Best position to bottle feed baby
Bottle feeding advice - NHS
If you're planning to bottle feed with expressed breast milk or infant formula, these tips will help you feed your baby and keep them safe and healthy.
If you decide to use infant formula, first infant formula (first milk) should always be the first formula you give your baby. You can use it throughout the first year.
Buying bottle feeding equipment
You'll need several bottles, teats and a bottle brush, as well as sterilising equipment, such as a cold-water steriliser, microwave or steam steriliser.
There's no evidence that 1 type of teat or bottle is better than any other. Simple bottles that are easy to wash and sterilise are probably best.
Making up bottles for your baby
Make sure you sterilise bottles and teats until your baby is at least 12 months old. Wash your hands thoroughly before handling sterilised bottle and teats.
If you're using infant formula, follow the instructions on the packaging carefully when you make up the feed.
See how to make up baby formula.
How to bottle feed your baby
Bottle feeding is a chance to feel close to your baby and get to know and bond with them. Babies will feel more secure if most feeds are given by you, your partner or their main caregiver.
Make sure you're sitting comfortably with your baby close to you. Enjoy holding your baby, look into their eyes and talk to them as you feed them.
Hold your baby in a semi-upright position for bottle feeds. Support their head so they can breathe and swallow comfortably.
Brush the teat against your baby's lips and when they open their mouth wide let them draw in the teat.
Always give your baby plenty of time to feed.
Do not leave your baby alone
Never leave your baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle as they may choke on the milk.
Keep the bottle horizontal
Gently place the teat into the baby’s mouth. Keep the bottle in a horizontal position (just slightly tipped). This will allow the milk to flow steadily and help prevent your baby from taking in air.
If the teat goes flat while you're feeding, pull gently on the corner of your baby's mouth to release the suction.
If the teat gets blocked, replace it with another sterile teat.
Be guided by your baby
All babies are different. Your baby will know how much milk they need. Some want to feed more often than others. Just follow your baby's lead.
Feed your baby when they seem hungry and do not worry if they do not finish the bottle.
Winding your baby
Your baby may take short breaks during a feed and may sometimes need to burp.
When your baby has had enough milk, hold them upright and gently rub or pat their back to bring up any wind.
Throw away unused milk
Throw away any unused formula or breast milk after you've finished bottle feeding your baby.
Only make up the feed when needed – one feed at a time.
Help with bottle feeding
Talk to your midwife, health visitor or other mothers who have bottle fed if you need help and support.
You'll find the phone number for your health visitor in your baby's personal health record (red book).
Your questions about bottle feeding
Why if my baby does not settle after feeds?
If your baby swallows air while bottle feeding, they may feel uncomfortable and cry.
After a feed, hold your baby upright against your shoulder or propped forward on your lap. Gently rub their back so any trapped air can find its way out.
Your baby may sometimes only burp up a small amount of air.
Why is my baby sometimes sick after feeds?
It's normal for babies to bring up a little milk during or just after a feed. This is called possetting, regurgitation or reflux.
Keep a muslin square handy just in case.
Check that the hole in your baby's teat is not too big. Drinking milk too quickly can make your baby sick.
Do not force them to take more milk than they want during a feed. This may be distressing for your baby and can lead to overfeeding.
Sitting your baby upright on your lap after a feed may help.
If it happens a lot, or your baby is violently sick, seems to be in pain or you're worried for any other reason, talk to your health visitor or GP.
Can formula make my baby constipated?
When using formula, always use the amount of powder recommended on the packaging.
Do not add extra formula powder. Using too much can make your baby constipated and may cause dehydration.
If your baby is under 8 weeks old and has not done a poo for 2 to 3 days, talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP, particularly if your baby is gaining weight slowly.
Your baby should be gaining weight and have plenty of wet and dirty nappies.
Infant formula and allergies
If you think your baby might be allergic to or intolerant of formula, talk to your GP. If necessary, they can prescribe a special formula feed.
Some formula is labelled as hypoallergenic, but this is not suitable for babies with a diagnosed cows' milk allergy.
