How do I switch from breast to bottle?

Whether you need advice about switching from breast milk to formula or getting your little one used to bottle-feeding with the milk you express, you’re in the right place.

Here you’ll find lots of information about when to introduce a bottle to your breastfed baby and a handy step by step guide on how to do it. We’ll also provide you with some tops tips about how to maintain your milk supply and what to do if your baby is refusing the bottle. 

It is entirely up to you when you choose to introduce a bottle to your breastfed baby. What matters is that it's the right decision for you. 

It’s important to keep in mind that if you’re switching from breast milk to formula (whether exclusively or because you’re combination feeding), this will impact your milk supply and reduce the amount you make¹. This is because your breast milk production works on a (very clever) supply-and-demand basis, so it might be best to wait until breastfeeding is fully established before giving your baby a bottle. That way, you’ll still have the option to combination feed or bottle feed with expressed breast milk.

How long establishing breastfeeding takes is different for everyone, but as a general rule, it can take anywhere between 6-8 weeks to get the hang of it². Remember that it’s a brand new skill that you and your baby will learn together, so give yourself the time you need to get used to latching on and finding the best breastfeeding positions to help you breastfeed effectively³.

There are many reasons why you might be considering introducing a bottle into your baby’s feeding routine. Let’s take a look. 

If you’re getting ready to return to work, you may decide that switching from breast milk to formula is the right thing for you. 

It’s worth knowing, however, that going back to work doesn’t mean that you have to stop breastfeeding your baby, especially if you’re not ready for the journey to end. You can choose to express your breast milk for your baby to have when you’re not there. 

If you’re breastfeeding, your employer is required to provide somewhere suitable for you to rest, but they’re not required to provide a place for you to express and store your milk. However, it’s worth having a conversation with your workplace to see that facilities they can, or are willing, to provide⁴.

You might be experiencing some breastfeeding challenges - concerns about your milk supply, for example, sore, cracked nipples or mastitis. However, if this is the case, support is available to help. Before making any decisions about introducing a bottle or formula feeding, always speak to your doctor or healthcare professional for the advice you need about any challenges that you might be having. 

Whilst most medications are safe to take when breastfeeding, it’s always best to have a chat with your midwife or doctor to be sure.

There’s no reason why you can’t breastfeed an older baby while pregnant or when feeding your new arrival. However, if you’re experiencing pregnancy symptoms, such as tiredness or morning sickness, you might not have the energy to do so. 

You might feel that introducing a bottle to your breastfeeding newborn is one way of involving your partner or other family members with feeding time, as well as helping you to get some well-earned rest! 

There’s a small amount of evidence to suggest introducing a bottle (or even using a dummy) can cause your baby to experience what’s known as ‘nipple confusion’.

This is based on the principle that the sucking technique your baby used to get milk from your breast is very different to the one they use to feed from a bottle.

Breastfeeding is a real skill. Your baby needs to use their mouth, tongue, and jaw to get the milk they need from your breast⁵. Bottle feeding doesn’t tend to require as much hard work or effort, and your baby can get a constant flow of milk much faster. As a result, your baby may become ‘confused’ when switching between the two and have trouble latching onto your breast to feed⁶.

Here’s our step-by-step guide packed with tips and advice from real mums to help get you started.

There are a variety of different teats that you can buy when bottle-feeding your baby. Some are rounded, whilst others are described as ‘natural’ and designed to feel more like the shape of a nipple. Teats are also made from different types of material - usually either silicone or latex.

Bottle teats are available in different flow rates - slow, medium or fast. When transitioning from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding, it’s best to use a bottle nipple with a slow flow, as this will mimic how your breast milk flows. A slow-flow teat will also help your baby more effectively control how much milk they drink⁷.

Be led by your baby, as Sylvie’s mum explains, “I would talk to other mums whose babies were moving onto medium or fast-flow teats as they got older. My daughter showed no sign of wanting to change, she was very content with the slow-flow teat and was putting on weight, so we used that until she started to use a beaker.”

When it comes to choosing the right bottle for your baby, there’s a lot of variety out there. Some mums prefer to use a smaller size when introducing a bottle to their breastfeeding newborn, but there’s no right or wrong here.

