Bottle-feeding and other ways to feed your baby

If you’re bottle-feeding with expressed breastmilk or infant formula, feed your baby whenever they show signs that they are hungry. You will start to recognise when your baby is hungry and also when they’re full. If you can spot the early signs before your baby starts crying, your baby will be easier to feed. If your baby is upset, try soothing them before feeding. A cuddle and some skin-to-skin contact will help.

It’s important to feed your baby responsively. Responsive feeding means responding to your baby's needs, not getting distracted during feeding time and not encouraging your little one to over-eat or finish bottles of milk when they're no longer hungry. This can mean your baby has too much and can lead to obesity later in life. Babies might close their mouth, turn their head away or start to fall asleep when they’ve had enough milk.

Breast and first infant formula are the only milks suitable for babies from birth. You can continue to use formula milk for the first year of your baby’s life, you don’t need to use follow on formula milk at six months. NHS.uk has information on the different types of formula milk available in the UK. The NHS website has lots of information and tips on expressing milk for your baby, by hand or with a pump, plus how to store milk and how to give the milk to your baby.

All first stage infant formula milks are nutritionally equivalent regardless of big differences in cost.

There is no evidence that any will offer better nutrition or protection for your baby, so don't feel pressured to buy a more expensive one because advertising has said that it has better ingredients or is more scientifically based.

Here are some tips on bottle-feeding a breastfed baby.

Find out more about bottle-feeding from NHS.uk.

If you have any worries, speak to your midwife or health visitor.

They can help you or signpost to the Specialist Infant Feeding Team if needed.

Nipple shields

A nipple shield is a flexible silicone cover that’s worn over the nipple while breastfeeding. Nipple shields can be helpful but are best used with the support of a breastfeeding specialist such as a lactation consultant.

A nipple shield may be recommended if:

• your baby is struggling to learn how to breastfeed
• you have flat or inverted nipples, or very soft breasts, as it can help maintain nipple shape
• your baby thrusts their tongue, has a retracted tongue or has neurological problems
• your baby was born prematurely
• your baby needs extra stimulus to prompt sucking.

The reason you’ll need support if you use shields is these can affect how much you’re your baby gets at each feed. You will need to keep an eye on your baby’s nappies to see if they are taking enough milk when feeding on the shields and listen for sucking and swallowing during a feed. You might be more likely to get plugged ducts and mastitis if the shield causes reduced milk transfer.  It can also be difficult to wean from the shield.

Find more information on getting the right nipple shield for you and how to wean off them at LLL.org.uk.

Cup feeding

Your baby can take milk by lapping it from a small cup. This technique will need some practice to get right as well as patience as it can be a slower way to feed. It’s usually a short-term measure. Here are some tips to get you started:

• It can be useful to wrap baby in a muslin cloth to make sure their hands don’t knock the cup and cause a spillage.
• Hold your baby in an upright position on your lap.
• Encourage your baby to open their mouth by gently stroking their top lip with your finger.
• Place the cup towards the corners of your baby’s mouth, with the cup resting gently on their lower lip. Angle the cup just enough so the milk is just touching the lower lip.
• Wait for your baby to lap the milk using their tongue.
• Milk should always be at the rim when your baby is feeding. Never pour milk into your baby’s mouth.
• Give your baby regular breaks but don’t take the cup away, just alter the angle of the cup to tilt the milk away from the rim slightly.
• Your baby will stop feeding by closing their mouth when they have taken enough milk.

Finger feeding

This is a way for your baby to take small amounts of milk. It also stimulates the suckle reflex which can support with breastfeeding if your baby is unable to latch. As colostrum is thicker than regular breastmilk, using a syringe is a better way to give colostrum to your baby. Once breastmilk becomes more liquid it can be given through a thin medical grade tube.

• Wash and dry your hands before beginning and use a new sterile tube each time.
• Support your baby in an upright position.
• Place the tip of the tube near the tip of your finger. You can tape the tube to your finger if needed.
• Place the other end of the tube in the milk container or attach to a syringe using the adaptor, if provided.
• Encourage your baby to open their mouth by gently stroking their top lip.
• Once baby opens their mouth, place the pad of your finger to the roof of your baby’s mouth, taking care not to make your baby gag. If this happens, pull back your finger towards the front of your baby’s mouth.
• Allow your baby to suck your finger and the milk will gradually be drawn along the tube.
• Allow your baby to pause so they can pace the feed at a rate that is comfortable for them.

Supplementary nursing system

A supplementer allows you to offer your baby extra milk at your breast. Also known as a nursing supplementer, it’s a thin medical-grade tube that’s attached to the side of the breast with medical tape. The tube is then attached to a syringe or bottle that contains milk. The other end goes into your baby’s mouth. As your baby sucks at your breast they are able to get extra milk from the tube.

Nursing supplementers may be used as a short-term aid on the way to full breastfeeding and can sometimes be used longer-term. They should be used with support from a breastfeeding specialist such as a lactation consultant or another health professional. Find out more at LLL.org.uk.