Buying Guide - Bottle Feeding
Your Baby
Bottle Feeding Your Baby
- How will you be feeding your baby? If you
haven't started thinking about it, now is probably a
good time. Breastfeeding is best for your baby's
health, but every woman, and baby, is different and
the decision how to feed your baby is yours and
yours alone. It is far better, for you and your
baby, to choose the method of feeding that you feel
comfortable with.
- You can always start breastfeeding and then
change to bottle feeding if you would like to, but
it is more difficult to make the switch the other
way. You can express milk from your breasts for your
baby to take from a bottle or use formula milk.
Formula milk
- If you bottle-feed your baby, you must use
formula milk, not cow's milk. Cow's milk is not
suitable for babies. It can cause an allergic
reaction, and babies also find it very hard to
digest.
- Only feed your baby milk that is formulated
especially for babies. You can discuss with your
gynecologist / pediatrician the formula milk that
will be best for your baby - the number of different
brands on the market can be very confusing.
How do I prepare formula milk?
Formula milk comes in two different types:
- Ready to use - as the name suggests, this comes
ready to pour straight into the bottle. It is very
convenient, but it is also an expensive method of
bottle feeding (Only available during hospital stay,
not for individual sale in Singapore)
- Powdered - dried formula that must be mixed with
water
It is very important that when you prepare powdered
formula milk you add the right amount of water. Adding
too much water will mean that your baby is not getting
enough nutrition from his feeds. Also, not adding
enough water can cause digestive problems.
What equipment will I need to bottle feed my baby?
You will need 6 full size bottles and teats for a
fully bottle-fed baby. The variety available is huge
and the type of bottles and teats you choose really is
up to you. The other thing to bear in mind is that
newborn babies may need smaller bottles and a faster
flowing teat - they can become tired very quickly if
they have to suck very hard to make the milk flow.
It is very important to make sure your bottles and
teats are sterilised. To do this, first rinse all the
bottles and teats in cold water. Then wash all the
equipment in warm, soapy water. Now you have a choice
of sterilisation methods.
- A chemical steriliser is a sterilisation tank
that you fill up with cold water and add a
sterilisation tablet or liquid. Make sure you follow
the instructions for how much steriliser to use.
Never put metal items in your sterilising unit and
always make a fresh solution every 24 hours. As
sterilising solution is a dilute bleach, all items
should be rinsed in recently boiled water before
immediate use.
- Steam sterilisation. This type of sterilising
kills harmful bacteria using steam created in a
specially designed electrical unit. Steam
sterilisation is a very quick and easy method of
sterilising, but make sure you fill the bottles with
formula within 3 hours of sterilisation.
- Microwave sterilisation. This method works by
creating steam in the microwave steriliser to
destroy harmful bacteria. All cleaned equipment
should be placed in the steriliser with the amount
of water specified in the manufacturer's
instructions, with bottles and caps upside down. The
unit's lid should be securely fastened before
placing in the centre of the oven.
Make sure your hands are absolutely clean when you
take out the bottles and teats to make up the feeds.
How do I make up a bottle?
There are a few golden rules about making up formula
milk:
- Make sure all your equipment is sterilised
- Follow the manufacturers guidelines to the
latter regarding how much formula to use in one
bottle - overfill each scoop and then scrape off the
excess with a sterilised knife to make sure you have
the right amount of formula
- Always add the water to the bottle first - not
the powder - this will make sure that you are using
the right amount of water
- The best way to warm your baby's bottle is by
placing it in a jug of warm water. Warning: take
great care if you heat your baby's feed in a
microwave oven because of the risk of hot spot
burning. Always shake or stir the bottle and test
the temperature before serving.
- Always make sure the formula you are using is
not out of date
- Always test the temperature of the bottle by
dripping some of the milk onto the inside of your
wrist
How much should I feed my baby?
Your baby will let you know when he is hungry. A very
small baby has a very small tummy so will probably
require a lot of small feeds. Your baby will let you
know when he is full - so take your lead from him and
don't force him to finish a bottle. As a general
guide, if your baby if putting on weight steadily,
then he is eating enough.
How do I give the bottle?
Like anything new, giving a bottle might take a little
time to get used to. Firstly, make yourself
comfortable and hold your baby on your lap with his
head resting in the crook of your arm. Make sure his
head is higher than his tummy. Keep the bottle tilted
to make sure there is always milk in the teat, and
remember to give your baby the chance to burp during
and after the feed. To wind your baby either sit him
up and pat his back or hold him upright on your
shoulder and pat his back.
If you have any questions about how to feed your baby,
talk to your paediatrician or health visitor who will
be able to give you all the help and information you
need.
