There are two ways you can feed your baby: breast milk or formula from a bottle. For bottle feeding, you need patience because your baby needs time to get used to it.
Choosing the Right Bottle and Nipple
Selecting appropriate feeding equipment makes bottle-feeding easier for both you and your baby.
Bottle types matter: Standard bottles work well for most babies, but angled bottles can reduce air intake for gassy babies. Wide-neck bottles often make cleaning easier and may feel more natural for breastfed babies transitioning to bottles. Anti-colic bottles with special venting systems help minimize air swallowing, though they typically cost more and have extra parts to clean.
Nipple flow rates: Start with a slow-flow nipple for newborns, which typically has one or two holes and allows about one drop per second when the bottle is inverted. This prevents your baby from drinking too quickly and helps them coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing. As your baby grows, usually around 3 to 4 months, you can move to medium-flow nipples. Watch for signs like frustration during feeding or collapsing the nipple, which indicate it’s time to size up.
When to replace nipples: Check nipples regularly for wear, discoloration, or thinning. Replace them every 2 to 3 months or sooner if you notice damage, as worn nipples can tear and become choking hazards.
How Do You Prepare A Bottle?
Bottle-feeding skills for your baby help ensure they get the nutrition they need for growth and development. Following these guidelines can help ensure a smooth and successful bottle-feeding experience for both you and your baby.
- If your baby is drinking formula, select an appropriate type for them. There are formulas for different ages and needs. For example, there are formulas for babies with lactose intolerance or food allergies. Always check the end date on the formula package to ensure it is still good for use.
- Wash all parts of your baby’s bottles with warm, soapy water. Use a sterilizer to kill germs that could make your baby ill.
- If you are using powdered or concentrated formula, boil water. Let it cool for 30 minutes before pouring the right amount into the bottle.
- Measure the correct amount of formula and add it to the water, making sure to adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for proper mixing.
- Fasten the nipple to the bottle and shake it thoroughly until the formula is fully dissolved and well combined.
- Pour a small amount of the formula on your wrist to ensure it is warm, but not too hot. If using stored breast milk or ready-made formula, warm it in a bowl of warm water or use an electric bottle warmer.
- Cradle your baby with their head in the crook of your arm and lift their head to a semi-upright position. Or, sit them up in your lap, which is beneficial for babies with reflux. Avoid feeding your baby while they are lying down. This prevents the formula from flowing into their middle ear. It can cause an infection1.
- Nourish your baby until they exhibit signs of being satisfied. Don’t be concerned if they don’t finish the entire bottle unless it happens frequently and they consistently eat too little.
- Massage your baby’s back to release trapped gas after feeding.
- The formula is not sterile and can grow bacteria. Discard any refrigerated formula within 12 hours of preparation. If left at room temperature, discard it after 2 hours. Also, throw away any leftover formula from the bottle your baby was drinking from.
How To Bottle Feed A Baby In The Right Way?
Before feeding your baby, mothers should carefully prepare and check the temperature of the bottle. Choose a position that is snug and stable for both you and your baby. Hold the bottle at a slight angle to encourage your baby to suckle gently. Make sure the milk fills the entire nipple to avoid your baby swallowing air, which can cause gas and fussiness.
If during feeding, your baby’s mouth makes air bubbles, pause and gently rub or pat his back. Release air from your baby’s stomach at regular intervals.
Try pacing the feeding and helping your baby regulate his hunger. So slow down and let your baby nurse at his own pace. Take breaks to burp or reposition them. If they seem uninterested, pause the feeding and try again in a few minutes. If your baby seems to want to eat more, you can feel free to add a little more milk
Reading Your Baby’s Feeding Cues
Understanding your baby’s signals helps you respond to their actual needs rather than following rigid schedules.
Hunger cues to watch for: Early signs include rooting, bringing hands to mouth, and sucking on fingers or fists. These are the best times to offer a bottle. Crying is a late hunger cue, so try to feed before your baby becomes very upset, as stressed babies often have difficulty latching onto the bottle and swallow more air.
Fullness signs: Your baby might slow down sucking, turn their head away, or keep the nipple in their mouth without sucking. Some babies push the bottle away with their hands or tongue. Never force your baby to finish a bottle if they’re showing these signs. Babies are naturally good at regulating their intake, and forcing them to finish can lead to overfeeding and discomfort.
How Long Does A Bottle Last For?
Weaning off expensive breast milk or formula can be difficult. But sometimes it’s necessary
For expressed breast milk, keep these time frames in mind. You can freeze it for 6 to 12 months and refrigerate it for up to 4 days. After thawing, you should use it within 24 hours. After you start feeding a bottle of breastmilk, it’s safe for up to 2 hours.
You can refrigerate a prepared bottle of formula for up to 24 hours. However, once you give your baby a sip, you must use the formula within 1 hour. Bacteria multiply quickly in milk-based products.
How Often Should You Bottle-Feed A Baby?
You may feel like you’re constantly preparing bottles, but this intense feeding phase will pass quickly. In the early days, you’ll be feeding your baby every 2 to 4 hours, with newborns usually drinking about 2 ounces per feed.
As your baby develops, feeding sessions will become less frequent and their intake will rise. By approximately 2 months, they may consume 4 to 6 ounces per feeding. At 6 months, they might intake around 8 ounces.
