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Kids Health Info

Bottle feeding

  • Key points

    • Bottle feeding is a time to connect with your baby and a first step in their lifelong relationship with food.
    • Hold your baby close when feeding, and try to make eye contact and talk with them. This will make feeding time more enjoyable for you and your baby.
    • Feed your baby when they show signs of hunger – not on a strict schedule.
    • Let your baby decide when they have finished feeding; there is no need to force them to finish the bottle.
    • You will know if your baby is having enough milk to drink if they have regular wet nappies, seem generally well and are gaining weight.
    • When your baby starts eating more solid food, they will also slowly reduce how much milk they want each day.

    About bottle feeding

    There are many reasons why you may need or choose to bottle feed your baby. Bottle feeding is a time to connect with your baby and a first step in their lifelong relationship with food. When you bottle feed, your baby can see, feel and smell you, helping you both to develop a strong bond.

    How to bottle feed your baby

    1. When your baby is ready to feed and you have prepared their breast milk or formula, first show them the bottle and talk to them about what you are doing.
    2. Hold your baby in your arms at a slight upward angle so they can see your face. Ensure you support their head and avoid lying them flat while feeding.
    3. Offer the bottle to your baby by bringing the bottle teat to their lips. Avoid forcing the teat into their mouth. Instead, let them open their mouth and attach to the teat when they are ready.
    4. Keep the bottle at a slight angle so there is some milk in the teat, but it does not flow too fast.
    5. Watch your baby for signs they need a break or want to finish the feed. These could include pushing the teat away with their tongue, turning their head away from the bottle, frowning, or falling asleep. If you see these signs, lower the bottle so the teat is empty or remove the teat from your baby’s mouth. Your baby will let you know if they would like to continue the feed by looking for the bottle teat again.
    6. Continue feeding until your baby shows signs they have finished, or the bottle is empty.

    Most babies finish a bottle feed in around 20 to 30 minutes. If it often takes longer for you to bottle feed your baby, you should speak with your Maternal and Child Health Nurse or doctor for advice.

    How much and how often should I feed my baby?

    There is no set amount of milk or number of feeds your baby should have each day. It is best to be guided by your baby’s cues to help decide when to feed them and how much to offer.

    Some signs your child wants to feed include:

    • Putting their hands to their mouth
    • Turning their head from side to side
    • Acting restless
    • Crying
    • Making a ‘smacking’ sound with their lips.

    Babies will often want to feed after waking up. Older babies may call out to you or show interest in food if they see or smell it.

    The amount your baby drinks will depend on how much they feel like at the time, as well as their age and size. Some days, your baby may drink more, and others, they may drink less. The quantities suggested on the back of formula tins are a guide only and are often larger than what many babies want or need to drink. Your baby may not follow these amounts, or may increase their feeds at times different from those suggested on the tin.

    You will know if your baby is having enough milk to drink if they:

    • have regular wet nappies
    • seem generally well
    • are gaining weight.

    When your baby starts eating more solid food, they will also slowly reduce how much milk they want to drink each day.

    If you are worried your baby is not drinking enough milk, it is best to talk with your Maternal and Child Health Nurse or doctor.

    Important things to remember when bottle feeding

    • Feed your baby when they show signs of hunger. Being guided by your baby’s needs is better than sticking to a strict schedule.
    • Always hold your baby while they are feeding; never leave them alone with the bottle or put them to bed with a bottle.
    • Try to make eye contact and talk with them while bottle feeding. This connection will make feeding time more enjoyable for you and your baby.
    • If your baby is feeding too fast, they may show signs such as coughing, gulping or spilling milk from their mouth.
      • You can help them slow down by lowering the bottle so there is less milk in the teat. This will reduce the chance of them overfeeding, choking on the milk or vomiting after the feed.
    • Let your baby decide when they have finished feeding. There is no need to force them to finish the bottle; this may cause them to overfeed or reduce their enjoyment.
    • Do not put anything other than breastmilk or infant formula in your baby’s bottle.
    • If you need to heat milk, stand the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. Do not heat breast milk or formula in the microwave.
    • Check the temperature of breastmilk or formula by dripping it onto the side of your wrist; it should feel warm and not hot.

    Common questions about bottle feeding

    Why does my baby get sick after feeding?

    It is normal for babies to spit up small amounts of milk during or just after a feed; this is sometimes called posseting or reflux. You can try holding them upright for a short time after feeding to help reduce this. Drinking milk too quickly or overfeeding can also cause your baby to spit up more milk. You should speak with a doctor if your baby is sick often during or after feeds, vomits a large amount of milk or has very forceful vomits.

    Is it safe for my baby to drink leftover milk?

    You should throw away any milk left in a bottle at the end of a feed or after an hour. Do not use leftover milk for another feed, as bacteria from your baby’s mouth can get into the milk and make them sick. You should also avoid reheating milk from previous feeds.

    Why do I need to sterilise my baby’s bottle?

    Babies' immune systems are still developing. Sterilising bottles kills germs and bacteria that could make your baby sick.

    How do I clean and sterilise a bottle?

    You should clean and sterilise bottles after each feed. To do this, take the bottle and teat apart and rinse them with cold water before washing with a brush in hot soapy water. Then, you can sterilise them.

    There are a few ways to sterilise a bottle and teat, such as boiling, steaming or soaking in a bottle-cleaning solution. Boiling is the simplest and most common option. Simply place the bottle and teat in a pot of boiling water on the stove for five minutes before turning off the heat. Once the bottle and teat have cooled enough to safely handle, remove them from the pot, shake off any excess water and put them in a clean container in the fridge until you are ready to use them.

    My baby has started on solids. Should I stop bottle feeding?

    It is recommended that babies continue having breastmilk or infant formula until they are 12 months old. From 12 months, it is recommended to stop bottle and formula feeds. You can keep breastfeeding or giving your baby breastmilk or small amounts of cow's milk in a cup, but water should be their main drink. At this age, solid foods should make up most of their diet and drinking too much milk can cause problems for their health.

    For more information


    Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital General Medicine department. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers.

    Reviewed December 2025

    Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.


Disclaimer

This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals. The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout. The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout.

Updated July 2025

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