I’ve mentioned it numerous times on this site- it is easy to overfeed a baby when bottlefeeding. Bottlefeeding has often been linked to an increased risk of obesity, but it has never been clear as to whether it is what is in the bottle or the delivery method that creates this link between bottlefeeding and obesity. A new study recently published in Pediatrics suggests that it is indeed the delivery method that makes the difference. Read here for a brief overview of the study.

This highlights the fact that bottlefeeding technique is very important and the importance of following your baby’s lead when feeding. Paced bottlefeeding is a technique that can help reduce overfeeding.  You’ll find various links to paced bottlefeeding throughout this site and here’s another one.

Breastfeeding naturally allows a baby to control their intake and take pauses and breaks when needed. It also requires the baby to actively suck to trigger a let-down of milk. Compare this to the constant flow of milk from a bottle, and it is easy to understand how a baby could easily overeat when being bottlefed. When we are aware and knowledgeable, we can limit the risks of bottlefeeding and help our babies to control their own intake.

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