Ready to feed baby milk
Formula Feeding FAQs: Getting Started (for Parents)
Whether you plan to formula feed your baby from the start, want to supplement your breast milk with formula, or are switching from breast milk to formula, you probably have questions.
Here are answers to some common questions about formula feeding.
What Supplies Do I Need?
Start with the basics:
- formula
- water (tap water is fine, but use bottled if you are concerned about water safety)
- bottles
- nipples
Keep burp cloths and a bottle/nipple brush handy.
You don’t need a bottle sterilizer, but do sterilize bottles and nipples by boiling them for 5 minutes before the first use.
What Kind of Bottle Should I Use?
Bottles come in different shapes and sizes. They can be made of glass, plastic, silicone, or stainless steel. Here are some differences:
Plastic bottles are now "BPA-free"— meaning they don't contain the chemical bisphenol A (BPA). This chemical may be harmful and is found in some plastics, but is banned from baby bottles. Years ago, some plastic baby bottles had BPA in them, but none do now.
Glass bottles. Glass bottles can cause injury if broken, but silicone sleeves make them easier to grip and help prevent breaks.
Silicone bottles and stainless steel bottles are newer options. They are unbreakable but tend to be more expensive than plastic or glass.
Some babies do better with certain bottle shapes, vented bottles, or bottles with liners on the inside. You may need to try a few kinds before you find what works best for you and your baby.
To get you through the first week or so, be sure to have enough formula, water, bottles, and nipples.
Over time, you may want to buy more or different kinds of bottles. You also may find it's worth getting other supplies, like a bottle drying rack or special dishwasher basket.
What Kind of Nipple Should I Use?
Nipples can be made of silicone (clear) or latex (brown) with many different shapes.
The varieties include standard or traditional nipples, orthodontic nipples, wide-based nipples, and flat-top nipples. Use whatever type your baby seems to prefer.
Nipples also often come in different numbers, "stages," or "flow rates" to reflect the size of the nipple's hole, which affects the flow (i.e., slow, medium, or fast) of formula or breast milk. The holes get bigger as babies get older and are ready to handle faster flows of milk. Flows that are too fast can make younger babies gag by giving them more milk than they can handle. Slower flows may frustrate some babies and make them suck harder and gulp too much air.
Start your newborn on the slowest flow nipple. As your baby gets older, you can increase the flow if you want to. Some babies may be content throughout infancy to use the same kind and size of nipple. If your baby seems fussy or frustrated with the nipple, try a different kind (like one with a larger hole) to see if it makes a difference.
How Often Should Nipples Be Replaced?
That depends on how the nipples you use hold up to cleaning and everyday use.
Check them regularly for signs of wear and replace them about every 2 months or sooner if you notice tears or damage.
What Type of Formula Should I Use?
Many different formulas are available these days. Ask your doctor which kind is best for your baby.
Do not try to make your own formula at home. Online recipes may look healthy and promise to be nutritionally complete, but they can have too little — or too much — of important nutrients and cause serious health problems for your baby.
There are many different brands of formula, and all that are made in the United States (name brands, store brands, and generic) must meet strict nutrition and safety standards.
Formula types include:
- cow's milk-based formulas. Most formulas are made from cow's milk. These formulas have added iron, which babies need. Use only iron-fortified formula, unless your doctor advises you not to.
- soy-based formulas. These are for babies born with congenital lactase deficiency or galactosemia.
This type of formula is also used by parents who do not want their babies to eat animal protein. Give only iron-fortified soy formula, unless your doctor says otherwise. (Many babies who are allergic to cow's milk also are allergic to the protein in soy formulas, so soy-based formulas generally don't help with milk-protein allergies.) - hypoallergenic formulas for babies who can't tolerate cow’s milk or soy formulas, like those with allergies to milk or soy proteins. The proteins in hypoallergenic formulas are broken down so they are easier to digest.
- specialized formulas. These are designed for premature babies.
How Do I Prepare Formula?
Formula comes in three basic forms:
- powders that require mixing with water and cost the least
- concentrates, which are liquids that require diluting with water
- ready-to-use (or ready-to-feed) liquids that can be poured right into bottles.
These are the most expensive but are convenient if you're traveling or can't get to a clean water supply.
Carefully follow directions on the label when preparing formula. Do not add more water than directed.
Whatever formula you choose, check the expiration date on all cans and bottles of formula, and don't use formula from leaky, dented, or otherwise damaged containers. Do not water-down formula — this is dangerous, as it reduces the amount of nutrients in each bottle.
Formula Can Be Pricey. How Can I Save Money?
Shop around for the best deals on the formula you've chosen:
- Take advantage of the free samples and coupons sent to you in the first few months after your baby is born.
- Clip coupons and sign up for online coupon clubs and apps that let you print and save coupons.
