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Self-feeding with a bottle can be a major milestone for babies, but it’s important not to rush it, and also not to force it. That’s why we’re here to tell you when babies can start self-feeding, how to encourage them to hold the bottle, signs they’re ready, and safety precautions to help you keep your baby safe and healthy.
Helping Your Baby Hold a Bottle
Babies can often hold bottles at around 6 months. To help, hold your baby mostly upright and offer a half-full bottle at a downward angle. Gently bring their hands to the bottle to encourage them to grip it. Never let your baby bottle feed unsupervised.
Steps
Encouraging a Baby to Hold a Bottle
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Guide your baby’s hands to the sides of the bottle while you hold them. Hold your baby as you normally would for a feeding and hold out the bottle for them—at a downward angle, so the nub is full of milk.[2] If your baby doesn’t reach out for the bottle on their own, gently place 1 or both of their hands on the sides of the bottle to show them how to grasp it. Then, guide the bottle towards your baby’s mouth and feed them as usual.- If your baby doesn’t want to hold onto the bottle, don’t force them. They may not be ready for self-feeding.
- Holding your baby is the best way to encourage them to hold their bottle since they will still get to enjoy snuggling with you.
Tip: Wait until your baby is hungry before you try to get them to self-feed. Watch for cues that your baby is hungry, such as turning their head from side to side and sucking on their hand or a toy.[3]
Start with a partially full bottle to get them used to the weight. A full bottle might be too much for your baby to hold on their own, especially if they have progressed to 6 fl oz (180 mL) or more per feeding. Fill a bottle halfway and offer it to your baby to see if they can support the weight. As always, prepare a clean, sterile bottle for your baby.[4]- Make sure to refill the bottle as needed to give your baby their usual amount of breast milk or formula.
- Also, wet the outside of the nub with a little milk to encourage your baby to put their mouth on it.
Support the weight of the bottle while your baby holds it. Your baby might need your help while they’re getting the hang of holding their own bottle. Gently support the bottle with your own hand as they grasp it. As with regular feeding, make sure the bottle stays slightly tilted to prevent your child from swallowing air bubbles.[5]
Continue to cuddle your baby during feedings. Don’t stop holding your baby once they can feed themselves with their bottle. Even if your baby has mastered holding their own bottle, it’s important to continue to hold them and cuddle them regularly for their emotional well-being.[6]- Make eye contact with and speak softly to your baby to bond with and soothe them.
Signs Your Baby is Ready to Hold Their Own Bottle
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They can sit upright on their own. In order to bottle feed safely and independently, your baby must be able to sit up while they hold the bottle. This skill is usually mastered at around 6-8 months old.[7] Babies should never lie down flat while feeding themselves.
They can grasp objects in 1 hand. These motor skills may indicate that your baby is capable of holding their bottle. If your baby is not yet doing these things, then they probably won’t be ready to hold their own bottle. Keep in mind this stage may come later—commonly at 9 months old.[8]- Your baby may also transfer objects from one hand to the other if they’re ready to hold their own bottle.
They’re interested in the bottle and can pick it up. Babies can be uninterested in their bottles for a number of reasons, like lack of visual appeal or stimulation while feeding.[9] If your baby is uninterested in holding their own bottle, then they might not be ready for self-feeding. But if your baby picks up the bottle and brings it to their mouth, then they may be ready to try self-feeding.- Leave the bottle empty or fill it only part way to avoid having a mess in your child’s play area.
Safety Precaution: Never place a bottle into your baby’s crib with them or allow them to crawl or walk around with a bottle in their hand or mouth.[10]
Consult your child’s pediatrician for a professional opinion. If you’re unsure about your baby’s development or have any concerns at all about your baby’s motor skills, make an appointment with your baby’s pediatrician.[11] They can evaluate your baby to see if they are developing normally, and also tell you if letting you baby hold their own bottle is a good idea for your circumstances.- For example, if your baby is not grasping objects at 6 months, then you might consult with your child’s pediatrician to ensure that everything is okay.
