Bottle-Feeding Your Baby

When bottle-feeding is what’s right for you and your baby and you’ve never done it before, it’s okay—you can learn.

This video is your step-by-step guide.

First, it’s a good idea to gather your bottle-feeding supplies before you need them.

Here’s what you need for your baby’s first few weeks: a supply of small bottles that each hold about 4 ounces or 120 milliliters.

Most babies do best starting with a slow flow nipple.

If your baby uses a pacifier, it can be helpful to use a nipple that's similar to the shape of the pacifier's nipple.

And it's a good idea to have a few nipples so you always have a clean one ready to go.

And if you’re not planning to use breast milk, ask your doctor which formula to get.

Follow the directions on how to prepare the formula.

Once you’ve got all your supplies together, here’s how to bottle-feed your baby.

Prepare and warm the formula or breast milk to room or body temperature before feeding.

A simple way to warm formula or breast milk is to put the bottle in a bowl of warm water.

Don't use a microwave.

It can cause hot spots in the formula or breast milk and can burn your baby’s mouth.

Before feeding your baby, check the temperature by dripping 2 or 3 drops on the inside of your wrist.

The formula or breast milk should be warm—not cold and not hot.

Place a bib or cloth under your baby’s chin.

This can help keep their clothes clean.

And have a cloth ready to use for when it’s time to burp your baby.

Support your baby with one arm.

Your baby’s head should rest in the bend of your elbow.

And try to keep your baby’s head higher than their chest.

Now use the bottle's nipple to stroke the center of your baby’s lower lip to help their mouth open wider.

Then place the nipple in the baby's mouth.

A wide mouth can cover more of the bottle’s nipple and help the baby suck in less air.

Keep the bottle at an angle so that the neck of the bottle and the nipple stay full of formula or breast milk.

This will also help your baby swallow less air.

To reduce your baby’s chances of choking or getting ear infections, do not prop the bottle in your baby’s mouth or let them hold the bottle by themselves.

And while feeding, keep your baby upright—not lying down flat.

When your baby is old enough to feed themselves, never put them to bed with a bottle and never leave them alone when they are feeding.

During the first few weeks, you’ll need to burp your baby after every 2 ounces or 60 milliliters of formula or breast milk.

So you may be wondering: How do you know when your baby has had enough to eat?

Well, there are a few ways your baby will tell you.

They may stop sucking.

They may spit out the nipple, turn their head away, or fall asleep.

Newborn babies usually drink from 1 to 3 ounces or 30 to 90 milliliters each feeding.

If your baby spits up a lot, you can try holding your baby upright for about 30 minutes after eating.

It may help.

After you feed your baby, throw away any formula or breast milk that's left in the bottle.

After feedings, soak the baby bottles in water and dish soap.

Then wash the bottles and nipples in the upper rack of the dishwasher or hand-wash them in hot water with dish soap.

During the first few weeks, your baby will likely feed every 3 to 4 hours.

As your baby grows, how often they eat will change.

Your baby will let you know when they’re hungry and when they’re full.

At first, bottle-feeding your baby may seem like a lot to do and think about, but you’ll get the hang of it right away.

And soon it’ll feel completely natural.

And if you have any problems, you can always talk to your baby's doctor.