Getting Started

For the first 6 months, baby's diet is a simple (but not necessarily easy) liquid-only diet. Specifically, only breastmilk (recommended) and/or baby formula (acceptable alternative). Experts recommend feeding on demand (meaning you let your baby set the schedule). In the first weeks, most babies feed 8-12 times in 24 hours, or at least every 2 to 3 hours. 

Identifying and acting on your baby's early signs of hunger - like sucking on their hands, opening their mouth and turning their head (like they are searching for a nipple), and fussing -  can prevent more frantic crying and make for a calmer, easier feeding session. This Babycentre clip shows Hunger Cues in action.

Many babies will breastfeed for 10-15 minutes/breast. It's also normal for a baby to feed for longer periods of time (up to 50 minutes). And, many babies will also "cluster" feed at parts of the day (as frequently as every 30 minutes). Some feed from one breast per feeding, others feed from both breasts. Sometimes babies are hungry enough to take "dessert" (breast #2), and sometimes they're satisfied after the first side. 

In summary, feeding a newborn is a (joyful, amazing, beautiful, challenging, exasperating, messy) experience that typically takes several hours per day.

Introducing a Bottle 

When? 

For many families for a variety of reasons, the answer is "immediately". If you are planning to breastfeed as long as possible (or as long as it is working for you and your family), most lactation consultants recommend introducing a bottle after at least 2-4 weeks, to establish your breast milk supply and ensure breastfeeding is going well. For some families, having another person give a bottle of pumped breastmilk can allow the milk maker to catch some extra sleep. For others, it's a bigger pain to deal with the pumping logistics. 

At the latest, we recommend inserting a daily bottle practice 2 weeks before the milk maker needs to go back to work. You can practice with a small bottle (just 1 oz). 

Which bottle is the best?

A matter of opinion; ours is that “the best bottle” is whatever you have on hand that your baby will take. 

Avoid waste by starting with a small amount of milk (1 oz) into 4 oz bottles with slow flow (size 0) nipples for newborns, and make a few attempts before trying different nipples/bottles. 

If what you have doesn't work, see if you can borrow other options from friends before investing in bulk. If you're getting ready for a baby shower, consider requesting a few different bottle brands (or asking friends for hand-me-down sample bottles). It's a bummer to have 15 bottles of the same type, and later figure out that a different one works better for your baby. 

How do we give this bottle?

1. Wash your hands
2. Make the bottle
   • Thaw small amounts from the fridge or frozen at a time to avoid waste. You can thaw breastmilk in the fridge (overnight), or put the sealed frozen bag in a bowl of warm water (or under running warm water if you are in a rush).  
   • Breastmilk doesn't have to be warmed up; but it might help at first and some babies are just more particular about temperature...much like some adults. If you are warming milk up, do NOT use the microwave. 
   • When you're in a "can we use this?" quandary, check out the current CDC Handling Guidelines. 
   • Check the expiration date
   • Read the mixing instructions on the container carefully
• Breastmilk Preparation: 
• Formula Preparation:
3. Delivery: Check out this 2 minute Paced Feeding demonstration from Carolyn Honea, IBCLC. 
• With the Paced Feeding technique, you'll hold baby upright, letting them accept the nipple. 
• Take your time! Feeding may take 10-20 minutes with pauses. Midway through, shift the baby's position to the other side 
• Allow baby to stop even if there is still milk left in the bottle. The goal is to allow the baby time to recognize when they are satiated.

Help available when “this bottle thing isn’t working”

Some babies take to a bottle without missing a beat; some take some effort; and some do fine for a while and then go on “bottle strike.” Try not to stress about what might happen with your baby until reality occurs. If the bottle isn’t an immediate best friend for your baby, here are some tips:

First line troubleshooting

• Get the milk maker out of the way or out of the house. If your baby is used to breastfeeding, they may be more open to taking a bottle from someone other than mom.  
• Check your timing and try, try again. Offer the bottle when you see the early hunger cues from your baby. 
• This La Leche League article has more tips to try (note: panicking that “this bottle thing will never work” is not on the list…but you won’t be the first parent to feel that way). 
• Kellymom has a great library of resources for pumping and bottle feeding. 

Calling in the Experts: Lactation Support, Pediatric Feeding Specialists

Consider seeking expert help with bottle feeding if:

• Your baby is congested after feeding; coughing, choking, coming on and off the nipple, turning red, really tight/not relaxed during feedings, cries at the sight of the bottle, only drinks when sleeping, turns away from bottle, gasping, sounds wet/gurgly when and/or after drinking. 
• You’ve tried everything and your baby still won't take a bottle
• You just “have a feeling” - when in doubt, seek help out! 

Figuring out the solution is typically easier the sooner you get help. And who is helping matters; check that the therapist you’re considering has experience with infants and feeding. Here are a couple examples; let us know if you want help finding options in your area, or check the Feeding Matters Provider Directory. 

• Check with your healthcare provider for in-network lactation counselors or your local La Leche League chapter for resources closeby. 
• Britt Pados (PhD, NNP, CLC) of Infant Feeding Care helps families manage breast, bottle, tummy troubles, and transitions (to solids, for example). She additionally offers a virtual educational course if you’re looking for help selecting bottles and nipples.
• Patricia Smith (OTR/L and IBCLC) of Nurturing Touch Therapy works with babies from day 1-first years of life depending on need, specializing in working with feeders challenged with transferring from breast to bottle, and difficulties coordinating taking a bottle. She looks at the baby's anatomy, whole body and sensory system, and ensures parents feel confident with a variety of strategies for themselves and babies.  
• Kelly Lonergan (SLP) of Pediatric Feeding Therapy helps families with babies and young children overcome feeding challenges. Kelly uses a variety of techniques including Neuro-Developmental Treatment, a hands-on method of assessing and helping patients with movement and muscle control challenges to move more effectively and support themselves.