If you're bottle feeding with expressed breast milk or formula, you may have come across the term 'paced feeding'.
But what exactly is paced bottle feeding, and how can you do it too? Keep reading for guidance about this baby feeding technique.
What is paced bottle feeding?
Paced bottle feeding simply means letting your baby take the lead when it comes to feeding time. It means they can decide when they're full, rather than requiring them to finish a whole bottle in one go.
It's sometimes referred to as "responsive" or "on demand" feeding, and basically means that you're following your baby's cues.
It involves slowing the flow of milk (expressed breast milk or formula) into the bottle's teat and baby's mouth. This feeding method gives them extra control over the pace of their feed and how much they eat.
Paced feeding mimics the stop-start motion of breastfeeding and gives them the chance to check in on their own appetite.
What are the benefits of paced bottle feeding?
The benefits of paced feeding include that it:
- Helps reduce overfeeding and obesity risk in childhood
- Reduces air intake when feeding, meaning less uncomfortable trapped wind and general digestive discomfort
- Allows your baby to vary how they feed based on their needs
- Means parents can identify feeding cues from their baby
- Can make transitioning between bottle and breastfeeding easier because your baby is less likely to get used to the fast, constant flow of a regular bottle feed and reject your breast
How do I start the paced bottle feeding technique?
Getting started with paced feeding requires you to feed based on your little one's early hunger cues, rather than on a set time schedule.
These early hunger cues can include baby:
- Sucking their hands or fingers
- Moving their eyes around
- Rooting around or looking for the teat of the bottle
- Wriggling and becoming restless
- Opening and closing their mouth