Soya formula should only be given to babies under medical supervision.
Always talk to your GP before using hypoallergenic or soya-based formula.
Read more about cows' milk allergy and lactose intolerance.
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The Start4Life website also has more information and advice about expressing and bottle feeding
Everything You Want to Know
Bottle-feeding an infant is not rocket science, but it’s not necessarily easy either.
Some babies take to the bottle like champs, while others require a bit more coaxing. In fact, introducing a bottle can be a process of trial and error.
This seemingly simple undertaking is made exponentially more challenging by the staggering plethora of bottle options, varying nipple flows, different formula types, and multiple feeding positions.
Yes, there’s a whole lot more to bottle-feeding than what meets the eye, so don’t be discouraged if your wee one is a bit fussy at first. You’ll soon find the routine — and products — that work for your little one. In the meantime, we’ve got you covered with all the bottle basics.
Once your bottle is prepared and at the ideal temperature (find more details on these below), it’s time to start feeding your baby.
- First, find a position that’s comfortable for you and safe for your baby.
- Hold the bottle at a horizontal angle so that your little one has to gently suck to get the milk.
- Be sure that the milk fills the entire nipple so that your baby isn’t gulping lots of air, which may result in gas and fussiness.
- You’ll want to take breaks every few minutes to gently burp baby. If they seem particularly squirmy during a feeding, they may have a gas bubble; take a pause and gently rub or pat their back.
- Use this opportunity to bond with your baby. Hold them close, look into their wide eyes, sing soft songs, and make feeding time a happy time.
Be sure to pace your feeding. You can’t expect — nor do you want — a new baby to chug a bottle down in 5 minutes flat. It may take a while, and that’s a good thing.
You want a baby to regulate their own hunger, so slow down and allow an infant to go at their own speed. Be sure to follow their cues, pause to burp or reposition them, and put the bottle down if they seem bothered or disinterested. You can try again in a few minutes.
And if they seem to want a top off? Go ahead and offer a free refill if it seems necessary.
There are several positions you can try for bottle-feeding. Make sure you’re both comfortable so it’s a pleasant experience.
Find a suitable place to sit comfortably, use pillows to support your arms if needed, and cozy up together during feeds.
Here are a few options to try:
Cradle your baby
When you think of holding a newborn baby, you probably envision yourself cradling them in the nook of your arm. This is a great position for feeding your wee one a bottle. Rest their head in your elbow bend, and tilt them up so they’re at a comfortable angle. This position is ideal for some bonus skin-to-skin contact.
Sitting position
Sit down and place baby upright in your lap with their back against your stomach and chest. This position is especially encouraged for infants with reflux. Just be sure that you’re tipping the bottle to completely fill the nipple with milk.
Rest baby on your legs
Sit or lay down, and prop your baby on your legs with their back against your thighs and their head near your bent knees. This position allows for eye contact and interaction.
Use a feeding pillow
Nursing pillows aren’t just for breastfeeding.
Some babies enjoy being positioned on a pillow for mealtime. A traditional C-shaped nursing pillow works great for this purpose, allowing baby to relax and be comfortable during a feed.
While this option frees up your arms, you’ll still need to hold the bottle for your baby. Propping or rigging a hands-free situation has potentially dangerous consequences.
Once a baby is old enough and expresses interest in holding the bottle themselves (somewhere around 6–10 months of age), you can let them try. Just be sure to stay close and monitor them carefully.
Whatever position you try, make sure that your little one is angled, with their head raised. You don’t ever want your baby to be lying down flat while eating. This could enable milk to travel into the inner ear, potentially causing an ear infection.
Of course, feeding baby the bottle might be the easy part. Picking the right vessel to hold your breast milk or formula can be a whole other complicated story. The information below can help you master the art of preparing the perfect bottle for your baby.
Choose the right bottle for your baby
If you’ve ever browsed the feeding section of a baby store, you know that bottle options are seemingly endless.
There are bottles designed for colicky babies, gassy babies, and breastfed babies. It’s daunting. The confounding truth is that some babies will take any old bottle you throw at them, while others will be far more discerning.
