Giving the new baby a bottle of breast milk is a great way to encourage an older sibling to help out and be involved. Younger children will not typically have a long attention span and will just want to see what it feels like.  Older children may want to be responsible for an entire feeding and can really play a significant role in feeding the baby.  It makes them feel needed and can give you a little break.  Here are some tips:

If your older child is still young and unable to hold the baby alone, (up to approximately age 10) stay very close and keep your hands on the baby.  Help them feel as though they are doing the feeding themselves, even though you are there as the safety net. 

If your child is older and able to hold the baby alone, stay close by in the room in the beginning in case you are needed.  

If your child really wants to help out on a regular basis, make sure to demonstrate the proper way to hold the baby, the upright hold of the bottle, how to make eye contact with the baby while feeding, and the best burping techniques for your baby.  Help them understand that burping the baby is as important as feeding the baby.

While feeding the baby, older children may have questions about the way they were fed and cared for as an infant.  This can be a very nice opening for some enjoyable memories that will put your older child in the spotlight.

Health Alert:

Do not ever prop a bottle or leave a baby alone holding a bottle. Somebody should always be holding a bottle for the baby. Cuddle your baby and make eye contact while bottle feeding.