Introducing Bottle-Feedings to Your Breastfed Baby

Even if you’ve decided to breastfeed, chances are that at some point you’ll want to make the bottle a part of your baby’s feeding routine. After you’ve been breastfeeding regularly and well, you can introduce the first bottle when baby is about 4 weeks old. After that, an occasional bottle-feeding can help your baby get used to feeding from a bottle.

There are many reasons why bottle-feeding may make sense for you. Maybe you’re going back to work or you want other family members to help with feeding. Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t take a bottle easily from the start. It may take a little trial and error before your baby accepts a bottle, but we’re here to help!

Review our tips and considerations below before you get started. 

Ease into the formula introduction

Try to ease into bottle-feeding since this can make it easier for your baby to adjust. It’s also okay to alternate between breastfeeding (or breast milk in a bottle) and formula. You may find that your baby prefers one or the other, but many babies like both.

Can formula be mixed with breast milk?

If needed, to help your baby accept formula, you can mix breast milk and prepared formula in the same bottle. Just make sure that you follow the formula mixing instructions and add the appropriate amount of water to make formula from powder or concentrated liquid before you mix with breast milk.

You can then gradually increase the amount of formula you add to the bottle. As you add more formula to your baby’s diet, you may notice some changes in your baby’s stool.

See our Diaper Decoder for answers to questions you may have about your baby’s stools.

Pump up your milk supply

Sometimes transitioning from breastfeeding to bottle-feeding means you’re transitioning your baby from breast milk to formula. But if you still want to feed with breast milk, make sure to continue pumping. The more frequently you pump with complete milk removal, the more milk you’re likely to make.

Make a plan

If you’ll be away from your baby for a short amount of time, pump before you go to have a bottle ready for your baby to drink when you’re not there and to help keep you comfortable.

Pass it on

If you’re trying to transition from breastfeeding, let family members help! Give close relatives and friends a chance to bottle-feed baby. It’s also good for your little one to feel comfortable being fed by others.

Try Similac^® 360 Total Care^® Ready-to-Feed baby formula. It’s premixed and comes in 32-fl-oz bottles as well as convenient, portable 2- and 8-fl-oz bottles for baby’s changing formula intake.

See how baby responds

If you’re introducing a new formula, there will be some changes that are normal, like changes in stool color, frequency, and odor. Look for any tolerance issues: If you have any concerns, check with your baby’s doctor, as there are different formulas for different needs like food allergies and sensitive tummies.

Is there a best way to introduce formula?

Check with your baby’s doctor on the best formula for your baby. They may recommend a standard, milk-based infant formula, like Similac^® 360 Total Care^®. If your baby seems to need a different formula, consider talking with your baby’s pediatrician about Similac^® 360 Total Care^® Sensitive or Similac Pro-Total Comfort^®.

As for milk temperatures, some babies like their formula warm, as it would be from the breast. Other babies are fine with milk at room temperature or straight from the fridge.

For more tips on choosing the right formula, the right bottle, and making a bottle, see our section on Formula Feeding.

Once you have your feeding schedule figured out at home, it may need a few adjustments when going back to work. If you want to continue feeding with breast milk, you can make plans to pump while you’re at work.

• Start making changes at least 2 weeks in advance to give yourself some peace of mind—and to give baby time to adjust to a new feeding routine. If being at work means you will miss 2 feedings a day, start by giving your baby a bottle once a day.

• Give your baby a full week to get used to the single bottle-feeding, and then move on to 2 bottles per day. This will also help your breasts adjust more gradually if you'll be supplementing with formula instead of pumping and feeding breast milk.

• Have someone else give your baby a bottle of either breast milk or formula. Your baby knows your scent and may expect breastfeeding if they sense your presence, so it can help to have another person feed them bottles at first.

• If you want to use breast milk whenever you can, pump between breastfeeding. About a month before returning to work, many moms will express milk 1-2 times per day in between breastfeeding sessions.This will help build up a supply for day care or anyone else taking care of baby. Remember, you can freeze breast milk in clean bottles with secure caps or in pre-sterilized bags meant for breast milk.

• If you are supplementing with formula, you can help your baby get used to formula feedings by giving them formula mixed with breast milk. Not all babies will need this gradual introduction to formula. When mixing breast milk and formula, make sure to add the required amount of water to make formula from powder or concentrated liquid before you mix with breast milk. You can also alternate feeding with formula and then breast milk.

When it comes to feeding routines, remember that every baby is different. Some may take more time to adjust to a change than others. We hope these feeding tips help you find a formula and comfortable feeding routine for your little one.

To learn more about feeding, check out our Breastfeeding & Supplementing Basics.