Your baby feeding well makes him or her healthy and attractive. As a parent, that may be one of the things you need to brighten your day.
Every parent or caregiver wants to have an attractive baby that is the darling of everyone, and I’m sure you want the same too.
There is always a limitation to everything in life, and as the saying goes, “too much of everything is bad,” and this comes to mind when your baby drinks bottle too fast.
There are certain reasons your baby drinks bottle too fast, and there are consequences.
In this article, we will be looking at reasons why your baby drinks bottle too fast, how to remedy it, and a lot more.
Baby Drinks Bottle Too Fast
You can only notice that your baby drinks bottle too fast only when you bottle feeds your baby.
Bottle feeding means feeding your baby with a bottle, be it breast milk or formula.
Your baby drinks bottle too fast when your baby gulps down his or her food in lesser time than normal, and when this happens regularly, then you can decipher that your baby is drinking the bottle too fast.
Bottle feedings help to fasten the bond between parent and child by making you feel close to your baby, making your baby feel secure.
What Are The Ideal Feeding Times?
Feeding your baby from a bottle requires adequate time and care because feeding shouldn’t be too fast and shouldn’t be too slow as well.
The faster your baby feeds from her bottle, the more she’s likely to drink. If she drinks her formula too quickly, there’s a risk she may overfeed (that is, drink more milk than he or she needs) and/or ingest large amounts of air.
All these may result in choking and tummy discomfort, or your baby may spit up soon after feeding. If your baby finishes his or her milk too quickly, it could be because the nipple is too fast.
If your baby feeds too slowly, this could be a result of the nipple ring being screwed on too tight or because the nipple is too slow.
All these factors can make feeding less fun and very tiring for the baby, and he may fail to finish his feed or fall asleep before finishing his feed hence resulting in the need for more frequent feeds.
The following guide is recommended the following times to bottle feed your baby.
20 – 40 minutes for 0 to 3 months.
15 – 30 minutes for 3 to 6 months babies.
10 – 20 minutes for babies over 6 months.
The Remedy to Drinking Bottle Too Fast
There are ways to slow down the rate of your baby’s bottle drinking so that it is not fast, and they include
1. Change to a slower flow (lower level) nipple
Changing to a slower flow (lower level) nipple helps your baby increase your baby’s feeding time and reduces the fastness of the feeding session.
If the milk flows a little slower than usual, your baby will not be drinking the bottle too fast, so if you feel your baby is drinking too fast, change to a slower nipple.
2. Take short feeding breaks
Introducing short feeding breaks is a good way to cut down on how fast your baby drinks his bottle.
This involves stopping between feeding sessions to take a break so that your baby’s bottle drinking rate would not be too fast but tally with the recommended 15-20 minutes.
3. Avoid laying your baby on her back during feeding
Another way to remedy how your baby drinks a bottle is to avoid laying your baby on the back during the feeding session.
If your baby is laid on the back during a feeding session, the tendency of milk flowing into your baby’s mouth even when he or she is not sucking is high.
Instead of lying your baby on the back, feed your baby in a near-sitting position so that the bottle is tilted only slightly downward (just enough for the nipple to fill with milk and not air).
This will encourage and help your baby to feed at his or her own pace.
4. Try using a soft nipple
A soft nipple (like Dr. Brown) that aligns with your baby’s mouth and lips will help regulate the rate of your baby’s bottle drinking.
Using this type of nipple will allow milk to flow gradually and slowly so that your baby does not drink the bottle too fast.
There are different bottles and nipples for different ages, so try using the appropriate bottles and nipples.
5. Paced bottle Feeding
If your baby is still drinking his milk too fast, you should try paced bottle feeding.
This will help in slowing the feeding down, and also, it does allow your baby to take control of the speed of the milk and take breaks.
Pace feeding means taking a slower pace that lets your little one take breaks when needed.
Paced bottle feeding also helps curb overfeeding and allows your baby to be in tune with their strong internal hunger and fullness cues.
Paced bottle feeding works with the concept of responsive feeding.
Read Also: How To Store Formula Milk For Night Feeds
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best position to bottle feed my baby?
Your baby should be held in an upright position with only a slight recline, with the bottle held mostly horizontally, tipped only enough to keep milk in the nipples.
The reason is to allow your baby to be in charge of the pace at which milk is drawn from the bottle rather than the milk flowing too fast and making them swallow more air.
You could also use an angled bottle, which naturally allows air to vent out the back.
What bottle should I feed my baby with?
The best kind of bottle is one that has a soft nipple that aligns with your baby’s mouth and lips enabling the prevention of airflow with the milk.
This bottle will allow the milk to flow gradually and slowly, allowing your baby to drink and swallow without gulping excessively.
Can formula cause gas?
Some babies may be food intolerant or may be allergic to any ingredient in the formula.
Also, if you notice a change in your baby’s stool, such as mucous or blood, do not hesitate to consult your baby’s pediatrician about this possibility.
Also, a formula may cause gas, usually when you notice a lot of bubbles or foam while shaking the powder and water together.
This will result in your baby ingesting more air. Allow the bottle to sit in the refrigerator until all bubbles have dispersed.
Usually, baby formulas can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and kept in individual bottles or sachets in the refrigerator, allowing enough time for the bubbles to disperse!
Related Posts:
- When To Switch Nipple Size
- Formulas That Taste Closest To Breast Milk
- Best Formula For Picky Breastfed Babies
- Best Formula For Acid Reflux and Gas
- What To Do With Used Baby Bottles (8 Creative Ideas)
Conclusion
I am sure your question on baby drinks bottle too fast has been answered, and you have seen why your baby drinks bottle too fast.
The nipple and nipple size of your baby’s bottle contributes to the rate of bottle drinking.
If the nipple you are using flows too quickly, then the chances of your baby feeding too fast or drinking the bottle too fast become high.
Also, remember that feeding your baby from a bottle requires adequate time and care because feeding shouldn’t be too fast and shouldn’t be too slow.
Your baby’s bottle-feeding session should last at least 20 minutes but not more than one hour.
There are remedies to your baby drinking bottle too fast such as paced bottle feeding, also avoid lying your baby on the back while feeding, using a slower flow nipple.