How to Feed a Newborn Baby with a Bottle
What’s great about bottles is that your baby can drink both expressed breastmilk and formula from them. You may be thinking, “Is bottle-feeding good for newborns?” The answer: bottles are the perfect solution for both breastfeeding and formula-fed babies alike. The only downside that we can think of when it comes to using baby bottles is washing and sanitizing all those small parts!
If this is your baby, you may think that every bottle is created equal. This is most definitely not the case! Each baby has their own preference when it comes to its bottles and milk flow, making it important for you to learn your baby's preference. Continue reading to learn more about how to feed your newborn with a bottle.
Time the Feeding Just Right
Have you ever seen a super hungry baby? We sure have! When your newborn becomes too hungry, they will become irritated, making it hard to feed them. They can begin inconsolable crying, which makes it hard to calm them down to begin feeding.
Determine How Much Formula They Need
As you get to know your newborn and they grow, they will need different amounts of milk. To establish an idea of how much milk they will need at each feeding, start by giving them small amounts at a time and increase the amount if they continue to show hunger signs.
Let Your Baby Take Their Time
Your baby is brand new to this world, and you may be wondering how long it should take to bottle-feed a newborn. With any new skill, it takes practice! Thankfully, though, most babies get the hang of it right away.
With this in mind, give your baby time to enjoy the bottle at their own pace. As a newborn, the feeding sessions should be approximately 15-20 minutes. If it is longer than this, the flow might be too slow. If it is faster, the flow may be too fast.
Share the Work
If the baby is breastfed, they may have a harder time accepting a bottle from the mom. In this case, someone else should attempt to give the baby the bottle as they may be more likely to drink it!
Keep Your Baby (And Bottle) at an Angle
When you feed your baby a bottle, they should not be laying completely flat. This can cause them to choke on their milk and encourage fluid to fill in their ears (which can lead to ear infections). If you find it difficult to hold your baby at an angle, try using a pillow to prop them up!
Speaking of angles, be sure to tilt the bottle at an angle as well. You want the milk to completely fill the nipple of the bottle. If you hold the bottle horizontally, they will be unable to suck out the milk and will begin sucking in too much air. The excess air will cause air bubbles in their stomach – A.K.A. trapped gas!
Check the Flow of the Bottle
The flow of the bottle is important for your newborn. If the flow is too fast, it can cause them to choke, and if it is too slow, they will get angry that they aren’t eating fast enough! You can check the flow of the bottle by tipping the bottle upside down. If it flows freely, it is far too fast, but if you need to shake it to see any drops, it is too slow.
Wake Your Baby if They Fall Asleep
Imagine being hand-fed some delicious food while enjoying snuggles – you’d probably fall asleep too! Especially in the early days, your little one is likely to doze off during a feeding session. They should try to be woken up to eat the rest of their milk to make sure they are getting enough fluid.
You can try rubbing their back, tickling their feet, and stroking their arms and legs to bring them to attention. This will usually bring them back from the entrance of slumberland to finish off their bottle! Be sure that they are completely awake before continuing, as they could choke if they are still half asleep.
What to do if Your Baby Refuses the Bottle
It’s their normal feeding time, and your baby is refusing the bottle. It may stump you because, usually, your baby is ready to eat! Here are some helpful solutions if they are suddenly refusing their bottle:
Change up their feeding environment. Babies can become overstimulated and distracted by bright lights and loud noises.
Settle your baby. As we mentioned before, if your baby is too upset, they may not take the bottle. Try taking a break and coming back to the bottle. You can try a bath or relax outside.
Use a spoon or small cup. If your baby continues to refuse the bottle, they may need assistance to get the formula in. You can put a small amount of milk on a spoon and spoon-feed them or bring a small cup to their mouth to encourage fluids.
If your baby continues to refuse a bottle even with these tips, this may be a sign of your baby feeling unwell, and they should be seen by their physician.
Monitor Feedings with Baby Connect
Learning to use a baby bottle is a learning curve for newborns. They need to get used to the feel of the bottle and learn how much milk will keep them happy and content. Milk should be given to them in small increments to ensure they are getting enough to eat, but not too much.
In the whirlwind that is parenting a newborn, it can be easy to forget how much you fed your baby.
“I just gave them a 2oz bottle! Or was it 4oz? How many bottles do we have left anyway?”
Maintaining a record of everything your baby does is what the app Baby Connect was designed to do. Parents and caregivers can monitor everything from feedings, dirty diapers, ear infections, and more!
