Feeding your baby is a very personal journey. Whether you choose to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or do a combination of both, the most important thing is to find a routine that works for you and your baby. Whether you’re transitioning from breast to bottle, or navigating mixed feeding for the first time, here’s how to make it a smooth experience for your family.

Bottle or breast?

Breastfeeding has a lot of benefits. It’s free, it’s (generally!) convenient, and creates a deep bond with your baby. Breast milk is also jam-packed with essential nutrients and antibodies to help protect your baby from infections. If you’re lucky enough to be able to breastfeed, it’s a great start for your little one.

Bottle-feeding—whether with expressed milk or formula—can also offer convenience and flexibility. It allows both parents to bond with baby, and it provides support so that you can share feeding responsibilities.

For busy parents, mixed-feeding can give you the best of both worlds. Combining bottle and breast allows partners, relations, and friends to share in the feeding journey. It also allows dads to be involved from the beginning, deepening their connection – as feeding is a huge bonding moment. Plus, combination feeding enables you to create a feeding schedule that fits in with your family’s unique lifestyle.

For those who can’t breastfeed (or choose not to!), bottle-feeding doesn’t have to be second-best. The latest innovations in teats, flow, and materials support bonding, and create an experience that’s effortless for both baby and parents.

Making sure breastfeeding is well-established before introducing a bottle

Timing is everything when it comes to mixed feeding. If you want to try a combination of bottle and breast, experts generally recommend establishing breastfeeding first. Breastfeeding tends to be well-established by 4-6 weeks, and this can be a good time to introduce a bottle. Waiting until breastfeeding is well-established helps to prevent nipple confusion, which is when a baby has difficulty switching between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. 

Anna-Luisa Döscher, Midwife, says: “If the mother wants to breastfeed, during the first 5-6 weeks after birth I recommend avoiding bottles as much as possible to help establish breastfeeding successfully. If breastfeeding is going well and the baby is gaining weight properly, I suggest trying a bottle after 5-6 weeks. The mother might also want to become more independent and be able to go out on her own. The bottle should closely resemble the breast (round and soft) and have a slow flow. This helps prevent the baby from swallowing too much air, which could cause stomach pain, and also ensures they don’t drink too quickly.” 

How to choose the right bottle for your family

There’s a lot of choice when it comes to baby bottles. Finding the right one for you and your baby can make all the difference though. Here’s the most important factors to consider:

• Teat/nipple shape: Finding a bottle teat that mimics the breast can ease the transition between breast and bottle. A round bottle teat can make it easier for babies to latch on as it mimics the natural fit and movement of a real nipple. The round nipple shape is also a common design for pacifiers. If your baby has a dummy with a round shape, choosing a similar bottle teat can make it easier to transition between all three.
• Nipple/teat material: The material that a bottle teat is made from can make a huge difference to baby’s willingness to latch on. If your little one is already using a pacifier, then it’s a no-brainer to choose a material they are already comfortable with. Latex nipples offer ‘skin-like’ softness, flexibility, and closely mimic the feel of a real nipple. Silicone nipples, on the other hand, offer a hypoallergenic option, are also ultra-soft, and are popular because they can be sterilised in more ways due to the material’s higher heat-resistance.
• Bottle material: The right bottle material will be unique to your family’s feeding needs. If you’re feeding on-the-go, plastic bottles are lightweight, durable, and easy for little ones to grip. If you’re going for a plastic bottle, just make sure it’s BPA-free to avoid harmful toxins. Glass bottles are also toxin-free, and keep their ‘like new’ appearance for longer as they don’t tend to stain, scratch, or absorb odours – making them a sustainable option. Glass is more sustainable and keeps the milk warm for longer periods.
• Flow rates: A bottle’s ‘flow rate’ refers to the size of the hole in the teat. The bigger the hole, the faster the milk flows into your little one’s mouth. Flow rate should be adjusted as your little one grows. Newborns tend to need a slower flow rate. Slow-flow teats also encourage a natural sucking rhythm—similar to breastfeeding.
• Anti-colic function: Babies can swallow air when they are feeding, which can cause discomfort leading to bloating, gas, and burping. Bottles with an anti-colic design have a special valve or ventilation system in the teat that helps reduce air intake. This can make a big difference to your baby’s comfort.
• Bottle size: The right bottle size for your little one doesn’t just depend on their appetite! It’s also important to consider their age and feeding habits. Newborns require more frequent and smaller feeds, making a 120ml / 4oz bottle a good option. After 6 months, babies are generally ready for a bottle that holds 220ml / 8oz or more.

