In plain words
Paced bottle feeding is a way of giving a bottle that lets the baby set the pace. The bottle is held more horizontally, and the baby can pull the nipple in. The feeder pauses often and lets the baby take breaks. The aim is to bring the bottle feed closer to how a baby controls milk flow at the breast. It is a commonly taught approach for babies who take both bottles and breasts. It can help some babies who are used to fast flow. Many parents learn it from a or a feeding class. It takes practice. A baby may take longer to finish a bottle with this method.
The deeper version
Paced bottle feeding is a commonly taught technique for limiting bottle flow, intended to bring bottle flow closer to the infant's control at the breast. It involves a horizontal or near-horizontal bottle position, pauses at regular intervals, and an infant-led rhythm. Evidence comes largely from small trials and cohort studies, and results on breastfeeding duration are inconsistent. Techniques are often combined with cup or syringe feeding in clinical protocols. The World Health Organization and UNICEF (2009) Baby-friendly guidance describes practices that apply to bottle feeding as well.
Where it comes up
- Introducing a bottle and paced feedingFeeding Your Baby
- Combo feeding: breast and formulaFeeding Your Baby
- Nursing strikes and refusalFeeding Your Baby
- Breastfeeding positionsFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about paced bottle feeding
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Sources
- Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine — Clinical Protocol on supplementary feeding in the healthy term breastfed neonate
- World Health Organization and UNICEF — Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative: revised, updated and expanded for integrated care, 2009