Bottle feeding your baby

What is responsive bottle feeding?  

Feeding on demand or responsive feeding means tuning in to your baby’s cues, knowing when they’re hungry and when they’ve had enough. Rather than feeding them on a schedule you try to feed them when they show you they’re getting hungry.  

Signs your baby is hungry:  

• Smacking or licking their lips.  

• Opening mouth or turning their head.  

• Wriggling or sucking their fists.  

Crying is often a late sign of hunger, feeding earlier can make things calmer for both of you.  

By responding to your baby’s natural rhythms, you help them:  

• Feel safe and cared for.  

• Learn to self-regulate their appetite and build healthy eating habits from day one.

How to bottle feed your baby   

Bottle feeding can be a calming, bonding experience, for you and your baby.  

Here’s how to do it in a responsive, baby-led way: 

• Hold your baby semi-upright and close so they can see your face.  

• Invite them to feed by gently touching the teat to their top lip.  

• Keep the bottle horizontal so the milk flows slowly.  

• Let them pause and take breaks, this is called paced feeding.  

• Watch for signs they’re full (slowing down, turning away, or pushing the bottle away).  

• A slow-flow teat can help by making the milk come out more gently and steadily. 

Most formula milks in the UK have very similar ingredients, so buy the one that is easily available in your local shops and affordable. 

Top tips:  

• Try switching the side you hold your baby on during each feed. It supports healthy eye development and gives them a new perspective each time.    

• Talk to your baby, it helps with bonding and language.  

• Let them feed at their own pace to reduce the risk of overfeeding.  

• After your baby has fed, hold them upright and gently pat and rub their back to help bring up any wind. 

Bottle feeding safely 

If you're using bottles, it’s important to keep bottles and equipment clean. 

Sterilise all your baby's feeding equipment, including bottles and teats, until they're at least 12 months old. There’s information on sterilising baby bottles on the NHS website.

Formula feeding safety 

• Fresh water should always be used when boiling a kettle to make formula. 

• Make sure you use the right amount of powder to water, never water down feeds or add more formula powder. Too much water may mean there are not enough calories in the milk for your baby. Too much formula powder can make them constipated. 

• Always prepare feeds fresh, never store leftover milk. 

• Sterilise all bottles and equipment before every feed. 

• Add the water to the bottle, while it is still hot, before adding the powder. You should always follow the safety instructions on the formula packaging. 

• The only formula milk you need to buy is 'first milk suitable from birth'. You can give this to your baby right up to a year old 

• Never reheat formula and avoid using a microwave to heat water or milk, as it may heat unevenly and cause burns.

• Never leave your baby alone with a bottle or use something to prop up a bottle, this can increase the risk of choking. 

If you need more help with bottle feeding

• Speak to your midwife, health visitor, or doctor – they are there to help you. 

• There’s lots of information on bottle feeding on the NHS website.

• For detailed information on how to make up formula milk check: How to make up baby formula - NHS. 

All of the information on this page was created with practising health professionals. This page was reviewed in December 2025. We will next review the page in 2028.