Bottle Nurse a Baby

If you are not able to breastfeed, or if you are feeding your baby EBM (expressed breast milk) from a bottle, you can still recreate some of the bonding experience of breastfeeding by bottle-nursing. Other people can use this method with your baby if they are watching them for you, but it's best if you are your baby's primary source of milk, just as if you were breastfeeding.

Steps

  1. Despite prevalent attitudes today, there's no shame in bottle-nursing. Choosing whether to breastfeed or bottle-nurse is a personal decision and no one should be able to sway you from your decision. Stay positive about your decision to bottle nurse.
  2. Hold your baby in the same positions you would if you were nursing him/her. Get skin-to-skin as much as possible, as often as possible. Your baby needs to benefit from your warm skin, your breathing and your heartbeat. Be sure to include extra snuggling and skin-to-skin contact throughout the day when you're not feeding the baby.
  3. Take your time and get comfortable with pillows or a Boppy, just as you would if you were nursing. You can even prop a small baby comfortably on a pillow so he/she is facing you, and then you have a free hand to touch her. Let him/her play with your hands, your fingers, your face. Gently discourage him/her from playing with the hard, plastic bottle by offering your soft, warm skin.
  4. Be sure to always hold the bottle at the right angle - every bottle system is different, so follow the instructions that come with the bottles.
  5. Don't rush things. Let the baby eat at his/her own pace. Sometimes you have to take the nipple out a bit and let the baby "catch up" on swallowing, much like during breastfeeding let-down. Don't force-feed the baby. He/she will start and stop on their own. Be patient. Your baby will let you know when he/she is done.
  6. A good latch is just as important for bottle-feeding as it is for breastfeeding. Breastfed babies develop their jaw, tongue and facial muscles and coordination through suckling, so ensure your bottle-fed baby has a good latch. His/her lips should be averted (rolled outwards), and touching the nipple all the way around so no air gets in his/her mouth. Look at pictures of breastfeeding latches to learn more.
  7. Each baby is unique and has his/her own suckling technique. You may need to go through several styles of bottles and nipples before you find the one that's right for your baby. Pay attention to your baby's comfort level during eating - is it too slow? Too fast? Is the nipple too wide or too narrow? Is the baby taking in too much air (causing painful gas and fussiness)? Are they just chewing on the nipple and not able to suck effectively? (Also, remember your baby's suckling style will change as he/she grows.)
  8. Gaze into your baby's eyes, talk to him/her, and sing to him/her. Rock in a rocking chair or glider. Curl up in bed. Dim the lights, shut out distractions, and focus entirely on your baby - because the bottle is between you and your baby, you'll need to go the extra mile to get close to the breastfeeding experience.
  9. Always offer formula at near-body temperature. Some babies will take a room-temperature or cold bottle, but remember, with bottle-feeding you need to compensate for having that bottle between you and your baby.
  10. DO NOT BOTTLE-PROP. EVER. It is unsafe. Also, because you have the bottle between you and your baby, you can compensate for any lack of physical bonding by dedicating yourself to bottle-nursing with love. Bottle-propping leads to feeding problems, possible choking, and dental problems, in addition to possibly creating detachment in both parent and baby.
  11. When you bottle-feed in public, try the same things that breastfeeding mothers do: Find a quiet place, get comfortable, and even cover your shoulder and the baby with a blanket so they can have a nice, cozy, non-distracting environment to eat in.
  12. If you feel discouraged, remind yourself why you are doing this: To recreate the nursing experience for both you and your baby.



Tips

  • Your baby's nursing techniques change as s/he gets older, so change your bottle-nursing techniques along with him or her. For example, a baby who has just learned to crawl or walk may be extra wiggly, so you can wear a "nursing necklace" or have a blanket or toy handy to distract him or her.
  • Whenever you have a doubt or question, ask yourself "What would a breastfeeding mother do?"
  • Talk to breastfeeding mothers and look at pictures of mothers breastfeeding online, to get ideas.
  • You can occasionally hold the bottle under your own chin if you need to adjust baby or reach for something, but don't make it a regular practice (see Warnings).

Warnings

  • Do not bottle-prop, ever. It is unsafe. Bottle-propping leads to feeding problems, possible choking, and dental problems, in addition to possibly creating detachment in both parent and baby.

Things You'll Need

  • A bottle system that matches your baby's suckling style. (You may have to try several before you find the right match.)

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Bottle_Nurse_a_Baby&oldid=350680"