- Sign up for formula companies' clubs and special programs (through the mail or online) that may offer discounts, coupons, and/or free formula and other products.
- Compare prices on formula at online retailers. Some online stores have special "mom" clubs that let you save regularly on some products every month.
- Check for specials at your grocery store, baby store retailer, or local wholesale/bulk items store.
What if I Need Help Paying for Formula?
If you can't afford formula, talk to your doctor or call 211 to help you find local resources. You and your family may be eligible for assistance through:
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Bottle Feeding Formula Preparation
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
All infants under 1 year of age should be given breastmilk or infant formula. Cow, goat and plant-based milk are not recommended.
Measure all the formula, powder or liquid concentrate, and water using the instructions on the formula can, unless otherwise instructed by your health care team.
WARNING:
DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE OVEN TO PREPARE OR WARM FORMULA.
A MICROWAVE MAKES “HOT SPOTS” IN THE FORMULA.
THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS BURNS TO YOUR BABY’S MOUTH.
You Will Need
- formula (powder or liquid concentrate) as ordered by your health care provider
- nipples, caps and rings for bottles
- metal or plastic (not wooden) spoon for mixing
- water
- 8-ounce nursing bottles
- pitcher
- liquid dish washing soap
- cooking pan with lid
- can opener if using liquid concentrate
Preparing the Equipment
- Wash your hands with soap and water before cleaning bottles, making formula and feeding your baby.
- Wash the bottles, caps and rings in either hot, soapy water with dishwashing liquid or in a dishwasher (Picture 1).
Wash after opening, and after each use. To clean nipples, follow directions on the package. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry. Do not use a bottle brush to scrub the bottle; it may damage the bottle.
Distilled or purified water can be used without boiling it. All other water should be boiled then cooled as described below. This includes all other bottled water and all tap water.
- Do NOT use well water. Use distilled or purified water in place of well water.
- You may use city water or regular bottled drinking water to make formula if you boil it first as outlined below. (Picture 2).
- To boil water:
- Run the cold water for 2 minutes to flush the water pipes.
- Boil for 1 minute, with the lid on the pan.
- Cool to room temperature before using.
- Boil water for the first 3 months of age. Boil water longer if your health care provider recommends it or if water safety is a concern.
Making Formula from Liquid Concentrate
- Before you open the liquid concentrate formula can, rinse it with clean water. Use an 8-ounce baby bottle to measure the ounces of water, then pour it into a clean pitcher.
- Shake the liquid concentrate can well before opening.
- Open the can with a clean, punch-type can opener.
- Measure the ounces of liquid concentrate formula. Add this to the water (Picture 3). Shake or stir with a clean spoon.
- As needed, pour the amount of formula you need to feed your baby into one of the clean bottles.
- Insert nipple into ring and twist onto baby bottle.
- Shake the bottle. It is now ready to feed to your baby.
- Put the remaining prepared formula in the pitcher in the refrigerator. Use within 48 hours.
- If you have liquid concentrate remaining, cover the opened can with plastic wrap or foil. Mark it with the date and time it was opened. Store the covered can of remaining liquid concentrate and any mixed formula in the refrigerator.
- Use any mixed formula within 48 hours of when it was opened. Throw out any mixed formula that is not used after 48 hours (2 days).
Making Formula from Powder
- Measure the ounces of water and pour into a clean pitcher or clean baby bottle.
- Open the can of powdered formula.
- Measure level scoops of formula powder. *Add this to the water.
- Shake or stir well with a clean spoon.
- As needed, pour the amount of formula you need to feed your baby into one of the clean bottles (Picture 4).
- Place any unused prepared formula in the refrigerator. Use within 24 hours.
- Insert nipple into ring and twist onto baby bottle. Shake the bottle. It is ready to feed to your baby.
- Close the can of formula powder with the plastic lid.
- On the lid or the can, mark the date that you opened it.
- Do not keep a can of formula powder more than 1 month from the date it was opened.
Some formulas call for packed scoops of powder. Check instructions on the formula can.
Special Tips and Advice
- If your baby does not drink all the formula in a bottle within an hour from the time you start to give it, throw the rest away.
- Always feed or refrigerate prepared formula right away.
- Do not feed honey or corn syrup (such as Karo®) to babies under 1 year of age. These products are not germ free. They may cause food poisoning in young infants.
If you have any questions, be sure to call your health care provider.
Bottle Feeding: Formula Preparation (PDF)
HH-IV-7 ©1979, Revised 2021, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Breastfeeding in public | Tips for breastfeeding moms
Open breastfeeding in public takes some getting used to. Here are some tips to help you and your baby feel more confident
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The beauty of breastfeeding is that everything you need is always at your fingertips: you can feed your baby wherever you are, and the temperature of the milk will always be just right.
