When it comes to feeding babies, parents are often flooded with conflicting advice. Experts, including lactation consultants, typically recommend parents wait four to six weeks before introducing a bottle to ensure breastfeeding is well established first. But according to Jess Draper and Kelsey Baker, two highly credentialed infant feeding professionals, waiting might actually make feeding harder in the long run.

In a conversation with the mōmi team, these experts shared their clinical insights on why earlier bottle introduction is often a better approach, and how to introduce the bottle so that parents can meet their long-term feeding goals.

meet the experts

• Kelsey Baker is a holistic pediatric occupational therapist and certified lactation counselor based in Philadelphia. She is the founder of B.well tots.
• Jess Draper of Hali’a Therapeutics is a holistic infant and toddler occupational therapist, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and a pelvic floor therapist based in Eugene, Oregon

why waiting too long can backfire

Many professionals advise waiting 4–6 weeks to introduce a bottle to avoid disrupting breastfeeding. Jess and Kelsey, however, see a pattern: waiting that long can actually lead to increased feeding challenges, especially when a parent is returning to work.

"Babies who haven't had the opportunity to be exposed to the bottle until later on may find the texture unfamiliar and lack the skills required for bottle feeding," "Babies who haven't had the opportunity to be exposed to the bottle until later on may find the texture unfamiliar and lack the skills required for bottle feeding," Jess explains.

Kelsey agrees:

"If we wait too long, we may have too much reliance on the breast. Introducing early and often helps sustain that motor skill."

early bottle feeding as preventive support

Choosing the right bottle and flow rate is a critical part of this early introduction strategy. When selected thoughtfully, these feeding tools can protect the breastfeeding relationship rather than disrupt it.

Bottles that mimic the mechanics of breastfeeding—requiring babies to create suction, flange their lips, and coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing—help reinforce the same skills used at the breast. Likewise, using a slower, developmentally appropriate flow rate ensures that babies don’t develop a preference for faster, easier feeds that bypass the oral motor effort required at the breast.

Kelsey and Jess emphasize that this alignment between bottle and breast promotes continuity in the baby's feeding experience. Instead of seeing bottle and breast as two separate skill sets, babies learn to adapt and thrive in both, without compromising their ability to return to the breast.

By introducing the bottle around three to four weeks—or even earlier if breastfeeding is painful or complicated—parents can help babies build a skillset that makes feeding more adaptable.

Kelsey clarifies:

"Introducing a bottle doesn’t mean replacing a feed [at the breast]," Kelsey clarifies. "It can be a skill introduction, like an activity. Maybe it’s half an ounce or an ounce in a mindful, side-lying, paced way."

This reinforces positive associations with the bottle without interfering with breastfeeding success.

building oral motor skills

Jess emphasizes that babies require different mechanics to feed at the breast versus a conventional bottle.

"We're looking at whole-body function—jaw development, tongue motion, and reflex integration," she says. "When we delay bottle introduction, we're sometimes forcing babies to learn new feeding skills under pressure, right when a parent is returning to work."

Oral motor skills (the function and coordination of jaw, tongue, lips and cheeks) are essential not only for feeding but also for future developmental milestones like speech, chewing solid foods, and proper airway development. Introducing a bottle earlier, especially one that supports proper oral function, can help reinforce these skills before problematic patterns emerge.

Kelsey elaborates:

"When babies use a bottle that promotes proper lip flanging, jaw engagement, and tongue cupping, they’re essentially getting a workout for the muscles they’ll need later in life. This early development of neuromuscular coordination supports better outcomes for eating, breathing, and even sleeping."

Some bottles, like the mōmi, are specifically designed to encourage these mechanics. Unlike conventional bottles that reward ineffective or compensatory patterns like chomping, mōmi requires the baby to engage natural sucking and swallowing behaviors. This not only supports oral strength but also helps prevent dysfunction.

Jess explains further:

"When we see babies who struggle with transitioning between breast and bottle, or who gag on longer nipples, it’s often a sign that their oral skills haven't been fully developed or integrated," says Jess. "Early exposure allows us to build those skills more gradually and confidently."

Kelsey reminds parents that feeding is about much more than calories:

"Feeding is never just about nutrition," says Kelsey. "It’s about developing the foundations of airway, jaw strength, and gut function. When babies use proper oral mechanics, their whole facial structure and nervous system benefit."

The way a baby feeds in the early months sets the tone for their future development. Poor oral habits, if left unaddressed, can contribute to issues like speech delays, sleep-disordered breathing, and even digestive troubles. A thoughtful bottle-feeding strategy—introduced at the right time with professional guidance—can make a world of difference.

Jess sums it up: "We're not just feeding babies. We're shaping their development."

Frequently Asked Questions About Bottle Introduction 

• When should I introduce a bottle to my breastfed baby? Most traditional advice suggests waiting 4–6 weeks, but many infant feeding experts—including occupational therapists and IBCLCs—recommend introducing a bottle earlier, around 3–4 weeks. This timing allows breastfeeding to establish while also preventing bottle refusal later.
  
• Will giving a bottle too early cause nipple confusion? Research and clinical experience suggest that babies aren’t confused about bottle versus breast. They're very adaptable, but often inclined to develop a preference for one feeding method over another. Using a bottle that mimics breastfeeding mechanics, along with paced, side-lying feeds, helps babies switch between breast and bottle without problems.
• What kind of bottle is best for breastfed babies? Choose a bottle that requires suction, lip flanging, and coordinated sucking and swallowing—similar to breastfeeding. A slow flow nipple is also important. The mōmi bottle won the 2025 Bottle Innovation of the Year for its patented design, which promotes these natural oral motor skills and reduces the risk of feeding difficulties.
• How much should I give when first introducing a bottle? Experts recommend starting small. As Kelsey Baker says, “Introducing a bottle doesn’t mean replacing a feed [at the breast]. It can be a skill introduction, like an activity. Maybe it’s half an ounce or an ounce in a mindful, sidelying, paced way.”