Bottle-feeding in hospital 

It’s important to know that not all NHS maternity units have accessibility to infant formula milk and bottle feeding equipment¹. So, if you’ve decided to formula feed, then you’ll need to check whether you’re required to bring your own supplies, including first infant formula milk and newborn bottles.

You’ll have plenty of opportunities to ask your midwife any questions you may have about bottle feeding in hospital after birth at your antenatal appointments. You might also want to ask about the type of facilities your hospital or maternity unit has, to ensure that you can properly sterilise your baby’s feeding equipment and safely prepare their bottle feeds.

If you intend on bottle feeding in hospital, be prepared to bring your formula milk of choice along with you. Remember that you should only use first infant formula (also known as first milk) to feed your newborn.

Whilst infant formula milk comes in a variety of different formats, it’s advisable to bring at least one starter pack of ready-to-feed liquid infant formula, which contains six bottles and six teats². This is because there’s no guarantee that your hospital will have the facilities needed to sterilise newborn bottles or properly store larger cartons of opened ready-to-feed formula milk or powdered formula¹.

Bear in mind that there’s no way to know exactly how long you’ll need to stay in hospital after the birth of your baby, so it’s a good idea to have a family member or friend on hand to bring you more baby formula if required.

You’ll find some more general advice about what to pack in your hospital bag, along with a downloadable handy checklist, here.  

Starter packs of first infant formula milk are very easy to use for infant feeding as they’re sterile, single use and disposable. They’re available, along with other infant feeding products, at most supermarkets. Read the preparation instructions on the pack very carefully, to ensure that you’re feeding your baby safely.

Some – but not all – hospitals will teach you how to make up your baby’s first bottle-feed. If they do, take the opportunity to ask any questions you might have so that you can feel confident when it comes to sterilising bottles and preparing feeds at home.

Using the right teat for newborn bottles, or any baby feeding bottles for that matter, is very important. When it comes to bottle-feeding, it’s not a case of one teat fits all. Every baby is different, and you may need to use different bottles and teats until you find one your baby is happy with. Always check that you’re using the right flow teat for your baby’s age, and that the hole isn’t too big. This will make it easier for your baby to control the flow of milk and avoid them drinking too quickly³.

Keep in mind that every baby is different, and you may need to use different bottles and teats until you find one your baby is happy with. Your midwife or the baby feeding advisors at the hospital can advise you on the most suitable teat for your baby.

Your baby’s needs change constantly as they develop, so bear in mind that you might need to change bottles and teats during your baby’s feeding journey to ensure that they continue to feed comfortably.

You can learn more about the quantity and frequency of your baby’s feed here. At the end of the day, however you decide to feed your baby, it is important to feed them using responsive feeding. Responsive feeding, recommended by health professionals, is when you feed your baby on demand, meaning that you feed them when they’re hungry, rather than follow a feeding schedule⁴.  

Keeping your baby close and having skin to skin contact after birth is a wonderful way to bond with them and make them feel safe, secure and calm⁵.

If you’re bottle feeding, UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative offers some very helpful guidance on responsive bottle feeding, which means following your baby’s signs of hunger and feeding them in response to their cues. For example, when they’re moving their head and mouth around, or sucking on their fingers⁶. 

In some circumstances, you may want to express your breast milk whilst you’re still in hospital. If your baby was born early for example or needs some additional medical care after the birth. Many hospitals have breast pumps available for you to use. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to hire a breast pump from a breastfeeding area local to your area⁷.

As always, your midwife or healthcare professional will be able to discuss the options available to you and provide the support you need.