But while there's nothing more natural than breastfeeding, the very idea of breastfeeding in front of everyone, especially the first time, can be a little unsettling. Whether you are worried about what others will think or not, our tips will help you prepare for this event.
1: Rehearse
If you feel uncomfortable about breastfeeding your baby for the first time in a public place, practice in front of a mirror at home to imagine how you will look from the outside. You will surely notice that the chest is not so open at the same time: it is blocked by the head of the child.
First, try breastfeeding in public in a friendly environment. In the company of other mothers or in a cafe with a friend, you will obviously be more comfortable than alone in the train or in a noisy shopping center.
2: Dress comfortably
When it comes to comfortable clothing for breastfeeding in general and in public places in particular, there are many options. If breastfeeding is going well and you intend to continue, it's worth picking up a few pieces of nursing clothing that will make feeding easier.
“I had a very comfortable nursing shirt. It was possible to discreetly feed the child in it even in winter, since nothing had to be removed. Just put the baby on the slit in the T-shirt and you're done. You can feed anywhere and anytime!” says Caroline, mother of two from France.
However, it is not necessary to buy special nursing clothes - you can just wear two regular T-shirts. “I solved the problem with a stretch blouse that I wore under a loose top. When it was necessary to feed the child, I pulled the jacket under my chest and lifted the top. He covered my chest, and the jacket - my stomach. So it was possible to feed discreetly anywhere, while not freezing and not showing anyone your tummy that sagged after childbirth,” recalls Suzanne, a mother of two children from the UK.
Other handy options are tops and dresses with buttons or front zips, with straps or side slits. You can also try wraparound styles, collar collars or shawl collars.
“Wrap-around cardigans have been a lifesaver when I have to feed in public,” says Natalie, a UK mom.
- I just untied one floor and covered my baby's head with it during feeding or when she cried. And you didn’t have to carry anything with you to disguise.”
3: Know your surroundings
Before you go anywhere with your baby, make a list of good feeding places in advance so you don't have to rush around looking for them at the last minute. Shopping malls, department stores and children's clothing stores often have mother and baby rooms where you can feed your baby in peace and quiet, sitting on a comfortable chair, or use the changing table. Many cafes and hotel restaurants also try to create comfortable conditions for nursing mothers.
“If you're worried, look ahead for breastfeeding friendly places so you know where to go if you need to. Feeding in public can be difficult at first, but over time it gets better and better. And then you do it so quickly and imperceptibly that people around you don’t even realize that you are breastfeeding a baby, ”says Rachel, a mother from the Maldives.
Other potentially suitable locations are fitting rooms in department stores, furniture stores, community centers, libraries, museums, and parks. Ask around moms you know - they can probably share their experience about suitable feeding places nearby.
“In the UAE, children under the age of two are legally allowed to breastfeed. Breastfeeding is highly encouraged here, shopping malls have dedicated facilities for breastfeeding, and mothers who breastfeed in public places like restaurants are treated with respect,” says Fay, mother of two from the UAE.
4: Try a breastfeeding cape
Some moms prefer to cover themselves and their baby with a cape when breastfeeding in public. The choice here is huge - from simple shawls and ponchos to special capes and aprons with a rigid semicircular hole on top, which allows you to watch the baby during feeding. There is a solution for every taste. And you can also feed your baby in a sling or carrier - this is both convenient and shelters you from prying eyes.
“I recommend buying a carrier,” says Caroline, mother of two in the US. “With a little practice, you can feed on the go, without looking up from other things.”
However, the last word often rests with the baby. Some babies do not tolerate any capes when feeding, and someone, on the contrary, is distracted if he is not covered. “Both of my babies didn’t like it when I tried to cover them with a shawl during feeding, so I just had to rely on their heads to cover their breasts enough,” recalls Esther, mother of two from the UK.
5: Know your rights
Breastfeeding in all public places is legal in many countries. Moreover, there are laws aimed at protecting breastfeeding mothers. If you are not sure if there are such laws in your country, search the Internet for information. The best place to start is with the websites of government and health agencies. Or try asking your doctor. You can also ask familiar mothers, friends and relatives about their own experiences.
The answers may surprise you.
"Breastfeeding is widely accepted in Australia, and it's quite normal to sit bare-chested in a cafe while a nice waiter takes your order for a fat-free latte!" says Amy, mother of two from Australia.
If someone is upset that you are breastfeeding your baby in a public place, politely remind them of your rights. If you believe that asking you not to breastfeed in a store, cafe, or similar establishment violates your rights, you can file a formal complaint—if you are willing and supported by local law.
