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Using a bottle to give expressed milk

If you plan to use a bottle to give your baby expressed breast milk, use a bottle teat that allows the milk to flow out slowly.

This will help your baby to pace the feed and control the amount of milk they take.

You could also use a feeder cup or a spoon to feed your baby expressed milk.

A child holding a feeder cup.
You can use a feeder cup to give your child expressed milk.

How to give a paced bottle feed

Paced bottle-feeding

Expressing occasionally for a feed

Some mothers express milk from 1 breast while feeding their baby on the other. This can be helpful when expressing milk occasionally for a healthy baby.

You may also choose to express immediately after a feed or when you have a good supply. For example, early morning.

Some mothers just express whenever they have time to do so. Many workplaces have an area for breastfeeding or expressing milk during work hours.

Your baby will probably not drink the same amount of milk at each feeding. Watch your baby for cues and do not force them to finish the bottle if they do not want to. It's important to encourage responsive feeding when bottle feeding your baby.

Responsive bottle-feeding

Managing your milk supply when expressing

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Page last reviewed: 11 November 2025
Next review due: 11 November 2028