You might have to try a few different brands to find “the one” for your baby. If you have a gassy guzzler, you could go with one that uses a venting system. If you’ve been exclusively nursing up until now, you can try one that more readily resembles the shape and feel of mama’s breast.
You may also want to pick a bottle that has fewer parts to clean and reassemble. You’ll appreciate the lack of steps during that 2 a.m. feeding session.
Furthermore, start with a slow-flow nipple, and upgrade when your baby seems eager to get more milk, faster.
Prepare your formula or breast milk bottle
Feeding with formula? There are three types to choose from: powder, concentrate, and ready-to-pour.
Ready-to-pour formula is the easiest (and, yes, most expensive) option of the three. It involves no preparation and is as simple as opening and pouring it. You can purchase small, individual bottles that come with nipples, which are especially useful for those early infant feedings, or opt for larger bottles that need to be refrigerated. Either way, it’s fairly foolproof.
When using powder, you’ll need to measure out portions and mix them well with suitable water. It’s important to follow the directions and use the recommend water-to-formula ratio. Using too much water can dilute the nutrients; using not enough can cause dehydration. Both of these possibilities can have dangerous consequences, so use caution and care.
Similarly, concentrate formulas require a safe water source. Once again, measuring appropriately is key.
If you’re breastfeeding, preparing a bottle is pretty straightforward. Just pour pumped fresh or frozen breast milk into a bottle, and warm it up (if refrigerated and desired).
Be sure to double-check the pump date, though; thawed and/or refrigerated breast milk has a short shelf life.
Warm your bottle
Some babies will take a bottle straight out of the refrigerator, but many prefer their milk slightly warmed.
The best way to warm up a cold formula or breast milk bottle is by submerging it in a cup of hot water for a few minutes. You can also use a bottle warmer. Test the milk temperature on your wrist before serving it to your baby.
Be sure to never microwave a bottle. This can cause an uneven temperature throughout and create hot spots that could burn baby’s mouth.
How long is a bottle good for?
It may seem painful to throw away precious pumped liquid gold or chuck expensive formula. Yet, at some point or another, you’ll probably watch wistfully as you pour some unused bottle milk down the drain.
If you’re using expressed breast milk, there are some important time frames to remember. Breast milk can be frozen for up to 6 to 12 months and refrigerated for 4 days.
(If it has been thawed, though, you should use it within 24 hours.) Once you begin feeding a breast milk bottle, it’s safe for up to 2 hours.
A prepared bottle of formula can be refrigerated for 24 hours. Once baby has taken a sip from a bottle of formula, it must be used within 1 hour. Bacteria multiply quickly on milk-based products, so be sure to check the clock.
It may feel like you’re constantly preparing bottles, but don’t worry, this feeding frenzy phase will soon pass.
Yes, in the early days of parenthood, you’ll be feeding your little one every 2 to 4 hours. As a newborn, your baby will likely consume around 2 ounces per feed.
As they get older, the feedings may become spaced out, and the amount in each bottle will increase. Around the 2-month mark, your baby may start drinking 4 to 6 ounces each feeding. By 6 months, they’ll probably take in about 8 ounces.
Don’t feel tethered to a strict feeding schedule. It’s best to feed a baby when they seem hungry.
Babies go through rapid growth spurts and may need to feed more frequently. Look for hunger cues to determine whether your little one is hankering for a bottle.
Your baby may be hungry if they begin gumming on their hands, sucking on their tongue, or rooting. Rub your finger or a bottle nipple at the side of their cheek or mouth, if they turn toward it, they’re probably ready for a feeding. Give that bottle a go!
If you’re a nursing mama, you may feel especially nervous about introducing a bottle. Rest assured that with a little patience and time, your baby will eventually get the hang of it.
Still, before you offer a bottle, you’ll want to feel confident that nursing has been well established. As such, you should consider waiting 2 to 3 weeks after your baby is born to introduce the bottle to avoid potential nipple confusion and ensure that your milk supply is adequate.