“One day I decided to breastfeed my baby in a diner after I had eaten myself, and I did it right at the table because they didn't have a feeding room. A confused junior manager was sent to me asking if I could move to the women's room for this. I replied that no - do they eat there? Then I was asked to move to a side booth. But I refused here and didn’t budge until we were done!” recalls Maya, a mother of two from Spain.
“My advice is don't worry! I was worried at first, but I regularly had to breastfeed my baby in public places, both in the city and in the countryside.
And never once did I encounter a bad attitude, or comments, or sidelong glances. Not everyone, of course, is so lucky, but I breastfed for a whole year, so people had a lot of opportunities to show their bad sides - but nothing like that happened. Not a hint. So the fears may turn out to be completely unfounded, ”Tiffany, a mother from the UK, reassures.
How to stop breastfeeding | Philips Avent
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Home ›› How to end breastfeeding comfortably for mom and baby 9006 ↑ 0 Weaning is an important decision for both mother and baby, and the decision is entirely up to them. When the mother and baby are ready to start weaning, there are a few tips and techniques to help make the transition a positive one.
When and how to stop breastfeeding? Like all good things, breastfeeding eventually comes to an end.
3 Philips Avent products to help you stop breastfeeding:
When should I start weaning my baby?
There is no definite and correct period for weaning a child.
The mother-child relationship is different for everyone, and weaning is a purely personal decision for mother and baby, which they make when both are ready.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to six months of age. Until a child reaches the age of one year, both solid food and breast milk must be present in his diet. If the baby is weaned before he is one year old, adapted infant formula can be fed instead of breast milk. If a baby is stopped breastfeeding at one year of age or older, infant formula milk products can be given instead. While the recommendations are, many mothers stop breastfeeding before their babies are 12 months old, and others breastfeed for up to two years or longer. The second option is called long-term breastfeeding, and it's a completely healthy choice for mothers and babies who want to continue breastfeeding.
Signs that a baby is ready to wean
Mothers often wonder how to stop breastfeeding, because babies rarely just stop suckling.
Weaning a baby from the breast is usually a gradual process for both the mother and the baby.
There are several signs that will let you know that the baby is ready to start weaning:
- disinterest or fussiness during feeding;
- reducing the duration of feedings;
- child is easily distracted while feeding;
- the child plays while suckling, eg pulling or biting the breast;
- baby suckles lightly but does not extract milk.
How do I wean a baby?
When mom and baby decide it's time to stop breastfeeding, there are a few things to keep in mind to make the transition smoother.
Here are our tips for weaning your baby when the time is right:
1. Wean gradually. When you decide to wean a baby, remember the main thing: do it gradually. This is necessary so that both mother and baby can adapt to physical and emotional changes. In addition, the gradual cessation of breastfeeding helps mothers avoid problems such as engorgement and general breast discomfort.
2. Express milk. To prevent breast engorgement when breastfeeding is stopped, the mother may need to express her milk, especially if the baby is less than a year old. One way to reduce and gradually stop breast milk production is to express less and less milk so that less milk is produced. Since pumping stimulates the flow of milk, it is important to use the pump for a shorter time than the duration of feeding the baby. Gradually, milk production will decrease and eventually stop completely.
Check out the Natural Motion Electronic Breast Pump, which combines nipple stimulation and pumping like a baby does for natural and gentle pumping.
3. Reduce the number of daily feedings by one every week. We recommend eliminating one of the daily feedings each week, such as feeding at noon or at other times, depending on which one the child likes the least. The latter, as a rule, exclude feeding before bedtime and immediately after waking up.
During the weaning period, the mother's breasts will continue to produce milk until she completely stops breastfeeding.
During this period, mums will love these soft bra pads to keep their clothes dry and clean all day long.
Check out this Natural bottle with an ultra-soft, breast-like nipple to help make the transition from breast to bottle easier.
4. Extra hugs may be needed. In addition to the physical changes that stopping breastfeeding brings, moms and babies will also experience emotional changes. During this period, you should hug the baby more often and express your love to him. Caress and other acts of love can help mother and baby retain the closeness and togetherness that breastfeeding has given them.
5. Introduce complementary foods at your baby's usual feeding times. Another way to help your baby adjust to change is to give him complementary foods at his usual feeding times. Babies who are a year old or older can substitute cow's milk for breast milk or offer other foods if the baby has already switched to solid foods.
We also recommend watching the webinar "How to End Breastfeeding Comfortably and Painlessly: Tips and Tricks".
Although weaning is the natural end to breastfeeding, it is at this stage that a mother makes a huge difference in her baby's life. Along with a new sense of pride in a child who is growing and developing, it is quite natural for a mother to feel sadness. Breastfeeding creates a special bond between mother and baby. Therefore, breastfeeding mothers often find it difficult to say goodbye to breastfeeding.
If you have any questions, be sure to contact a specialist to get his opinion.
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