- Paced bottle feeding is a technique that slows down bottle feeds so they mimic breastfeeding more closely.
- It helps babies regulate their milk intake, reducing the risk of overfeeding and discomfort.
- Holding the bottle horizontally whilst feeding and taking regular pauses supports better digestion and bonding.
- Paced feeding can be useful for combination feeding or when transitioning between the breast to bottle.
If you're bottle feeding with expressed breast milk or formula, you may have come across the term 'paced feeding'.
But what exactly is paced bottle feeding, and how can you do it too? Keep reading for guidance about this baby feeding technique.
What is paced bottle feeding?
Paced bottle feeding simply means letting your baby take the lead when it comes to feeding time. It means they can decide when they're full, rather than requiring them to finish a whole bottle in one go.
It's sometimes referred to as "responsive" or "on demand" feeding and basically means that you're following your baby's cues.
It involves slowing the flow of milk (expressed breast milk or formula) into the bottle's teat and baby's mouth. This feeding method gives them extra control over the pace of their feed and how much they eat.
Paced feeding mimics the stop-start motion of breastfeeding and gives them the chance to check in on their own appetite.
What are the benefits of paced bottle feeding?
The benefits of paced feeding include:
- Helps reduce overfeeding and obesity risk in childhood
- Reduces air intake when feeding, meaning less uncomfortable trapped wind and general digestive discomfort
- Allows your baby to vary how they feed based on their needs
- Means parents can identify feeding cues from their baby
- Can make transitioning between bottle and breastfeeding easier
How do I start the paced bottle feeding technique?
Getting started with paced feeding requires you to feed based on your little one's early hunger cues, rather than on a set time schedule.
These early hunger cues can include baby:
- 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
Simple paced feeding steps
- First, hold your baby in an upright position (so they're almost sitting up) to give them more control over the flow of milk.
- Let your little one suck on the bottle's teat without any milk in it for a few seconds.
- Hold their bottle in a horizontal position and only tilt it slightly so that there's always milk in the teat.
- Encourage your baby to latch onto the bottle as they would when breastfeeding. Don't force the teat into their mouth.
- Their lips should rest on the wider part of the bottle's teat. If the flow seems too fast or slow, try a different teat.
- Once they're feeding comfortably, encourage breaks. Rest the teat against their lips or wind them.
- When they're ready, your baby will begin feeding again.
- When they show signs they're done, don’t force more feeding.
Top tip
While paced feeding, switch sides when holding your baby to mimic breastfeeding and keep them stimulated.
