Introducing a new born to bottle feeding can prove
to be a really daunting task for most young moms. There are various
aspects one has to keep in consideration like formula preparation,
sanitizing utensils, feeding positions, burping methods and so on. And
all this can be too much to handle for a new mom sometimes. As such,
here's step-by-step information about how to successfully bottle-feed
your little one.
First before you begin to bottle feed your baby, ensure that the
bottle, teat and other accessories are squeaky clean. After you have
washed the bottle feeding utensils with a good dishwashing detergent,
keep them in boiling water for about 15 minutes to kill the germs. After
this, you can fill the baby bottle with the prepared formula or milk.
Next, place the filled baby bottle in a pan with water, which is brought
to a gentle boil for 25 minutes.
Whichever formula you choose to bottle feed your baby with, be sure to
correctly read the manufacturer's directions as to how you should
prepare it. If by accident you add extra water to the formula, your baby
will not get the needed calories. Too little water again is not
suggested. Always use boiled water to prepare the formula for bottle
feeding your breastfed baby. Incase you are preparing the formula
beforehand, store it in the fridge.
A refrigerated formula should always be warmed before being fed to a
baby in a feeding bottle. Most infants like the formula at room
temperature. So check out for the right temperature of the formula by
putting few drops on the inside of your wrist first. Avoid using
microwave ovens for heating bottles as it can overheat the milk in the
center of the container. Then place your baby in the feeding position.
Cradle her in a semi-upright position and support her head.
Take note of how much formula your baby is gulping from the feeding
bottle. The suggested formula quantity for the baby in the initial few
weeks is between two and four ounces per feeding session. Though during
the first few days, he or she will drink even less than an ounce and so
will probably be hungry after every two to four hours. Try not to
forcefully feed your baby. Instead, feeding the baby with a bottle every
time he /she feels hungry. Also do not forget to make your baby burp in
the end.
