How to Introduce a Bottle and Pacifier

If your goal is to breastfeed, there are a few things to consider when introducing a bottle. 

When to Introduce a Bottle  

• Introduce bottle once breastfeeding is established, around 3 to 4 week mark

• If you’re having nipple pain, wait until nipple pain resolves prior to introducing a bottle, and see an IBCLC

• Plan to pump around the time of the bottle or about 30 min after nursing, if you are providing breastmilk for a bottle

How Often to Give a Bottle

• To maintain your baby’s bottle skills, maintain at least one bottle a day, or every other day

• Avoid more than one 4-5 hour stretch without removing milk in the first 6 weeks 

 Why Paced Bottle Feeding Is Recommended

• Paced feeding allows babies to control the flow, similar to breastfeeding.You are mimicking the breastfeeding “suck-swallow-breathe” rhythm.

• Babies who are paced bottle fed may be less likely to refuse the breast. 

• Feeding babies flat on their backs increases the risk of overfeeding, loss of flow control, and aspiration.

How To Pace Bottle Feed

The video below explains paced bottle feeding, a method designed to better match how babies feed at the breast and to avoid overfeeding and a preference for the bottle.

• Hold the baby upright, supporting the torso (or on your lap on their side).

• Touch the bottle nipple to the baby’s lip and wait for a wide mouth before allowing them to draw it in.

• Avoid placing the nipple into the mouth before the baby is ready.

• Allow the baby to suck briefly before milk flows, mimicking the initial phase of breastfeeding.

• Keep the bottle horizontal, partially filling the nipple with milk (with some air inside) to slow the flow.

• As a rule of thumb, it should take -10-20 min to finish 3 ounces.

Supporting Baby-Led Feeding

• Babies naturally take pauses during feeding.

• When the baby pauses, tilt the bottle down to stop milk flow.

• When sucking resumes, tilt the bottle back up.

• Avoid jiggling or wiggling the bottle to encourage more sucking.

• Watch for cues that the flow is too fast, such as:

• Wide eyes

• Furrowed brow

• Turning or pulling away

• Gulping

• Drooling

• Squirming or arching

• Finger splaying

• Abnormal respiration (e.g. fast breathing, nasal flaring)C

• Color changes
  

Bottle Recommendations

• Pigeon (SS flow nipple) or Lansinoh (slow flow)

• These shapes promote a wide, deep latch on the breast and the bottle

Introducing Pacifiers 

• You can introduce a pacifier at about 3-4 weeks and once nipple pain resolved

• Avent Soothies or Ninni Co are recommended for breastfed babies

Written by Kathleen Stern (bio here). For more infant feeding and parent support, reach out to Kathleen at www.strongnestconsulting.com

Last updated December 15, 2025