Paced Feeding 101: What It Is, Technique & Tips

If you’ve decided it’s time to bottle feed your baby, paced feeding may be a good way to get started. This method of bottle feeding can be used to give infant formula or breastmilk from a bottle and may make feeding time easier for you and your little one.

Paced feeding is a great way to start your baby on a bottle, whether they’re a newborn or an older baby having a bottle for the first time. It’s easy to learn, simple to practice, and may help feeding time go more smoothly.

What is Paced Bottle Feeding?

Paced bottle feeding, a method of responsive feeding, is a great way to bottle feed a baby who has always been breastfed. This is because it allows the baby to control the flow of milk or baby formula like they do at the breast. By holding your baby and their bottle in a way that mimics breastfeeding, it won’t be such a big change. This feeding method also slows down the flow from the bottle. That way your baby won’t get too much milk or formula.

What is Responsive Feeding?

Responsive Feeding is feeding that involves reciprocity between the child and caregiver during the feeding process. The process involves the child signaling hunger, the caregiver recognizing the cues and responding promptly in a manner that is emotionally supportive and developmentally appropriate, and the child experiencing a predictable response to signals.¹ Paced bottle-feeding  encourages responsive feeding and its techniques are baby-led. Because of this, it is thought that infants can set the pace of the feeding and stop when they are full, reducing the risk of spitting up and overfeeding.²

Paced Bottle Feeding Technique 

• Baby is “Upright” – Baby should be resting against your chest or armpit, not laying flat in the crook of your elbow or across your lap.
• Bottle is Level – Bottle should be horizontal, not tilted at an angle. As long as the hole of the nipple is covered by milk, it’s okay if there’s air in the top of the nipple.
• Baby Initiates – Gently stroke the nipple along baby’s lips to initiate the mouth opening, then allow baby to lean forward to latch. 
• Frequent Breaks – Pause occasionally to burp and to give baby the chance to re-initiate feeding if still hungry.
• Pay Attention to Hunger Cues – For the first 12 weeks, feed baby on demand instead of using a feeding schedule.
• Pay Attention to Fullness Cues – Do not force baby to finish the bottle! If your babe is no longer latching when the nipple is presented, stop the feeding.

How to Do Paced Feeding: 4 Easy Steps

What’s different about paced bottle feeding is that the baby, not the caregiver, controls the pace of feeding.

1- For paced bottle feeding, set your baby in an upright position.

It’s always a good idea to feed your baby in more of a sitting up position (versus lying down) with your hand supporting their head and neck. This helps slow things down so the bottle won’t be tilted and giving them milk or formula too fast.

For babies less than 6 weeks old, you can instead bottle feed them by laying them on a pillow on their side in your lap with their feet facing you.

We’ve got another detailed post for you if you’d like to learn more about paced bottle feeding positions!

2- For paced bottle feeding, hold the bottle horizontally instead of downward-sloping.

To begin, tickle your baby’s lips up and down with the nipple of the bottle. This lets your baby open their mouth and take the bottle instead of pushing it into their mouth.

It’s important to hold the bottle flat for paced bottle feeding. This is another way to make sure milk or formula doesn’t come out too fast.

Eventually you’ll need to tilt the bottle a little to get milk or formula into the nipple. However, the nipple doesn’t always need to be full of milk. Using the bottle this way makes the flow similar to feeding from the breast.

3- Take occasional “breaks” during paced feeding.

When a baby feeds at the breast, they will take breaks on their own to rest. These pauses are natural, and paced bottle feeding tries to mimic this by allowing small breaks during feeding. 

Signs your baby might need a quick break are a wrinkled forehead, stretched out hands, looking surprised at the fast flow, turning their head away, dribbling milk, or falling asleep suddenly.

4- Switch sides during paced feeding to mimic breastfeeding

During the feeding, try switching your baby to the other side. This also keeps the routine similar to breastfeeding and keeps your baby interested.

