Make sure that you’re sitting comfortably. Always hold your baby close to you and look into their eyes when feeding – this helps your baby feel safe and loved.
1. Feed your baby when they show signs of being hungry, look out for early cues (moving head and mouth around, sucking on fingers).
Crying is the last sign of wanting to feed, so try and feed your baby before they cry.
2. Hold your baby close in a semi-upright position so you can see their face and reassure them by looking into their eyes and talking to them during the feed. Begin by inviting your baby to open their mouth by gently rubbing the teat against their top lip.
3. Gently insert the teat into your baby’s mouth, keeping the bottle in a horizontal position (just slightly tipped) to prevent milk from flowing too fast.
If the teat becomes flattened while you are feeding, pull gently on the corner of your baby’s mouth to release the vacuum.
4. Watch your baby and follow the cues for when they need a break; these signs will be different from one baby to the next. They may splay their fingers and toes, spill milk out of their mouth, stop sucking, turn their head away or push the bottle away.Gently remove the teat or bring the bottle downwards to cut off the flow of milk.
5. Your baby may need short breaks during the feed and may need to burp sometimes. When your baby does not want any more feed, hold them upright and gently rub or pat their back to bring up any wind.