Bottle-Feeding Best Practices for New Dads

How to approach bottle feeding as a new parent to make it a good experience

Feeding an infant is one of the most intimate experiences a parent can have. Taking care of someone so closely is unlike anything else. It gives parents precious time to bond with their baby and deepens their connection.

Until recently, feeding was largely left to mom, especially if she chose to breastfeed. Dads weren’t as involved in the day-to-day caretaking as they are now. But nowadays, there’s really no reason why dad can’t participate in the feeding just as much as mom, breastfeeding or not.

Many experiences as a new parent can be challenging and joyous at the same time, and feeding is no different. Dads who have been around the block once or twice already can usually slip back into their feeding routine quickly, even though they may need to figure out what works with each new child. New dads, however, might be nervous to try bottle feeding for the first time.

But these moments are precious, and they go by far too quickly. It is worth it to be involved in feeding your new baby, so here are some best practices for new dads to follow to make the experience easier.

Be involved from the beginning

Approach feeding differently depending on the method. If mom is breastfeeding, it’s important to let her get comfortable and find a routine before stepping in to help. Her milk supply should be fully established, and the baby should have latching down pat before transferring to a bottle.

Dads can start feeding immediately if the baby is on formula. It can be a great bonding experience for mom and dad to learn about feeding together. Figuring out latching techniques, bottle preferences, and feeding position takes teamwork. They can then tackle feeding times independently further down the road.

Be calm and confident

Babies can feel if you are stressed and tense. Bottle feeding your baby for the first time can be nerve-wracking, but it’s important that you try to stay as calm as possible.

If you are fidgety and restless, your baby will have a hard time eating, which isn’t good for anyone. One helpful tip is to remember that this is not the only shot you get at this. If it doesn’t work out this time, you can try again in a few hours and again tomorrow.

Figure out which bottle and nipple to use

Every baby is different. Some are more finicky than others with stronger preferences on bottles and nipples. Others are just hungry and don’t put up much of a fuss.

It will take some trial and error to figure out the right combination for your baby, but it is worth the effort so feeding becomes easier with time. If mom is breastfeeding and bottle feeding, it makes life a little easier to buy the same brand of pump and bottle. 

Young infants will use low flow nipples because they can’t ingest more than a couple of ounces at any given time. But this amount will increase rapidly as they grow, so keep an eye on how they’re feeding. If it doesn’t seem like they’re getting enough milk, it might be time to switch to a faster flow nipple.

Maintain skin-to-skin contact

Skin-to-skin contact has been shown to soothe babies, help regulate their breathing and temperature, and form a tight bond with mom or dad. Although there are many cute pictures of babies falling asleep belly to belly on top of their dad, it is not safe to fall asleep holding your baby.

Learn how to burp

Babies need to burp after eating whether they breastfeed or bottle-feed. They swallow a lot of air as they’re gulping down their food. Again, this will take some testing to figure out what your baby prefers.

The most common depiction of burping is to hold your baby over your shoulder and pat their backs. But you can also try laying them across your lap or even draping them over your elbow. When you hear the burp, you’ll know which method works best for you and your baby.

Find a feeding routine

Feeding is a beautiful process, but it can be a long one that often happens at inconvenient times. The more you can get into a feeding routine, the smoother it will go.

Create a comfortable space for you to sit and bottle feed. For many parents, this is a comfy recliner or high-backed chair, but you may find it easier to hold your baby and walk around.

Try to find the right position that works for your baby but also doesn’t give you back pain the next day. Bottle feeding usually has more success when the baby is lying at a slight angle. Sitting upright or lying down flat can cause choking and spit-up.

Keep trying

Bottle feeding can be frustrating. Most likely, you’ll spend a lot of restless nights with your baby, in the beginning, trying to figure out how this all works. Try different bottles, positions, chairs, ambient noises, nipple sizes, and burping techniques until you succeed.

Most importantly, appreciate this time with your new baby. They will grow faster than you can imagine and feeding them gives you time to get to know each other.

The mission of CDR’s Fatherhood program is to empower dads to reach their goals and to be the best parents they can be. Check out our website for free workshops and classes that help fathers with communication, relationships, careers, financial advice, and parenting.