“It’s no secret that bottle-fed babies tend to have more digestive symptoms than those who directly nurse. Parents often assume this is because of something in the milk that baby is sensitive to, like dairy or soy. 🤔
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In reality, symptoms like excess gas, gagging, hiccups, and spit-up sometimes happen not because of WHAT we’re feeding but because of HOW we’re feeding!⠀
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Enter: paced feeding.⠀
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Paced feeding puts the BABY in control of how much milk they’re taking in– it’s similar to what happens naturally when breastfeeding. This leads to a reduction in spit-up, gas, and other symptoms of overfeeding. ⠀
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Here are the highlights:⠀
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🍼 Hold the bottle level, not at an angle. We want the baby to have to suck to get the milk out versus letting gravity do the work! ⠀
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🍼 Baby should be relatively upright versus reclined or laying. For babies without much head control, this can look like leaning against your chest or armpit versus in the crook of your elbow.⠀
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🍼 Offer frequent breaks and allow the baby to initiate drinking again if still hungry. Don’t force your baby to finish a bottle!⠀
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🍼 Switch baby’s position from one arm to the other midway through feeding to avoid developing a side preference.⠀
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🍼 Feed based on hunger cues, not a set schedule (at least to start).⠀
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You should find that your baby is able to regulate their own eating and will both initiate latching when hungry and pull away when full if you’re using this method.”
Instagram: @theformulamom
*Consult with your doctor*
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