Whether you’re feeding at the breast directly, exclusively pumping, or doing a combo of both, introducing a bottle can feel like a whole new skill set. Paced bottle feeding is a simple, baby-friendly way to give breast milk by bottle that mimics the flow and rhythm of nursing. It helps reduce over-feeding, supports better digestion, and keeps your baby calm and connected — especially important when you’re trying to balance feeding at the breast and pumping.
Let’s break down what paced bottle feeding is, why it’s so great when giving breast milk by bottle, how to do it step-by-step, and how it can help prevent flow confusion, notice I didn't say nipple confusion!
What Is Paced Bottle Feeding?
Paced bottle feeding is a method designed to slow down the flow of milk from a bottle so that baby feeds at a pace that feels more like feeding at the breast. Instead of tipping the bottle and letting milk pour in, you pace the feed so baby controls the rhythm.
THIS MEANS:
They suck when they want.
They pause to breathe.
They stop when they’re full.
They don’t get overwhelmed by fast milk flow.
It’s especially helpful for babies whom feed directly at the breast, because traditional bottle feeding often delivers milk faster than when baby works for a let down at the breast.
Why at Breast & Pumping Moms Love Paced Feeding
If you’re pumping — occasionally or exclusively — and your baby takes bottles of expressed milk, paced bottle feeding can help:
• Maintain a nursing-like rhythm so your baby doesn’t prefer the faster bottle flow
• Reduce spit-up, fussiness, and gas
• Support baby-led feeding cues (just like at the breast)
• Help your baby transition back and forth between breast and bottle
• Preserve the breastfeeding relationship, especially if you plan to transition back to the breast — check out How to Transition from Exclusive Pumping to Direct Breastfeeding for more on that topic.
'Nipple Confusion' & Paced Feeding
One of the concerns many at breast moms have is 'nipple confusion' — the idea that a baby might have difficulty switching between breast and bottle because the bottle delivers milk differently.
Nipple confusion is not confusion at all, it is a flow preference. Let's be real, babies are smart little beings and like us, want the work to come easily. They may soon realize that bottles are more instant gratification when compared to working for Mom's let-down.
That’s where paced bottle feeding can be so helpful!
Because paced feeding slows down milk delivery and makes bottle feeds look a lot more like nursing — with pauses, breaks, and baby-led rhythm — babies are less likely to develop a strong preference for the bottle.
I talk all about this in Tired Moms Club Podcast Episode 10 - Nipple Confusion and Flow, where I cover real-world tips for flow control, baby cues, and how to keep your breastfeeding relationship strong even when bottles are in the mix.
Not sure which bottle is best to use? I've got a few favorites. Check out my list of Preferred Bottles—I’ve already done the testing for you.
My absolute favorite bottles:
How to Do Paced Bottle Feeding
Here’s straightforward steps on how to do it:
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Choose a slow flow nipple.
This helps mimic the milk speed at the breast and gives baby time to pace.
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Hold baby semi-upright.
Support baby with their head slightly higher than their tummy, similar to how you’d hold them during a nursing session.
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Tip the bottle just enough.
Let just a drop of milk sit at the nipple — don’t fill the baby’s mouth with milk. Keep the bottle horizontal or only slightly tilted.
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Let baby suck, then rest.
Start by offering the nipple; when baby sucks 1–2 times, pause briefly and let baby breathe and swallow before offering more.
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Gently let milk come only as baby cues.
If baby isn’t sucking, don’t tip milk into their mouth. Allow them to lead the pace.
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Pause often.
After a few sucks, lower the bottle or take it gently out of their mouth for a rest — like a natural break in nursing.
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Watch cues for hunger vs fullness.
If baby turns away, slows sucking, or becomes distracted — that usually means they’re done or need a break.
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Switch sides (optional).
Just like you might switch breasts, you can gently offer the other side of the bottle — but don’t push it; follow baby’s cues.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Using a fast flow nipple — this can defeats the purpose of paced feeding and can cause fussiness.
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Tipping the bottle too high — overwhelms baby and can create gulping.
- Rushing the feed — nudging baby back to the nipple or skipping natural pauses can make baby resist the breast later.
At the end of the day, paced bottle feeding is going to help allow baby to more easily switch between bottle and boob. More importantly, they will likely be more comfortable pacing their feedings. Choosing a slow flow nipple is the first place I would recommend starting, if you find you have a faster let-down and baby is becoming fussy at the the bottle, don't be afraid to increase the flow. The main objective while paced bottle feeding is to help mimic feedings at both the breast and bottle as similarly as possible!
