How to properly feed a newborn baby?

You can feed your baby breast milk or infant formula from a bottle. If you choose to feed your baby using a bottle, he or she will need to learn how to drink from a bottle. It can take some time for your baby to get used to it.

Cleaning Bottle Feeding Supplies

Keeping your bottle feeding supplies clean is very important to keep germs from getting into the milk or infant formula you feed your baby. This includes the bottles and nipples, rings, caps, and any valves or membranes that are part of the bottle.

Learn more about how to clean your baby’s bottles and other feeding supplies.

Tips for Bottle Feeding

Getting started:

Don’t put cereal or other food in a bottle.
Putting infant cereal or other solid foods in your baby’s bottle will not make him or her sleep longer and could increase your baby’s risk of choking.

Pick a time when your baby is calm and not too hungry or full.
Start by offering your baby small amounts of breast milk or infant formula in the bottle. You can offer more if he or she is showing signs of hunger until you figure out how much your baby usually eats in a feeding from the bottle.
If you are breastfeeding, your baby may be more willing to take a bottle from someone other than you.

How to bottle feed:

Position the bottle at an angle rather than straight up and down so the milk only comes out when your baby sucks.
Let your baby take breaks from drinking when he or she seems to want them.
Watch your baby for cues that he or she is full, and then stop, even if the bottle is not empty.

Things to remember:

Give your baby only breast milk or infant formula in a bottle.
Hold your baby close when you feed him or her a bottle.
Do not prop or leave the bottle in your baby’s mouth. This can increase your baby’s risk of choking, ear infections, and tooth decay. Your baby may also eat more than he or she needs.
Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle. Milk can pool around the baby’s teeth and this can cause tooth decay.
Do not force your baby to finish the bottle if your baby is showing signs of fullness as this can lead to your baby eating more than he or she needs.

Having a new baby can be a time of great anxiety, as well as pleasure. How to feed the baby? How often do babies feed? Is breastfeeding best? When do things change? When should you introduce solids? What to do if the baby is not feeding properly?

Parents need to work out answers to these questions that fit with experts’ recommendations, and also that fit with their lives. It is important to discuss these questions with your midwives, nurses and doctor if you believe there are problems and your baby is not feeding as you expect. It’s also important to understand how the routine of feeding changes from newborns to older infants.

Follow the links below to find trusted information about baby feeding, or learn more about feeding your baby on Pregnancy, Birth and Baby:

breastfeeding
formula feeding
moving onto solids

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Last reviewed: August 2020

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Results for medical professionals

Read more on Parenthub website

Newborns have tiny tummies and so need to feed frequently. For example, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine supplementation protocol (2017) reports that the average intakes of colostrum per feed by healthy, term breastfed is 2-10 mL on day 1, 5-15 mL on day 2, 15-30 mL on day 3 and 30-60 mL on day 4. Feeding frequently in the early days and weeks helps make sure you have a good milk supply.

Read more on Australian Breastfeeding Association website

Cup Feeding – Dr Jack NewmanCup Feeding - Global Health Media6 month old baby cup feeding

Read more on Australian Breastfeeding Association website

Baby formula is the only safe alternative to breastmilk for the first 12 months. All Australian cow’s milk-based formulas meet strict standards. Read more.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Listen to Dianne Zalitis, midwife and Clinical Lead at Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, talk to Feed Play Love with Shevonne Hunt about signs your baby is well.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Listen to Dianne Zalitis, midwife and Clinical Lead at Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, talk to Feed Play Love with Shevonne Hunt about your choices for having a baby.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

Newborn baby routines are all about responding to your baby’s needs for feeds and sleep. It’s good to make time for gentle play too. Get tips in pictures.

Read more on raisingchildren.net.au website

Listen to Dianne Zalitis, midwife and Clinical Lead at Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, talk to Feed Play Love with Shevonne Hunt about what to expect when you bring your baby home.

Read more on Pregnancy, Birth & Baby website

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