Erin Sheridan, IBCLC

Sodexo Dietetic Intern Allentown Campus

Concentration in Maternal & Infant Wellness
Social Networking Assignment
Posting scheduled for March 26th 2017

Paced Bottle Feeding

At what age do we start obesity prevention interventions? Two? Five? Ten? Wrong! The correct
answer is right after birth. In my concentration rotation at the Breastfeeding Resource Center, I
often find myself explaining paced bottle feeding to new parents. What is that you ask? Its a
method of feeding the baby that allows them to regulate their own intake, as they would at the
breast.

Research shows us that breastfeeding is correlated with lower rates of obesity. This is probably
because babies fed at the breast take natural pauses that allow them to regulate intake, whereas
babies that are fed from a bottle, whether it contains expressed breast milk or formula, dont
have this opportunity to regulate intake. This lack of self-regulation can lead to obesity later in
life.

So how can we prevent overfeeding in the infant? The answer in simple - paced bottle feeding.
Below is a list of tips that dietitians can discuss with new parents to help them help their baby
regulate his or her intake, thus preventing obesity later in life.

Tip #1 Feed the baby whenever he or she is hungry! Dont set a schedule for feeding. Often
times babies will fall into their own pattern of eating, but theyll also go through growth spurts
when they may want to eat more often. Your baby knows exactly how much nourishment he
needs, so dont deny him the opportunity to eat. These frequent feeds will not contribute to
obesity later in life. You dont want to force feedings on your baby, either. So keep it simple
offer food any time your baby is showing hunger cues, and stop feeding when he shows satiety
cues.

Tip #2 Help your baby regulate his or her intake. Position the baby as upright as possible,
and hold the bottle at a horizontal angle. This positioning will help prevent the baby from
guzzling the bottle and taking more than he or she actually needs. Take breaks every few
swallows to allow your infant to show you when her or she is full, and stop the feeding when he
does. It may help to start with a only small amount of breast milk or formula in the bottle. You
can always add more, but dont pressure the baby to finish whats left in the bottle if he shows
that he is full. Let him regulate his intake.

Tip #3 Hold your baby often. Babies like to be held, and theyre very smart. If your baby is
only held when he is being fed, he might start to elicit more feedings than necessary, just so
someone will pick him up. Baby-wearing is a great way to keep your hands free and your baby
close. Who would have thought that lots of snuggle time could help prevent obesity?

Post by Erin Sheridan, IBCLC (Allentown Campus Leadership Concentration in Maternal and
Infant Wellness)

References:
1. Arenz S, Rckerl R, Koletzko B, von Kries R. Breast-feeding and childhood obesity-a
systematic review. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders. 2004;
28(10):1247-56.
2. Li R, Fein SB, Grummer-Strawn LM. Do Infants Fed From Bottles Lack Self-regulation of Milk
Intake Compared With Directly Breastfed Infants? Pediatrics. 2010;125(6).