How to Bottle-Feed a Baby: Paced Feeding Made Simple
Updated October 2026 · 6 min read
Hold your baby fairly upright and cradled close, never flat. Keep the bottle roughly horizontal so milk fills the teat slowly, letting your baby draw and pause at their own pace. Offer breaks, watch for fullness cues, and stop when they turn away. Wind them gently partway through and at the end.
- Hold your baby semi-upright and cradled, never lying flat, and never prop a bottle.
- Keep the bottle close to horizontal so your baby controls the flow (paced feeding).
- Let your baby lead: offer pauses, and stop when they show they are full.
- Wind your baby partway through and again at the end to ease trapped air.
- Follow the formula or milk preparation and storage instructions on the packaging.
Get comfortable first
Bottle-feeding goes best when you are both settled, because it is a close, unhurried moment as much as a meal. Find a supportive chair, have a cloth for dribbles within reach, and check the milk temperature on the inside of your wrist: it should feel lukewarm, not hot. Hold your baby fairly upright, cradled in the crook of your arm with their head a little higher than their tummy. Never feed a baby lying flat, and never prop a bottle and walk away, as this is a choking risk and removes the comfort of being held.
What paced feeding means
Paced bottle-feeding simply lets your baby lead, much as they would at the breast. Instead of tipping the bottle high so milk pours in, you keep it close to horizontal, just tilted enough to fill the teat. Your baby then draws the milk at their own speed and can pause whenever they like. This gentler flow tends to make feeds calmer, cuts down on gulping air, and gives your baby time to register when they are getting full.
Positioning the bottle
Brush the teat against your baby’s lips and let them open and draw it in, rather than pushing it in. Keep the bottle roughly level so milk only half-fills the teat at first.
- Keep enough milk in the teat to cover the hole, which reduces swallowed air.
- If your baby splutters or milk runs too fast, lower the bottle or tip it out of their mouth for a short rest.
- Offer natural breaks every so often, and switch the arm you hold them in partway through.
There is no need to hurry. Some babies feed steadily, others in bursts with pauses, and both are fine.
Reading your baby’s cues
Let your baby guide the start and the end of the feed. Rooting, bringing hands to the mouth, and stirring are early hunger signs, while crying is a late one. As they fill up, you may see them slow down, relax their fists, turn away, or simply stop sucking. Honour that. A half-finished bottle from a content baby is a successful feed; pushing the last ounce is not a goal worth chasing.
Winding your baby
Trapped air is common with bottles, so build winding into the feed rather than leaving it all to the end. Pause partway through, hold your baby upright against your shoulder or sitting supported on your lap, and gently rub or pat their back until any air comes up. Repeat at the end of the feed. A little bringing-up of milk afterwards is normal; a cloth over your shoulder saves the laundry.
Keep it safe and simple
Make up feeds following the instructions on your formula or expressed milk, and discard leftovers from a started bottle rather than saving them. Clean and sterilise bottles as advised for your baby’s age. Most of all, relax into it. The warmth, eye contact, and quiet closeness matter as much as the milk itself, and your confidence will grow with every feed.
Frequently asked questions
What is paced bottle-feeding?
Paced feeding keeps the bottle near horizontal and lets your baby suck, pause, and rest as they would at the breast. It slows the flow so feeding is led by your baby rather than by gravity. This can make feeds calmer and help them notice when they are full.
How do I know when my baby has had enough?
Fullness cues include turning away, slowing down, relaxing their hands, or losing interest in the teat. A finished bottle is not a goal in itself. Let your baby decide and never force the last drops.
Which way should my baby face while feeding?
Hold your baby semi-upright with their head higher than their tummy, cradled in the crook of your arm. Avoid feeding them lying flat, which can be uncomfortable and let milk pool. Switching sides partway can be a nice change for both of you.
How much and how often should I feed?
This varies a great deal by age, weight, and whether you use formula or expressed milk, so follow the guidance on your packaging and your baby's hunger cues. Feeding on demand is common in the early weeks. Your health visitor or doctor can advise if you are unsure.
Why does my baby get so much wind from a bottle?
Bottles can let babies swallow air, especially if they feed quickly. Paced feeding, a good latch on the teat, and regular winding all help. Keeping the teat full of milk rather than part air also reduces trapped bubbles.
Can I reuse milk my baby did not finish?
Leftover milk from a started feed is generally best discarded rather than saved, because warmth and saliva encourage bacteria. Always follow the storage instructions on your formula or expressed milk. When in doubt, make up smaller amounts.
Sources
This is a practical feeding guide, not medical advice, and reflects widely shared norms including NHS bottle-feeding guidance. Always follow the preparation and storage instructions on your formula or milk, and ask your midwife, health visitor, or doctor about feeding amounts, weight, or any concerns specific to your baby.