How to Bottle Feed a Baby: Tips & Techniques

Article By
Stu
Published On
01 Jan, 2025
Read Time
10 minutes

Looking for bottle feeding advice? We’ve got you. Whether you're a new parent or simply looking for some extra tips, we've written this handy step-by-step guide to bottle feeding techniques and tips to help you bottle feed your baby.   

What equipment do you need to bottle feed? 

When you're getting ready to bottle feed, you'll need several bottles, teats, a bottle brush, some sterilising equipment and perhaps a breast pump.  

Head to our baby feeding glossary to learn more about what you'll need to feed. 

Sterilising and bottle feeding, what you need to know  

It's recommended that anything that goes into a baby's mouth is sterilised for the first 12 months of their life.  

Rinsing (to get rid of any milk residue), and then sterilising your baby's bottles and feeding equipment thoroughly before each use is a must. It protects them from infections (especially while their immune system is still developing). Not sterilising can lead to stomach upsets like diarrhoea. 

Bottle feeding safety 

Making up a baby bottle with formula or breast milk  

If you're bottle feeding, you'll either be giving your baby expressed breast milk or formula, or feeding using both (but not at the same time in the same bottle).   

This is sometimes called mixed or combination feeding. The NHS has lots of information about mixed feeding.  

How to make up a bottle with expressed breast milk  

If you're going to give your baby breast milk in a sterile bottle, you'll need a breast pump (or to be able to express by hand), and some sterile pouches to store your expressed milk in the fridge or freezer.  

How to make up a bottle with infant formula  

When making a bottle of formula you should always follow the preparation instructions of the infant formula you're using carefully, and always use sterile water that's been boiled and left to cool to no less than 70°C.  

It's worth noting that too much water can dilute the formula, meaning your baby won't get the optimal amount of nutrition from their feed. On the flip side, too much formula can lead to constipation and dehydration.  

Only make up a formula feed when needed, and make one feed at a time, never in bulk.   

A Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® machine can help to take the fuss out of preparing a bottle. 

Is bottle feeding okay for newborns? 

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, but babies can be bottle fed from birth if they're unable to breastfeed or you choose not to for whatever reason.  

The decision to bottle feed, breastfeed, or combi feed is a very personal choice, and no two feeding journeys are the same.   

Whichever feeding method you choose, your decision should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider. 

Knowing how often you plan to bottle feed can help you decide how many teats and bottles you need.  

If you're only going to use a bottle once a day or just occasionally, having two is a good idea. That way, if one is lost, damaged or needs to be cleaned and sterilised, you've got a backup.  

But, if you're solely bottle feeding a newborn, then you should have around four to six bottles and teats because newborns can feed up to 12 times over 24 hours.  

Knowing how often you plan to bottle feed can help you decide how many teats and bottles you need.  

If you're only going to use a bottle once a day or just occasionally, having two is a good idea. That way, if one is lost, damaged or needs to be cleaned and sterilised, you've got a backup.  

But, if you're solely bottle feeding a newborn, then you should have around four to six bottles and teats because newborns can feed up to 12 times over 24 hours. 

You should change your teats every two months or immediately if they're damaged, weak, or have been bitten. Your baby will usually let you know when it's time to change the flow rate, or even if you've moved up too quickly.  

Signs that it's time to move up a teat flow rate include your baby:  

  • becoming impatient or aggravated when eating  
  • taking longer than 20 minutes to finish a feed  
  • falling asleep while feeding  
  • sucking hard and/or the teat collapsing in on itself  

Signs that the flow rate of the teat you're using is too fast include your baby:  

  • gulping or hard swallowing  
  • coughing or gagging  
  • letting excess milk drip out of their mouth  
  • refusing to eat 

Yes, Tommee Tippee bottles come with slow flow teats and are suitable for newborn babies. 