Keeping Your Baby Safe
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Supervise your baby's feedings even if they can self-feed. No matter how confident you are in your baby’s ability to self-feed, it’s still important to supervise them during feedings. Stay in the same room as your baby and ensure that you can see and hear them. This way you will notice if your baby falls asleep and begins to choke or if they need your help.[12]Tip: If you’re unable to watch your baby, ask a member of your household, such as your partner or the baby’s grandparent to supervise them while you are occupied.
Keep your baby sitting upright or at a slight incline while they feed. Don’t allow your baby to feed flat on their back. Rather, hold them semi-upright, or be sure they’re sitting upright.[13] Otherwise, a spill may cause milk to get into their Eustachian tubes if they feed in this position and this may lead to an ear infection.[14]- For example, hold your baby in your arms and keep them angled so that their head is above their stomach. place your baby into a high chair or their stroller with the seat in the upright or inclined position.
Switch to a pacifier at bedtime to prevent tooth decay. Breast milk or formula can pool around your baby’s teeth and lead to cavities at a very young age if your baby feeds until they fall asleep. To prevent this, switch to a pacifier before your baby has drifted off completely. Your baby can suck on the pacifier as they’re falling asleep and continue to suck on it while they sleep as well.[15]- As an added bonus, giving your baby a pacifier at bedtime reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).[16]
Never prop the bottle up to your baby’s mouth. “Prop feeding” is when you use an object to keep a bottle in a baby’s mouth so they might feed without you. It may be tempting if your baby doesn’t hold their own bottle, but it’s incredibly dangerous and may lead to choking, ear infection, and tooth rot.[17]- If you’re fatigued and can’t feed your baby, enlist a friend or family member to help.
Video
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Encourage your baby to hold a sippy cup in much the same way once they’re 1-2 years old.[18] Use water rather than milk once you introduce sippy cups.Thanks
- Offer your baby lots of toys to grasp to help them build motor skills, and let them play on their tummy to build core strength.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.babycenter.com/baby/formula-feeding/when-can-my-baby-hold-his-own-bottle_1368471
- ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/breastfeeding-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/giving-the-bottle
- ↑ https://nrckids.org/CFOC/Database/4.3.1.8
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/advice/
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Practical-Bottle-Feeding-Tips.aspx
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Practical-Bottle-Feeding-Tips.aspx
- ↑ https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/bottle-feeding/when-do-babies-hold-bottles
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/development-9mos.html
- ↑ https://llli.org/breastfeeding-info/bottles/
- ↑ https://nrckids.org/CFOC/Database/4.3.1.8
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/development-6mos.html?ref=search
- ↑ https://www.phoenixchildrens.org/files/inline-files/Always-Hold-the-Baby-Bottle-811.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/bottle-feeding/advice/
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19596.htm
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Practical-Bottle-Feeding-Tips.aspx
- ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/pacifier-greatly-reduces/
- ↑ https://www.phoenixchildrens.org/files/inline-files/Always-Hold-the-Baby-Bottle-811.pdf
- ↑ https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/bottle-feeding/when-do-babies-hold-bottles
About This Article
Getting your child to hold their own bottle doesn't have to be hard, especially if you practice at the right time. When they’re between 6 and 10 months old, encourage them to hold the bottle with you when you feed them. You can also try giving them an empty bottle to hold by themselves, which will allow them to practice without the extra weight of the milk. If you think your baby is ready to hold a full bottle by themselves, make sure that they’re sitting up with their head higher than their feet. This is important because feeding while lying down can cause infection. Turn off all bright lights or other distractions, since you want them to focus solely on holding the bottle. If they manage to hold it, support their arms with your hand so they don’t have to bear the weight all of the time. For tips on how to tell if your baby is ready to hold their own bottle, read on!
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