What is “paced bottle feeding”?

Paced bottle feeding is a method designed to replicate the natural breastfeeding experience by allowing the baby to control the pace of feeding. This technique involves holding the bottle horizontally, allowing milk to flow slowly, and providing the baby the opportunity to suck, swallow, and breathe at their own rhythm. This mimics the way a breastfed baby would nurse, where the baby can take breaks and pause as needed, promoting a more relaxed feeding experience and encouraging the development of similar oral and swallowing skills used during breastfeeding.

This approach is particularly helpful for breastfeeding mothers who may need to introduce a bottle to their infants without disrupting the breastfeeding relationship. By allowing the baby to take the lead during bottle feeding, it helps reduce the risk of issues such as overfeeding and aids in transitioning between breast and bottle without confusion or preference.