Explore the Range

Bottle Feeding

How often to bottle feed a newborn

Every baby is different, and so the frequency of the feeds they need varies from one baby to the next. But generally, it's recommended that newborns feed little and often and that parents should look for their baby's hunger cues and try to feed them before they start crying.  

A baby’s early hunger cues can include:  

  • sucking their hands or fingers  
  • moving their eyes around  
  • rooting around or looking for the teat of the bottle  
  • wriggling and becoming restless  
  • opening and closing their mouth 

What is paced bottle feeding? 

Paced bottle feeding is a feeding method that mimics the natural rhythm and flow of breastfeeding. It involves holding your baby's bottle horizontally so they can control the pace of their feed. Paced feeding can help to prevent overfeeding and lets your baby take a break whenever needed.    

Positives of bottle feeding 

Now that we've covered what you'll need to bottle feed, let's run through some of the benefits of bottle feeding.  

Eye and skin-to-skin contact for both parents  

Bottle time might be the calmest part of your day with your baby, so soak it up. Make sure that you can see your baby's face and reassure them by looking into their eyes.  

Maintaining skin-to-skin contact releases the love hormone oxytocin. It's a great way to bond with your baby while improving their non-verbal communication skills.  

Non-breastfeeding parents and other adults who hold and feed the baby can also experience and enjoy the feel-good nurturing hormones. According to UNICEF, skin-to-skin contact also:  

  • calms baby  
  • regulates their breathing and heart rate  
  • stimulates interest in feeding  
  • supports digestion  
  • helps regulate their temperature  
  • enables colonisation of the baby's skin with the mother's friendly bacteria and protects against infection  

It gives breastfeeding parents a break  

Bottle feeding gives non-breastfeeding parents, family, and friends the chance to get some quality one-on-one time with the baby.  

Bottle feeding also means that the breastfeeding parent has some time to rest, pump, or recover if they're struggling with nipple soreness, clogged milk ducts or mastitis.  

You can see exactly how much milk your baby has had per feed  

This is especially beneficial if your baby needs to gain weight and you're monitoring their feeds. 

What are the disadvantages of bottle feeding?  

  • Bottle feeding can be more expensive than breastfeeding, especially if the baby requires a special type of formula.  
  • Formula doesn't provide the same kind of nutrients and antibodies that breast milk does.  
  • There's more feeding equipment to clean and sterilise.  
  • You need to be more prepared for feeds away from home.  
  • Some babies may have difficulty adjusting to bottle feeding and may experience digestive issues such as trapped wind, constipation, or diarrhoea. 

Advice for bottle feeding a breastfed baby  

There are a few reasons why parents of breastfed babies choose to introduce a bottle alongside or to replace direct breastfeeding. It's a very personal choice and one that should be guided by what's best for both parent and baby.  

If you've previously been breastfeeding your baby and want to introduce a bottle into your feeding routine, it can help to give your baby time to adjust and get familiar with the feel of the bottle teat.  

It's best to take your time and be patient because taking things too fast can lead to your baby refusing their bottle altogether. 

Bottle feeding resources

  1. NCT's infant feeding support line offers free advice and information from trained counsellors. They also have a YouTube channel with bottle feeding advice videos.

  2. UNICEF offer a simple, concise overview of how to bottle feed responsively. They also provide advice on choosing infant formula.

Top bottle feeding tips  

Let's run through some helpful tips to keep in mind when you’re bottle feeding.  

Six is the magic number  

If your baby isn't taking to their bottle right away, it can be tempting to keep buying and trying until you find one they accept, but six tries of the same bottle are likely to be as successful as trying six different bottles.   

Don't be disheartened and try to persevere with the bottle you think is closest to a breast in shape and movement. Tommee Tippee bottle teats are made from soft silicone and have a special breast-like shape that encourages a natural latch.   

Always check the temperature of the milk  

If your baby likes a warm bottle, you can use an electric bottle warmer to heat their feed, then, use the inside of your wrist to test a few drops before you feed them. If it's a comfortable temperature (not too hot or cold), you're good to go.   

