Methods to bottle feed your baby

Unsupported way

This picture shows that I am supporting all of my baby’s weight with one arm.

• Most of his weight is in my wrist, hand and shoulder. Not a great position to hold for minutes at a time, creating a lot of stress and tension in the shoulder, arm, hand and wrist

  Tip: Feeding a baby in a supported position outdoors can be a challenge. Bringing pillow(s) to support your arms and baby can help. The type of pillow you chose you use is very subjective. The important thing to remember is to use a pillow(s) that raises your baby to a height that keeps your back straight and shoulders relaxed during feeding. Another alternative is to use the Tushbaby for extra support.

Supported way

These three pictures show the setup that I had on my couch to feed my baby. This method was key to my healing process because I did not need to hold him while feeding him.

• I used the boppy pillow plus a small pillow to support his back and head, which he found very comfortable.

• In order to alleviate stress and tension in your back, arms, hands and wrists:

  • Hold the baby bottle in different hand grip positions

  • Alternate which hand you use to hold the bottle

  • Alternate the position you are sitting in while feeding ex. in front, to the side etc.

Methods to burp your baby

Typical Method: Burping baby over your shoulder unsupported

This is the most common method I’ve seen new parents do. It’s a good method to burp your baby, but not the most ergonomic for these reasons:

• All of the baby’s weight is being supported by one arm (which is unsupported)

• Many people favor resting baby’s head to the same shoulder, which can cause tension in your neck

• Many people favor using the same arms - one for holding baby and one for patting baby’s back. Putting repetitive stress on the same joints, tendons and muscles in your neck, arms, wrists and hands

This method will give your neck, hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and back a rest.

• Try sitting and putting pillows underneath baby’s bottom to raise up baby so his or her head is above your shoulder and baby’s weight is being supported by the pillows.

• Alternate which shoulder you rest your baby’s head on to prevent always tilting your head to the same side and always using the same arm to pat baby’s back

• Relax your arms, shoulders and back while gently holding and burping baby - let the pillows support your baby.