Benefits of Paced Bottle Feeding

Paced bottle feeding can be a great way to bond with your baby. It can lower stress for you both by imitating the act and feel of breastfeeding. Paced feeding may yield great results which include:

• Allowing your baby to control the feed, just as they are when they are breastfed
• Allowing your baby to learn when they are full
• Avoiding overfeeding
• Less stress on your baby (and so less stress on you!)
• Less choking and gulping
• Allowing caregivers and family members to help out

Try never to rush when feeding your baby, as they can sense your stress. Always take cues from your baby’s feeding, and let them control the entire feed. 

Studies on Paced Bottle Feeding

Many healthcare professionals acknowledge that paced-bottle feeding appears to have benefits. Interestingly though, there is currently not enough research to make it an evidence-based medical recommendation. That is why Bobbie Labs has been actively funding research at CalPoly University to better support all families who use a bottle in their feeding journey— whether it contains expressed milk or formula. Initial findings from this study were shared in a free accredited webinar where Dr. Ventura highlights existing science around bottle feeding, current best practices, and emerging research around responsive feeding. 

We invite you to read the full study on the Knowledge and Use of Paced Bottle Feeding and to watch the Bobbie Labs free webinar.

Paced Feeding FAQs

Do I need special nipples or bottles for paced feeding?

A common question we see is what baby bottles are best for paced feeding? Luckily, most kinds of bottles should work fine for paced bottle feeding. However, be sure to pick a straight or round bottle. A bottle that’s bent in the middle (sometimes called “curved” or “angled”) might not work as well for paced feeding.

Since the idea of paced bottle feeding is to slow down the flow of breastmilk or formula coming out of the bottle, some parents prefer slow-flow nipples. However, any kind of nipple can work for this method.

What are the best paced feeding positions for baby?

The best paced bottle feeding positions are cradle position, opposite of you, sitting upright, on a boppy, or side-lying. 

How long should paced feeding take?

A typical paced bottle feeding can take anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes. The duration of each feeding will vary based on a few factors:

• Baby’s Age: As your baby gets older, they will get more efficient at the bottle, just like they would at the breast. So naturally, as baby gets older, feedings will take less time. For a very young baby, who is still very sleepy while eating, paced bottle feeding can take quite a bit longer.
• Individual Characteristics of Baby: Babies, just like adults, are all different in their eating habits. Some babies may drink 4 ounces per feeding, while others will drink an 8 ounce bottle. Some babies are distracted eaters who eat more slowly, while other babies eat very quickly. Your baby’s individual eating habits will have a big impact on the duration of each feeding. 
• Nipple Flow: We all know that the slower the nipple flow, the slower the milk or formula moves to baby. So typically the slower the nipple flow, the longer the feeding will take. We recommend not increasing nipple flow just to speed up the feeding. Typically there is no need to change your nipple flow unless baby starts exhibiting signs of frustration during the feeding that may indicate the milk or formula is not coming as quickly as they’d like.  

How do I know if baby is full during a bottle feed?

Be sure to notice the cues mentioned above that may mean your baby needs a break during the feed. Those were wrinkled forehead, stretched out hands, looking surprised at the fast flow, turning their head away, dribbling milk, or falling asleep suddenly.

If they aren’t interested in the bottle again after this break, they may be done. They also may want to take a quick 10-20 minute snooze and then come back for seconds! Here are signs your baby is getting full during a bottle feeding:

• No longer sucking after a break
• Turning away from the bottle
• Pushing away from the nipple

When your baby is done, gently remove the nipple from their mouth by twisting. If your baby wants to feed more, try burping your baby or taking a break first, then offering the bottle again if they are showing feeding cues. 

Why Paced Feeding Reduces Spit Up

Your single biggest strategy for reducing digestive issues is using paced feeding techniques. Paced feeding has been shown to reduce spit-up and overfeeding.² Paced feeding techniques are baby-led. Paced feeding techniques help to mimic the feeding experience that a baby gets while nursing at the breast.

Try watching videos from reputable sites to learn the ropes if you’re nervous you’ll get it wrong. If you still have questions, reach out to your baby’s healthcare provider or your lactation consultant for help.

Sources:

1- Feeding Guidelines for Infants and Young Toddlers | Healthy Eating Research

2- Bottle-Feeding as a Tool to Reinforce Breastfeeding | Sage Journals