Don’t get too caught up in maintaining a tight feeding schedule. You should only feed your baby when he or she shows signs of hunger. Babies grow rapidly and may need to feed more often during growth spurts. Look for signs of hunger such as biting your hand, sucking your tongue, or pulling up. If you gently caress your baby’s cheek with your finger or the nipple2 of a bottle and your baby turns to face that direction, he or she is probably ready to eat.
How Much Do Bottle Feed Babies Drink?
If you’re bottle-feeding your baby, you can use stored breast milk, formula, or a combination of both. Generally, babies need around 2.5 ounces of formula per day for each pound they weigh. Newborns have small stomachs and need frequent feedings with small amounts of milk, typically 1-2 ounces every 2 to 3 hours.
As they grow, they’ll consume more milk but eat less frequently. Once solid foods3 are introduced, around 600 ml of milk or formula per day is needed. Between 6 and 12 months, your baby will need milk or solid foods 5 to 6 times daily. Continue with formula or breast milk until at least 1 year old, after which cow’s milk can be introduced. Recognize hunger signs like rooting, bringing hands to the mouth, and sucking on objects to ensure your baby stays happy and well-fed.
Other Tips For Bottle Feed A Baby
Bottle feeding requires proper techniques to ensure it does not affect the health of the mother and baby. Here are some useful tips:
Clean and sterilize your bottles before their initial use. You can use a steam sterilizer or a dishwasher. It’s not necessary to sanitize them between each use, but always have a clean bottle ready to avoid nighttime washing while your baby waits. Thoroughly clean bottles between uses, especially those with multiple parts and hidden crevices. You can also clean them in the dishwasher. Discard any leftover formula or breast milk and rinse the bottle after each feeding.
Gradually introduce formula by combining it with breast milk, increasing the amount of formula at each feeding. You can mix both in the same bottle to help your baby adjust to the taste of the formula. Prepare the formula separately following the manufacturer’s instructions, using water as directed, not breast milk. Once the formula is prepared, blend it with the breast milk. Keep in mind, that once mixed with formula, the bottle should be used within 60 minutes.
Doctors do not encourage mothers to add cereal to their milk bottles. Although some people believe it helps your baby feel fuller and sleep longer, it can lead to excessive weight gain and constipation. Doctors may recommend adding a little extra oatmeal to your cereal. This may help treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Troubleshooting Common Bottle-Feeding Issues
Even with careful preparation, you might encounter some challenges. Here’s how to address them.
Baby refuses the bottle: This commonly happens when introducing bottles to breastfed babies. Try having someone else offer the bottle while you’re out of sight, as babies can smell their mother’s milk. Experiment with different bottle temperatures, as some babies prefer room temperature while others like it warmer. You might also try different nipple shapes or materials to find what feels most comfortable for your baby.
Nipple confusion concerns: If you’re combining breast and bottle feeding, introduce the bottle around 3 to 4 weeks after birth once breastfeeding is well established. Use paced bottle feeding techniques that mimic breastfeeding rhythms. This helps prevent babies from developing a preference for the faster flow from bottles.
Excessive gas or fussiness: Make sure the bottle is tilted so milk completely fills the nipple during feeding. Burp your baby every 2 to 3 ounces or when they naturally pause. If gas problems persist, consider trying anti-colic bottles or ensuring the nipple flow isn’t too fast, which can cause babies to gulp and swallow air.
Feeding taking too long or too short: A bottle feeding should typically take 15 to 20 minutes. If it’s much faster, the nipple flow may be too fast, increasing spit-up risk. If it takes much longer, your baby might be working too hard, which can lead to exhaustion before getting enough milk. Adjust the nipple flow rate accordingly.
FAQs
Yes, many families successfully combine both methods. Wait until breastfeeding is well established, usually around 3 to 4 weeks, before introducing bottles. Use paced feeding techniques with bottles to maintain similar feeding patterns. This combination, often called “combination feeding,” gives you flexibility while maintaining your milk supply.
Watch for signs during feeding. If your baby seems frustrated, pulls off the bottle repeatedly, or the feeding takes longer than 20 to 25 minutes, they might need a faster flow. However, if your baby is content and growing well, there’s no need to rush changing nipple sizes. Some babies happily use slow-flow nipples well into their first year.
Small amounts of spit-up are completely normal, as babies’ digestive systems are still developing. Keep your baby upright for 20 to 30 minutes after feeding and burp them regularly during the feeding. If spit-up is forceful, happens after every feeding, or your baby isn’t gaining weight properly, consult your pediatrician as these could indicate reflux or other issues needing attention.
Takeaway
The article has provided information on how to bottle feed a baby. Although it is a lot to take in at first, bottle feeding will soon become second nature. You might face some challenges or obstacles, but you’ll quickly learn what works best for you.
Sources
- Horan, T. C., Andrus, M., & Dudeck, M. A. (2008). CDC/NHSN surveillance definition of health care-associated infection and criteria for specific types of infections in the acute care setting. American Journal of Infection Control, 36(5), 309–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2008.03.002 ↩︎
- Pados, B. F., Park, J., Thoyre, S. M., Estrem, H., & Nix, W. B. (2015b). Milk flow rates from bottle nipples are used for feeding infants who are hospitalized. American Journal of Speech-language Pathology, 24(4), 671–679. https://doi.org/10.1044/2015_ajslp-15-0011 ↩︎
- Kong, F., & Singh, R. (2008c). Disintegration of solid foods in the human stomach. Journal of Food Science, 73(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.00766. ↩︎
Last update: 01/24/2026
