Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
Yes, you can use a feeding bottle for a newborn from the first day, whether you are giving expressed breast milk, formula or both. What keeps it safe is clean equipment, a slow and responsive way of feeding, and watching how your baby is doing over the following weeks. Pacifiers are a separate question, and the answer there depends mostly on timing.
Keep every part of the bottle clean
Cleaning matters more than which bottle you buy. The NHS guide to sterilising baby bottles advises sterilising all feeding equipment, including bottles and teats, until your baby is at least 12 months old, because this protects against infections such as diarrhoea and vomiting.
- Wash bottles, teats and lids in hot, soapy water as soon as you can after each feed, then rinse them under cold running water.
- Sterilise afterwards. Cold water sterilising solution needs at least 30 minutes, with a fresh solution every 24 hours. Steam sterilisers need the maker's instructions. Boiling needs at least 10 minutes with everything fully under water.
- Boiling wears teats out faster, so check them for tears or cracks and replace any that are damaged.
- Leave sterilised items in the steriliser until you need them. If you take them out, wash your hands first and put the teats and lids on straight away.
In many Indian homes a steel pan on the gas stove is the simplest steriliser. That works well as long as you time the full 10 minutes and keep the pan clean and covered.
How to give a bottle to a newborn
The NHS bottle feeding advice describes a calm, baby led way of feeding:
- Hold your baby close in a semi upright position, with the head supported so they can breathe and swallow comfortably.
- Brush the teat against the lips and let your baby draw it into the mouth rather than pushing it in.
- Tilt the bottle just enough to keep the teat full of milk, which cuts down on swallowed air.
- Let your baby set the pace. Babies often take short breaks during a feed and may need to burp.
- Follow your baby's lead on how much they take. There is no need to finish the bottle.
- Throw away any milk left in the bottle after the feed and make up one feed at a time.
Never prop a bottle on a pillow or leave your baby alone with one, because of the risk of choking. If the teat flattens, gently pull the corner of your baby's mouth to release the suction. Check that the hole in the teat is not too big, because drinking milk too quickly can make a baby sick.
Many families in India share night feeds with a grandparent or partner. A bottle makes that possible, and it is worth showing everyone who feeds the baby this same slow, upright method. Feeding bottles in newborn sizes with slow flow teats are in our feeding bottles and accessories collection.
Breastfeeding and bottle feeding together
Combining the two is common, for example when a mother returns to work or wants someone else to manage one feed. If you are worried that bottles are affecting your milk supply or your baby's latch, a lactation consultant or your paediatrician can help you plan the balance.
Should a newborn have a pacifier?
A pacifier (dummy or soother) is neither good nor bad in itself. Babies like to suck for comfort as well as for food, and a pacifier can help some settle. It should never replace a feed when your baby is hungry.
The Lullaby Trust, a UK charity focused on safer baby sleep, explains in its guidance on dummies that some research suggests a dummy at sleep times may lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, although the reason is not known. Its advice:
- If you are breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is well established, usually around four weeks, before offering one.
- If you use a dummy, offer it for every sleep rather than only now and then.
- Do not force it if your baby does not want it, and do not put it back in if it falls out during sleep.
- Never coat it in honey or anything sweet.
- Plan to wean your baby off it gently between six and 12 months, as longer use is linked with problems such as misaligned teeth and ear infections.
Treat a pacifier like any other feeding item: keep it clean, and replace it if the teat is torn or sticky.
When to speak to your doctor
Steady weight gain and plenty of wet and dirty nappies are good signs that feeding is going well. The NHS advises speaking to your doctor (in India, usually your paediatrician) if:
- your baby is sick often, or is sick forcefully
- your baby seems to be in pain during or after feeds
- a baby under 8 weeks has not had a poo for 2 to 3 days, especially if weight gain is slow
Also follow the instructions on the formula tin exactly. The NHS warns that adding extra powder can cause constipation and dehydration.
This article is general information and does not replace advice from your doctor.