The expert parenting team at Absolutely Mama has tested a lot of different baby bottles. One of our favourite bottle ranges is from BIBS. The Scandinavian brand’s designs offer style, practicality, and most importantly lots of options!

The brand has recently relaunched its bottle collection to meet the diverse needs of families. With feedback from both families across the globe and experts, the clever range offers interchangeable options including two bottle materials, two nipple materials, three flow rates, as well as multiple cap designs, various sizes, colours, and add-on accessories. The brand really has thought of everything when it comes to bottle feeding, and you can find an option that’s as unique as your family’s feeding journey, as everything can be mixed and matched. 

Pumping and storing breast milk

If you plan to express so that you can bottle-feed with breast milk, then you’ll also need to invest in a good breast-pump. Find one that works for you – whether it’s a manual hand-pump, or a hands-free, electric breast-pump.

Milk expressing can be time-consuming, so find a time that suits your routine. Ensure that you store it properly in sterilised bottles, or milk storage bags. Freshly expressed breast milk can be stored safely in the fridge for up to four days, or in the freezer for up to six months. Just make sure you label it properly.

Feeding with formula

Consulting with your paediatrician can help you find the best suited formula for your little one. Hygiene is of utmost importance when using formula, so make sure you wash your hands before bottle preparation, and sterilise both the bottle and the teat.

Follow the instructions on the formula container for accurate measuring, and let boiling water cool before you feed your little one. You can check the temperature on your wrist. A bottle prep machine can also save time and make things easier, especially for those bleary-eyed night feeds!

If you’re introducing formula after breastfeeding, introduce it gradually. Some babies adjust quickly and easily, whilst others take time to accept it as it’s a new taste. If your baby is breast-fed and you’re transitioning to bottle feeding with formula, starting with pumped breast milk can help get your baby used to it gradually.

Personalising your feeding schedule

Your feeding schedule should reflect the needs of both you and your little one. The official advice tends to state that newborn babies need to feed every 2-3 hours or 8-12 times per day. However, most parents feed on-demand, which could mean that you’re feeding them hourly.

If you’re mixed feeding, you could schedule bottle feeds around breastfeeding sessions. Or you could do a mix of both throughout the day. Have confidence in your intuition, observe your baby’s hunger cues, and create a routine tailored to your lifestyle.

Comfort and bonding for you and your baby

Breast, bottle, or both, feeding helps to create a special bond with your baby. Bottle feeding gives your partner an opportunity to experience bonding through feeding too. Comfort is the key to creating the best experience for both you and your little one.

A breast-feeding pillow and nursing chair can help to support both you and your little one to get into a relaxed position. A calm and peaceful feeding environment can also make a big difference – whether that’s putting on soothing music, lowering the lighting, or listening to white noise.

Making sure you have the right bottle will also make the experience easier and help you to bond with your little one.

“Every family is different, and their needs grow and change over time,” says BIBS CEO Henrik Larsen. “That’s why we’re excited to introduce new additions that provide tailored solutions to support more families at more stages of their journey.”

Sharing feeding responsibilities

It’s well-documented that breastfeeding can take a mind-blowing 1,800 hours per year. The option to share feeding responsibilities is one of the best things about bottle feeding and mixed-feeding. Introducing a bottle can give you the flexibility to have a night off, or even just return to work when you’re ready.

Whether it’s a partner, grandparent, childminder, nanny, or close friend, sharing feeding duties can provide much-needed rest for a breastfeeding parent.

Trusting your instincts

Every baby is different, and so is every parent! No two feeding journeys are the same, so trust your instincts and stay flexible. Whether you breastfeed, bottle-feed, or do a mix of both, it’s all about both yours and your baby’s health and happiness, and doing what works for you.

This is a paid partnership with BIBS

bibsworld.com

Read more bottle-feeding advice here.