When you introduce a bottle to your breastfed baby a bottle for the first time, try doing so with your expressed breast milk. The familiar taste may make the transition a little gentler as your baby gets used to feeding from a bottle. To get your baby’s sucking reflex started, it can also help to express some breastmilk onto the bottle teat to encourage your baby to feed.

Some parents find that paced feeding works well when introducing a bottle to a breastfed baby. 

The paced bottle feeding technique is also known as ‘responsive’ feeding, and gives your little one more control over how they feed, and how much milk they take. It’s similar to the ‘paced’ way your baby would feed from your breast - taking short rests in between drinking small amounts of milk⁸. “Paced feeding worked really well for my baby. I found that my son was more settled, and that feeds were calmer, especially when I took regular breaks to wind him. It certainly stopped him guzzling and not knowing that his eyes were bigger than his little belly!” (Seb’s mum).

To use the paced bottle feeding technique, you might find that doing the following helps⁸:

• Touch the teat of the bottle to your baby’s lips. This will encourage them to feed from it.
• Tip the bottle very slightly (hold it almost horizontally), helping to stop the milk flowing too fast.
• Watch your little one closely for signs that might need a rest from feeding.
• Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t finish their full feed- they’ll let you know when they’ve had enough.

When introducing a bottle to your breastfeeding baby for the first time, it can help to let your partner or someone else that you trust to give the feed. This will mean that they can’t smell your breast milk, which may make them more likely to take the bottle.

Whilst some babies make the transition from breast to bottle relatively easily, others can be a little more reluctant! If you’re dealing with bottle refusal, there are a few things you can try to offer some gentle encouragement.

• Try feeding your baby their milk at different temperatures. Some babies like their milk to be at body temperature, while others don’t mind it being colder or at room temperature.
• Switch up your feeding positions. Be sure to support their head and hold them in a semi-upright position. This will help your baby swallow their milk more easily and breathe more comfortably⁹. You could also try the cradle hold, which keeps your baby close to you.
• Introduce a bottle when your baby is not overly hungry. Your baby will be calmer and less likely to refuse a bottle if they’re not frustrated and eager to be fed.
• Try switching one of your baby’s breastfeeds with a bottle feed until they feel more comfortable drinking from the bottle. This can help with bottle refusal whether you’re switching from breast milk to formula, combination feeding, or bottle feeding with expressed breast milk.
• Distract your baby with a toy or music – if you’re lucky they may not even notice they’re feeding from a bottle and be less likely to refuse it.
• Try wrapping the bottle it in a piece of clothing that you’ve worn. Smelling your scent will help your baby feel more comfortable, especially when being given a bottle feed for the first time.
• If your baby is over six months old, you could avoid bottle refusal altogether by feeding them from a beaker¹⁰. Encourage your baby to use the handles and hold the beaker themselves - another new skill to add to your baby’s list as they grow!

If your baby is still not happy feeding from a bottle, talk to your healthcare professional, or contact our Careline to speak with one of our baby experts. You may feel as though your baby will never take a bottle at feeding time, but rest assured that with a bit of patience and the right support, they’ll soon get the hang of it.

Some mums find that switching one breastfeed at a time until you and your baby are comfortable works well, and it’s entirely up to you which feed you drop first. If your baby is under a year old, you’ll need to replace any dropped breastfeeds with a formula feed or a bottle of expressed breast milk¹¹.

If, for some feeds, you’re switching from breast milk to formula, expressing your breast milk is a very effective way of maintaining your supply¹², giving you the option to combination feed if you want to.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time making it easier for your baby and your body to adjust. This gradual approach will also help to prevent your breasts from becoming too full and engorged and avoid conditions like mastitis¹¹. If you find that your breasts become too full and you’re experiencing any discomfort, try expressing a little breast milk to relieve the pressure.

Switching from breastmilk to formula is a big decision, both physically and emotionally, and it’s not easy to reverse if you change your mind. So make sure that you’re happy with your decision, and if you have any questions, chat them through with your healthcare professional.

Whether you choose to breastfeed or bottle feed, feeding time is a wonderful way to be close and bond with your little one.

Holding your baby close and making eye contact with them as they feed will help them feel safe, secure, and loved. Your baby will also enjoy hearing your voice as they feed and may even respond happily to hearing you sing them a song, too!