Paced Bottle Feeding- What is it?

Liliana Cruz, MS4, Drexel University College of Medicine

Many new moms are hesitant to see lactation consultants if they are not choosing to breastfeed their newborn, thinking that they will be shamed for formula feeding or that we only want to help breastfeeding moms. However, paced bottle feeding is a useful technique that breastfeeding and formula feeding moms alike can use to help prevent overfeeding and improve digestion for their baby.

 When using the paced bottle feeding technique, babies are positioned in an upright sitting position, and the bottle is held horizontally to their mouth. Instead of just accepting the flow from a bottle with minimal effort from the baby, which is what often happens when babies are fed laying down, baby needs to use their suckling strength to draw milk from the bottle, similar to what happens when a baby is breastfeeding. Moms are also encouraged to pause and burp their baby periodically throughout the feed to ensure that baby is only taking in as much as they need in that moment and to help smooth digestion.

We often advise breastfeeding moms to feed “on demand” or whenever their baby is exhibiting hunger cues like suckling on their hands or rooting. Babies who are fed at the breast will only take in as much milk as they can handle at that moment, often returning for a short “snack” or “dessert” after their main feed if they feel hungry again. With paced bottle feeding, formula fed babies are also only taking in as much as they need in the moment, and thus will also need to be fed in a similar on demand fashion. Feeding then becomes less about how many ounces have been consumed and more about the signals your baby is showing you.

Paced Bottle Feeding can also be useful for breastfeeding moms if they have to be away from their baby and another caregiver needs to feed the baby. Because paced bottle feeding mimics breastfeeding, babies are less prone to develop nipple confusion, an occurrence where babies start to prefer bottles to the breast due to their “easy access” flow of milk.

Thus, Paced Bottle Feeding is a technique that all moms can benefit from. We hope to encourage more moms to meet with us, even if they are not exclusively breastfeeding. Most lactation specialists will always encourage moms to breastfeed when they can, they serve as a support to all moms in feeding their baby!