If you need to transition your baby to the bottle before returning to work, cushion in some extra time to normalize this routine.
While your breastfed baby may happily accept the first bottle you offer, they may also turn their tiny nose up at it. Spare yourself and your baby unnecessary pressure, and give yourselves some wiggle room to adjust.
And if your baby does resist the bottle? Walk out of the room and have a partner or caregiver try. Your baby knows that you have the real deal under your shirt, and they may respond more readily to someone else.
Furthermore, don’t try to introduce the bottle when your little one is impatiently ravenous. Wait until they’re in a pleasant mood, and offer a bit when their tummies aren’t entirely empty. You may get a better reaction.
Even if you plan to be home and available to nurse around the clock, you should still try to introduce the occasional bottle. It’s good to know that your baby will accept it in a pinch.
Bottle-feeding has its challenges and rewards. There are a few other tips to keep in mind to help set you and your baby up for success.
Washing and sterilizing bottles
You may want to sterilize your bottles before their first use. You can do this with a steam sterilizer or in the dishwasher.
Sanitizing them between uses is probably unnecessary, but you do want to ensure that you always have a clean supply on hand — lest you have to wash one in the middle of the night while a crying baby impatiently awaits their bottle.
That said, a bottle requires a thorough scrubbing between uses, especially if it has pieces and parts with nooks and crannies. You can, of course, also use your trusty dishwasher. Either way, it’s smart to at least pour out any unused formula or breastmilk right away and give the bottle a quick rinse after a feeding session.
Mixing breast milk and formula
Want to slowly introduce formula to your breastfed baby? You can mix breast milk and formula in the same bottle. This can get baby more readily adjusted to the unique flavor of formula.
Just be sure to prepare the formula separately.
If you’re using powder or concentrate formula, you’ll still need to add water first; don’t use breast milk as a liquid substitute. Once the formula is prepared, pour in the breast milk.
Finally, heed the time restrictions. While breast milk on its own can be used for up to 2 hours, the addition of formula means the bottle is only good for 60 minutes.
Adding cereal to a bottle
Has a well-meaning grandparent suggested adding cereal to your baby’s bottle?
Generally speaking, doctors advise against this practice. While many people assume it will keep their baby fuller for longer — and even help them sleep for a longer chunk of time — it can have a few negative consequences, including excessive weight gain and constipation.
Occasionally, doctors will recommend adding a bit of oatmeal cereal to a bottle to help a baby with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Talk to your pediatrician before making this decision on your own.
No doubt, the idea of bottle service takes on a whole new meaning these days, but you’re going to love this new adventure.
And while it may seem like a lot to take in, bottle-feeding your baby will soon become second nature. You may encounter some hurdles or missteps along the way, but you’ll quickly discover what works for you and your baby.
Good luck, you’ve got this!
Best Positions for Bottle Feeding
Bottle feeding is not really a complicated process. However, you must remember a few rules. If you feed your baby incorrectly, he may cry, spill formula, suffer from colic, or slowly gain weight. Therefore, in order to properly bottle feed your baby, you must choose the correct upright feeding position. It should remind the baby of a natural position for feeding. Also remember that your baby's head should rest in the crook of your arm, in line with the spine. The longitudinal part of the nipple that enters the baby's mouth must always be full of milk - otherwise the baby swallows air, which can cause colic. Bubbles inside the bottle mean your baby is suckling properly.
Here are some examples of comfortable bottle feeding positions.
Whatever position you choose, it is best to always sit on the floor, comfortably leaning back against the wall. Try all positions to find the most comfortable one:
Sitting position
This is the most classic position. The child sits on one of your thighs with his back against your other thigh. You can hold his head in the crook of your arm or straight with your arm.
Side
If your baby spit up frequently, has gastroesophageal reflux disease, or has a runny nose, it is best to feed him when he lies diagonally on his side (preferably on his left side, but from time to time you need to shift to the other side). Your baby lies on its side, on one of your thighs, with its back and head against your other thigh. His ass rests on your stomach. You can change the angle of your child's body by raising or lowering your knees.
