0mo–11mo7 minMealtimeSelf-careFamily time

Hands-on Bottle Helper

A feeding-time support routine to encourage your child to gradually share control of the bottle with you, practising arm and hand coordination safely.

What you'll need

Essentials

your child's usual bottle (as part of normal feeding)
burp cloth or small towel

Nice to have

small pillow or rolled towel (to support your arm while holding)

Movement level: false

What you'll do

The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.

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What this develops

What it practices

Makes movements with arms and legs which gradually become more controlled.
Observable behaviour from Development Matters

Where it comes from

Framework: Early Years Foundation Stage (England)
Source: Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
Original guidance: “Encourage young babies in their efforts to gradually share control of the bottle with you.”
License: Open Government Licence v3.0