Bottle feeding
When bottle feeding your baby it’s important to control how fast your baby drinks. This is called paced bottle feeding. This method allows your baby to drink at a comfortable pace and helps prevent choking and overfeeding.
Your baby may need a vitamin D supplement if you are bottle feeding breast milk or formula. Learn how much vitamin D to give to your baby each day.
Watch your baby to know when they are hungry.
Talk to a public health nurse or access our baby feeding support if you need help.
Bottle feeding expressed breast milk
You can choose to warm breast milk that has been in the fridge or freezer. Learn more about expressing breast milk and how to safely thaw and store it.
Any unused warmed breast milk should be thrown away after feeding. Do not reheat the bottle of breast milk.
Bottle feeding infant formula
You can feed your baby infant formula alone or in combination with breast milk. We can help you get started.
There are 3 kinds of infant formula:
- ready–to–feed
- liquid concentrate
- powdered
If your baby is premature, has a low birth weight, or weakened immune systems, ready-to-feed or liquid concentrate formula is recommended. However, if these options are not available, you can use powdered formula if prepared correctly. Preparing powdered infant formula for these babies is different than for healthy full-term babies.
Powdered formula can contain bacteria that can harm your baby. That is why it’s important to follow Health Canada’s recommendations on preparing and handling powdered infant formula.
When preparing infant formula:
- Always choose an iron–fortified cow’s milk–based infant formula, unless otherwise advised by your doctor or health care provider.
- Carefully read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Test water regularly if you use well water.
Video: Preparing powdered infant formula for healthy term infants.
Sometimes infant formula can be recalled. Refer to Health Canada recalls and safety alerts to make sure there are no recalls on the formula you are using.
Avoid infant formula imported from other countries. Formulas sold in Canada meet government standards.
Automatic formula preparation machines are not recommended due to possible health risks.
Always test the temperature of the formula before starting to feed your baby. Let a drop of formula fall on your wrist. It should feel warm.
Do not add cereal or thickeners to formula because:
- Your baby will not get the right amount of nutrients for proper growth and development.
- It can cause choking.
When your baby is bottle feeding it’s important to control how fast your baby drinks. This is called paced bottle feeding.
This method allows your baby to drink at a comfortable pace and helps prevent choking and overfeeding.
How to pace bottle feed
- Hold your baby in an upright position, supporting the head and neck with your hand.
- Feed your baby skin-to-skin if possible.
- Use a wide-based, slow-flow bottle nipple.
- Touch your baby’s upper lip with the bottle nipple, to encourage your baby to open their mouth wide.
- Gently allow your baby to pull the nipple into their mouth. Do not force the nipple into baby’s mouth.
- Keep the bottle horizontal so that the nipple is partially full. This will slow the flow of milk.
- You may have been told to keep the nipple full of milk while feeding to avoid your baby swallowing air. You don’t need to worry all babies swallow air while feeding.
Remove the bottle if your baby is:
- Swallowing quickly without taking a breath after each swallow.
- Spilling milk from their mouth.
- Opening eyes widely.
- Stiffening of arms and legs.
- Flaring nostrils.
- Has lips that are turning blue.
Count your baby’s sucks and swallows. If your baby doesn’t take a breath every 3 to 5 sucks, remove the bottle and take a 5 second pause to let your baby breathe.
Your baby may suck harder when you try to take the nipple from their mouth, even though they need a breath. Often your baby will swallow, then breathe, and then open their mouth. This shows you they are ready to begin feeding again.
You can change position when bottle feeding. This will help ensure your baby doesn’t develop a preference for the left or right side when feeding.
Never prop a bottle in your baby’s mouth as it can cause choking. It can also lead to tooth decay or give your baby too much or too little milk.
Burping your baby helps release air that is swallowed during feeding. Burping can be done about halfway through a feeding or when your baby shows signs.
Signs of needing to burp:
- arching the back
- getting cranky or fussy
- pulling or bending legs
- pulling away from the bottle