Facing each other
Place the baby on your lap with his bottom pressed against your stomach. This position ensures the correct position of the head and torso (the head is in line with the spine).
Remember to keep your child's torso straight, don't let him arch his back.
Almost apart from each other
In this position, you must keep the child's torso in line with the head. This will help your baby breathe properly, suck and swallow more effectively, and be less tired during feedings. If your child wants to, let him hold the bottle in his hand, even if he is still very small. At about 7 months, the baby begins to feel independent and wants to hold the bottle on his own. However, you should still support the bottle with your hand and help your baby with feeding until he finishes eating. When your baby grows up (i.e., sits up on his own), you can feed him in a high chair and replace the bottle with a non-spill cup or a regular cup with a straw. Do not leave your child alone with a bottle. This is strictly prohibited! You also shouldn't let your baby sleep with a bottle during mouth. In both cases, it can choke!
Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, always remember these rules:
- First of all, always feed your baby in your arms.
Do not feed your baby when he is lying, especially on his back. He may choke on milk. Babies often suffer from reflux, which means the mixture flows back from their stomach into their esophagus.
Also remember that your child feels safest in your arms. Try also to change hands from time to time, ie. support the child first with one hand and then with the other. Thanks to this, your child's muscles will develop evenly.
- Second, remember to always keep your child's head higher than his torso (put him on your arm). This is the best position for a baby while breastfeeding. If you are breastfeeding, make sure your baby cuddles and suckles properly. When bottle feeding, make sure that the part of the nipple that is in the baby's mouth is completely filled with milk. This minimizes the risk of swallowing air (i.e., prevents colic). Make sure your baby doesn't tilt their head back or forward too much. This makes sucking very difficult and can even cause food to enter your baby's airways.
- Third, never feed your baby when you are irritable or stressed. Take a moment for yourself first, take a deep breath and try to relax. When you have calmed down, sit in a comfortable chair, place a pillow under your armpit, place your baby on the pillow, and start feeding while speaking gently to your baby. Your child feels your emotions. If you are tense, he will also feel awkward. Also, never feed a baby if he is excited, crying or screaming. When he is in this condition, his airways are not protected and the mixture can enter his larynx instead of his esophagus.
- Fourth, take breaks after and during each feed by holding the baby in an upright or semi-upright position. Lay his head on your shoulder and support his back with your hand. Keep your baby upright until he releases any air he swallows while feeding. It usually only takes a moment, although sometimes it can take a little longer.
How to bottle feed: tips and tricks
Kiseleva Elena Sergeevna
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Scientific Advisor MAMAKO ®
Breast milk is the best food for your baby*.
But breastfeeding is not possible for all women. For moms who can't breastfeed or keep breastfeeding for as long as they would like, quality infant formula is a healthy alternative.
The best thing is when the baby is in her arms, ideally in skin-to-skin contact: such a position when bottle-feeding, as well as during breastfeeding, creates close contact between mother and baby, helps them get closer, strengthen emotional connection.
Feeding time is a time to be together and communicate with the baby (and for dad too).
The first days of life are the period of adaptation of crumbs to the outside world. And the first thing he is looking for is protection and comfort . In the moments of application to the skin of the baby, it warms the warmth of the mother's body, soothes and comforts her smell and heartbeat, so familiar to him even before birth. Gentle touches and calm breathing, a smile and a soft voice of a mother, a mixture warm as breast milk give the baby everything he needs - safety, warmth and nutrition.
Love and contact is the most important "ingredient" in any feeding process and infant formula is rich vitamins and nutrients that are good for your baby's health and development will help you feel confident in your ability to care for your baby.
In theory, feeding your baby formula is just a few simple steps. But if you've never made a bottle of baby food or the time is three in the morning, things seem complicated. Be patient to get into the rhythm.
For most mothers, bottle feeding becomes a part of baby food. And this does not depend on whether the bottle contains expressed breast milk or formula. The important thing is that sticking to breastfeeding exclusively can be difficult or impossible over time. Then the mother begins to supplement the baby with a mixture or transfer it to completely artificial feeding.
