Positions for Bottle-Feeding
The same supportive positions that are encouraged with breastfeeding can be modified for bottle-feeding… and this is the number one thing I start with when working with families. There is so much information out there on paced bottle-feeding and it’s so important to understand WHY we are using strategies during feeding.
Your newborn does not have head control or postural stability - we know this and yet so many professionals encourage parents to hold their babies in an upright, seated position during feeding. This also requires that you hold baby away from your body and without the loving touch that should be felt during feeding! If that position feels very clinical to you, that’s because it is.
Supported Upright Position for Bottle-feeding
Holding your baby upright in your arm is also possible and gives them the full body support they need. You can pace your baby with the bottle in many different ways, including making sure the nipple flow is appropriate for their sucking skills and suck-swallow-breathe coordination. Finding the right bottle fit can make a significant difference, and I can help with that.
Sidelying Position for Bottle-feeding
If your baby struggles with coughing or choking during bottle-feeding, or seems to go too fast, you can also try a sidelying position on a pillow or Boppy pillow on your lap with baby facing you. Keep her head above her hips as well and make sure her nose, shoulders, hips and toes are all facing the same direction. Help her bring her hands together by the bottle or her chest and make sure that head is not tipped back! We don’t want a baby’s chin up and head back while swallowing.
If you are breastfeeding and supplementing with bottles, I know it can feel scary and most parents come to me worried that baby is going to prefer the bottle over the breast. We want ALL feeding experiences to be positive and nurturing and if breastfeeding is a goal, it’s possible to use the bottle and bottle-feedings as a wonderful, functional feeding strategy to help you meet your goals.
For a free, 20-minute virtual consultation to meet me and hear more about how I can help with feeding, head HERE.
