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Bottle Feeding 

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This information has been co-produced

This information has been co-produced with the Children's Public Health Team and 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service.

If you have any comments, compliments or queries please contact the 0-19 service at 0-19healthteam@barnsley.gov.uk

Bottle Feeding advice from the NHS

If you are planning to bottle feed your baby with expressed breast milk or infant formula, to help keep them safe and healthy follow the NHS bottle-feeding advice

What is responsive bottle feeding?

Bottle feeding as responsively as possible can help support the development of a close and loving parent-infant relationship. The mother-baby relationship will be helped when mothers tune into feeding cues and hold their babies close during feeds.

Offering the bottle in response to feeding cues, gently inviting the baby to take the teat, pacing the feeds and avoiding forcing the baby to finish the feed can all help to make the experience as acceptable and stress free for the baby as possible, as well as reducing the risk of overfeeding.

By limiting the number of people to the baby’s main care providers who give a feed to baby (particularly in the early days and weeks), will help to build a close and loving relationship with your baby and while making baby feel safe and secure.

Responsive Bottle Feeding Fact Sheet

What is Pace feeding?

Babies feed in bursts of sucking with short pauses to rest. When your baby slows their sucking and swallowing, you can help 'pace' the feed by partially moving the bottle teat out and then letting them draw it in again. This mimics the stop-start motion of breastfeeding. This can also help avoid over-feeding your baby. Interrupting the feed from time to time also gives your baby a chance to register how full they are and how much more they need – helping them to control their intake.

If your baby gets upset at having the teat removed, tip the bottle downwards while it remains in their mouth, which will stop or slow down the flow. Holding the bottle horizontal to ground with only a slight tilt will also ensure that baby doesn't gets milk while they're pausing for a rest.

Removal of formula milk in Barnsley District General Hospital

Since April 2024, pre-made formula is no longer available on the Birthing Centre or Antenatal/Postnatal Ward at Barnsley Hospital.
Whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle-feed, be assured that the hospital is there to support you every step of the way.
They will guide you on how to hold your baby for feeding, recognise feeding cues, and safely prepare formula feeds.
Remember, skin-to-skin contact is an ideal way to start your feeding journey with your baby, fostering strong and loving bonds.
More information can be found here

Useful Links

NHS Responsive Bottle Feeding Video

First Steps Nutrition Information

Infant Milk Information

Safe Sleep Guidance

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