While lots of babies like their feeds at body temperature (36.5–37.5°C), it's worth noting that not all babies need their milk to be warm. You can try them with cool milk first to see if they'll take it.   

Make sure you're both sitting comfortably  

Babies who're bottle-fed lying down can take too much milk too quickly, so it's important to sit with them close to you in a semi-upright position. Supporting your baby’s head while they feed is important, and means that they can swallow and breathe comfortably.   

Remember, you should never leave your baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle as they may choke on the milk.  

Gently introduce the teat  

Brushing your baby's lips with the bottle teat stimulates their gaping or mouth-opening reflex. Once they've opened their mouth wide, you should let them draw in the teat at their own pace, just like they would when breastfeeding.   

Hold the bottle horizontally  

Once the teat is in your baby's mouth, keep the bottle tipped in a horizontal position so that the milk can flow steadily. This helps prevent them from ingesting air and means that they need to suck actively to get the milk (like they would when breastfeeding).  

Always tilt the bottle so the teat is full of milk. You'll need to tip it higher as the bottle slowly drains.  

If you notice that the teat gets blocked and goes flat mid-feed, gently pull on the corner of your baby's mouth to release the latch and replace the old teat with a new sterile one.  

Follow your baby's cues  

Some babies want to feed more often than others, and your baby will let you know how much milk they need. It's best to feed your baby when they seem hungry. Follow their lead and don't worry if they don't finish their full bottle. This is often called paced bottle feeding.  

Talk and sing to your baby  

Talking and singing to your baby while bottle feeding is calming for you both, and can help create a really powerful emotional bond with them, even from a young age.  

Always discard unused milk  

Even though it may seem like a waste, you should discard any unused milk that's left over after a bottle feed. This is because bacteria can get into the milk while your baby is feeding, and if left, this could make them unwell. 

How do I wind my baby after bottle feeding?

Sometimes babies take in air bubbles as they feed which get trapped, cause discomfort, and can develop into colic.   

Burping your baby can help to relieve their discomfort.  

Give the following winding techniques a go:  

  • Over your shoulder: With their chin on your shoulder, support their head and shoulder area with one hand, and gently rub or pat their back with the other.  
  • Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap facing away from you. Place the palm of your hand flat against their chest and support their chin and jaw (don't put any pressure on the throat area). Lean them forward slightly and gently rub or pat their back with your other hand.  
  • Lying across your lap: Lie your baby face-down across your lap. Support their chin (don't put any pressure on the throat area) and use your other hand to gently rub or pat their back.  

If the above techniques don't work and they still show signs of trapped wind - crying, arching their back, drawing their legs into their tummy, or clenching their fists - you can lie them on their back and gently massage their tummy or move their legs in a bicycle motion. 

If your newborn is still hungry after feeding they may not be getting enough milk during each feed, or they may be cluster feeding.  

It's also possible that they have a medical issue that's affecting their appetite. It's always a good idea to talk to your GP or midwife if you have any concerns about your baby's feeding habits. 

Watch them carefully and look out for cues that signal that they may be feeling full or uncomfortable. These include:  

  • splaying their fingers and toes  
  • wrinkling their forehead  
  • spilling milk out of their mouth  
  • turning their head away  
  • pushing the bottle away.  

If they do need a break, just gently remove the teat, and bring the bottle down to cut off the flow of milk until they ask for more milk. If they don't ask for more, they've probably had enough for now.  

Overfeeding can cause distress and trying to bottle feed a crying baby means they could potentially choke. So try not to make the mistake of assuming that your baby is hungry every time they cry.   

Other reasons your baby might be crying can include:  

  • needing to be burped  
  • needing their nappy changed  
  • being tired or generally irritable  
  • needing comfort and cuddles. 

It is possible to overfeed a bottle-fed baby, but overfeeding is rare and can be easily prevented. You can find out more in our dedicated guide on overfeeding a baby