Below are answers to parents' questions about how to properly and safely bottle feed your baby.
1.
How to make a formula bottle We offer together step by step the process of preparing the first bottle for your baby.
- Hand hygiene : Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before handling bottles and feeding the baby. We also check the cleanliness of the table and measuring spoon.
- Sterilization : bottles and teats should preferably be sterilized beforehand.
- Water treatment : boil bottled baby water and cool to 40 ˚C, determine the right amount of water, then pour it into the bottle up to the desired mark - according to the number of scoops of dry formula according to the weight and age of your child.
- Let's determine the volume of the mixture : on the jar, in the "Feeding table" block, it is indicated how many spoons are required for one feeding. The measuring spoon should be full and without a slide - we remove the excess on a special corner of the jar. Both day and night, it is best to look at the feeding chart (unless otherwise determined by your doctor) so as not to accidentally add too much or too little formula.
An overly dilute formula or an excess of it can interfere with a child's proper nutrition. - Mixing according to instructions : pour the required amount of product without a slide into a bottle of prepared water. Next, close the bottle with a lid and roll between the palms. If the bottle is shaken, a lot of foam may form.
- Checking the temperature of prepared meals : put a drop of the mixture on the inside of the wrist, where the skin is as sensitive as in a baby's mouth. Immediately after preparing the mixture, tightly close the jar of baby food and feed the baby.
- Let daddy give a bottle of and be alone with the baby - they also need communication and time to make friends. The reality is that many dads feel left out while breastfeeding, but this can be avoided with formula feeding. Show how to hold your baby and bottle, support your partner during the first feedings . This help will be useful for you too. An extra pair of hands when bottle feeding gives mom a little more precious time.
2. What water to use for infant formula
Only boiled bottled baby water should be used in the bottle. This is a great way to make sure the water you use is safe for your baby.
All children's water is registered by Rospotrebnadzor in accordance with SanPiN 2.1.4.1116-02. Such water corresponds to the indicators of the highest category, is balanced in terms of mineral composition and is characterized by low total mineralization in the range of 200-500 mg / l (a baby’s body is simply not able to absorb higher concentrations of minerals and salts).
Packaged water may look the same. But some manufacturers divide baby water into two categories - for drinking and for preparing mixtures. The composition of drinking water contains a higher concentration of minerals that are beneficial for the child's body, but they can upset the balance of the nutrient mixture. Therefore, on the labels you can read about the different purposes of water: suitable for preparing baby food or for feeding babies and young children.
It makes no sense to make large stocks of baby water - water in open bottles becomes unusable after 24-48 hours, depending on the manufacturer. Tap or spring water is also not suitable for feeding babies. Such water may contain various impurities, bacteria and microbes that are dangerous for babies. Boiling will “free” water from harmful microorganisms, but not from impurities of heavy metals and chemicals.
3. How to use the measuring spoon correctly
The measuring spoon helps you accurately measure the amount of the mixture and get the correct dosage. Fill a full spoon, but shoot a slide. You don't need a kitchen knife for this - each jar of mixture has a convenient wide corner for removing excess. And in economical jars with a volume of 800 g, for example, in MAMAKO ® Premium with goat milk, the spoon is conveniently attached to the lid - so you don’t have to look for it in a large package before each feeding. Fingers and knives are not absolutely clean, they always have a lot of bacteria that can spoil the mixture and harm the health of the baby.
The antibacterial fastening of the spoon and the corner of the jar protect the mixture and the child from harmful bacteria from the external environment.
4. What temperature should the water and ready mix be?
Boiled water should be cooled to 40 °C. This temperature will retain all the benefits of baby food based on goat's milk. The easiest way to get water at the right temperature is to boil it in a kettle and let it cool for 20-30 minutes. A kettle for boiling water requires special care - it is covered with a mineral coating, which is easily removed by boiling citric acid. This is a troublesome procedure, since after cleaning it takes about 3-4 boils to remove traces of detergent. Create a rhythm for preparing dishes - at night or with a crying baby in your arms, there will be no time for this. The finished formula should be warm: 37 ˚C, as this is the temperature of breast milk and it is optimal for the baby's food. Before feeding, do not forget to check if the mixture is too hot by applying a couple of drops on the wrist.
