The original questioner talked about a breastfed baby, but one that was also
receiving breastmilk via bottle while mother was working.  It seems to me
that a baby fed via bottle (even breastmilk) can be overfed for the same
reasons that a baby fed formula can be.  The milk in a bottle must be
swallowed as it drips out whether or not baby sucks.  Baby needs to either
swallow or drown in it!  Baby can't regulate whether he wants just a little
"sucking time" as I call it or he wants a full milk feeding when he takes his
milk in a bottle.  The bottle does not give foremilk first if the baby is
merely thirsty as the breast can do.  There is no "non nutritive sucking" on
a bottle (even thought I think all suckling at breast is nutritive, but
certainly there are nursings which are short and "fluttery" and don't give
gigantic quantities of milk- because the baby *knows* how to nurse to get
only what he needs, especially a baby over a few months old).  A baby who
takes a bottle of breastmilk before napping also may take in more food than
he would if nursing to sleep at the breast.
  Bottom line is:  some caregivers will overfeed a baby with a bottle!
Also, once a baby starts to hold his own bottle, it is super easy to give him
one whenever he is fussy whether he really needs to eat or not.  If he is not
being given the cuddles and hugs of breastfeeding, he may really start to
"attach" to the bottle and drink from it long after his hunger/thirst is
satisfied.
  A breastfed baby who is receiving solids can be overfed if the mom forces
it (I have seen it happen) or if the baby's food choices are poor (potato
chips and icecream instead of fresh, natural solids would make anyone fat!)

Lisa Jones, LLLL in Wellington FL- caregiver to a formula fed 18 month old
who walks around with a bottle hanging out of her mouth (but not at *my
house*!)

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