Bottle-feeding as a tool to reinforce breastfeeding.

Babies may need supplementation due to difficulty breastfeeding. Others must be fed by alternative feeding methods because they are separated from mothers who have returned to employment or school. Recognizing that mothers and caregivers are often not comfortable using other alternative feeding devices, the author endeavored to develop a method of bottle-feeding that would meet the needs of these mothers and their babies without causing suck confusion. The resulting bottle-feeding method requires babies to expend effort and use their oral anatomy in ways very similar to breastfeeding.