If it burns, you can hold the bottle under cold water for a while, after closing the nipple with a lid. If the mixture has cooled slightly, it is enough to heat it under a warm stream of water.
5. Mixed feeding: breast or bottle first
The best feeding schedule is when the mother supplements her baby with formula after breast milk. If the baby is given a bottle first, then he may begin to refuse the breast. This is due to the fact that it is easier to suck through the nipple, and with natural feeding, the baby has to “work” a lot to get mom's milk.
6. How many baby bottles do you need per day
It's all about how old you are on formula, how much formula you give and how often your baby eats. It's best to keep six to ten bottles on hand so you always have clean dishes. In addition, the more bottles, the less often they will have to be sterilized. Buy 125 ml bottles for an infant, then upgrade to 150 ml and 240 ml as your baby's appetite and needs increase.
Don't rush to part with smaller bottles, they are great for supplementing and watering.
7. Why can't the bottle be held horizontally during feeding
Mom tilts the bottle so that the nipple is always filled with formula. The angle of inclination increases as the bottle empties, so it is important to be close to the baby, not leaving him alone during feeding even for a minute. If you do not tilt the bottle, the child will begin to swallow air. Air bubbles can cause regurgitation during or immediately after feeding. In addition, when air enters the baby’s stomach, he feels full faster, which means he eats less and will be hungry after a short period of time.
8. Which nipple to choose for your baby bottle
Many wide and narrow neck bottles already come with a set of baby nipples. Almost all of them are made of silicone. Which shape of the nipple - anatomical or round - and what size of hole your child will like, can be understood by his reaction during feeding.
If the mixture drips from the corners of the mouth, the flow may be too fast due to the large opening. If the baby is sucking hard, the mixture may drip too slowly. We recommend that you do not enlarge the opening of the nipple: it may tear, and the microparticles of the product may enter the child's body. Perhaps the hole is just clogged, this sometimes happens. If necessary, nipples can be replaced and bought separately from the bottles.
9. Should baby bottles be sterilized
Yes, to limit the spread of bacteria. Hard-to-reach places of the bottle must be washed from the mixture (a brush and warm water are enough) before sterilization. A sterilizer is ideal for this purpose - ultrasonic, electric or steam for a microwave oven. It can sterilize all baby accessories - bottles, nipples, caps, brushes. Of course, you can replace the sterilizer with a simple boil, but be careful that the water does not boil away, otherwise the bottles and nipples will be damaged and become dangerous.
10. Can I use the microwave to heat formula
Resist the temptation to microwave the formula and save time. Microwave ovens heat liquids unevenly. Even if the bottle is not hot, the mixture can warm up quite strongly: there is a risk of burning the baby. In addition, heating in the microwave can break down the nutrients in the formula.
11. Can leftover formula be stored
If your child has not finished formula, discard any leftover formula. No need to heat up and reuse it. It's not safe for the baby. After a while, bacteria begin to multiply in the finished mixture. Dilute a fresh batch of formula every time the baby is hungry.
12. How to prepare a bottle while traveling
If you are away from home or on the road for several hours, you can take two bottles of warm boiled water in a thermal bag that keeps you warm. Before each feeding, it remains to pour the right amount of mixture into the bottle (it is convenient to measure portions in advance according to the number of feedings in the infant formula dispenser).
If the water in the bottle is cold, it is enough to warm it under warm water (this will take a little time). Bottles and teats should last until the next opportunity to wash and sterilize them. Remember that a thermal bag is good for maintaining the temperature of boiled water, but it cannot be used to store the finished mixture - this is harmful to the baby's health.
MAMAKO ® fully supports breastfeeding, but since this is not always possible, we have shown you how to bottle feed with love. In addition, the preparation of baby food will become a conscious and important matter. Very little time will pass, and you will fondly remember these precious moments of tender age, and feeding time will be the beginning of a warm, close connection with the baby.
* Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years.
