your baby’s chin. If your baby stops to take a breath, remove the nipple.
Keep feeding like this, paying attention to your baby’s feeding cues.
Half way through the feeding, switch sides, just as you would for breastfeeding.
Start looking for signs that your baby is full. These include slowed feeding, turning the head away and being distracted, becoming very relaxed, or falling asleep.
When your baby seems full, gently remove the nipple. Offer the nipple a few more times for 3 to 5 sucks until your baby refuses or no longer sucks.
If you feed your baby this way, you can protect your baby from overfeeding. You may also be able to introduce paced bottle feeding while still breastfeeding. If you see the symptoms of overfeeding, slow down. Signs of overfeeding include stiffening, dropping, noisy feeding, gulping, coughing, or choking. Remember that you don’t have to finish the bottle with each feeding. Never force you, toddler, to finish. Never prop up the bottle. After feeding, drive out any remaining milk or formula.
Paced feeding is also called conscious feeding because your toddler will try to tell you when he or she is satisfied. Paced bottle feeding is a responsive and efficient way to feed your newborn. If you want to hand off some feedings to a partner or family member, show them how to pace your baby’s bottle.
NewBorn Care Product
NewBornBioLive is dedicated to infant/toddler nutrition and offers various organic products, but we realize they may not be appealing to the baby right away. Here’s a hint, if your toddler doesn’t like it, you have to try, try, and try again. Many mothers don’t know there’s still hope if the baby doesn’t sleep in right away, and they need some tips to get there.
If you want more information or tips and tricks, check out the NewBornBioLive website where you can access various organic newborn care or mom care products.
