You probably have a lot of concerns about formula preparation, cleaning utensils, feeding styles, and burping methods if you’ve recently chosen to bottle feed your newborn. It can be very intimidating and out of your comfort zone initially but you will soon get the hang of it.
Here are some steps to bottle feed your baby successfully.
- Clean all feeding bottles, nipples, and other pots and pans before using them – If your water is chlorinated, wash your utensils in the dishwasher or even in hot tap water with soap, then clean them in hot tap water. If you have well water or nonchlorinated water, you can either boil the utensils for five to ten minutes or use a terminal heating method. In terminal heating, the bottles are cleaned ahead of time but not sterilized. After that, you fill them with the prepared solution and loosely cap them. The filled bottles are then put in a pan with enough water to cover them halfway, and the water is gently brought to a boil for about 20 minutes.
- Follow the guidelines– For the formula type, you select, make sure to obey the manufacturer’s instructions to the letter. If you give your baby too much water, she won’t get enough calories and nutrients; if you give her too little water, the high concentration of formula can cause diarrhea or dehydration.
- Get the formula ready– Bring the water you’ll be using in the recipe to a boil for around one minute. Then blend it in with the powdered formula. If you’re making this ahead of time, make sure to keep it refrigerated. Throw out any formula that has been left out of the refrigerator for more than one hour or that has not been used within 24 hours.
- The refrigerated formula should be warmed up– Your baby doesn’t have to be warmed up if the formula is refrigerated, but most babies need it at room temperature. Place the jar in a pan of water on the stove over low heat and rotate it periodically to steam refrigerated or frozen milk. Microwave ovens should not be used to heat bottles because the milk in the center of the container can be overheated. The superheated milk in the center of the bottle will scald your baby’s mouth, even though the bottle feels warm to your touch. In addition, if the bottle is left in the microwave for too long, it will explode.
- Placing your baby in a nursing position is a smart idea – Hold her head and cradle her in a semi-upright position with soft muslin wraps. Don’t feed her when she’s lying down because the formula could get into her middle ear and cause an infection. Tilt the bottle so that the formula fills the neck and covers the nipple, stopping your baby from swallowing air while sucking.
- Keep track of your baby’s food intake – Be prepared to address the query of how much your baby has eaten from the pediatrician. During his first few weeks, your infant would likely take between two and four ounces per feeding (during the first few days, he may take less than an ounce at feedings), and will be hungry every two to four hours. It’s best to feed your baby when he or she is hungry. If your baby isn’t interested in finishing the bottle, don’t pressure him. When the bottle is finished, give him more if he’s still sucking vigorously. Use organic baby sets to keep your baby comfortable during feeding.
- Burp your kid – When babies swallow air during feedings, they become fussy and irritable. This occurs more commonly in bottle-fed babies, while air may also be swallowed by breastfed infants. Burp your baby regularly — after every two or three ounces of milk — to avoid a tummy full of air. Continue feeding if your baby doesn’t burp after a few minutes of trying. The three best places are as follows:
- Drape your baby over your shoulder and give her a strong pat or rub on the back.
- Sit your baby straight on your lap, lean her weight forward from the heel of your palm, and rub or stroke her back firmly.
- Put the baby on your lap, stomach-down, and gently rub or pat her back.
- Know when to stop– When the baby has had her fill, she will turn away from the nipple with her head turned away. Don’t panic if you find yourself emptying a little formula after a feeding: Your baby is getting plenty to eat as long as she is gaining weight steadily (the doctor will let you know if she isn’t) and peeing and pooping at regular intervals during the day and night. Simply note the following formula for bottle-feeding: A baby who isn’t eating solids and is under six months old can drink two to two-and-a-half ounces of formula per pound of body weight over the course of 24 hours. If your baby is ten pounds, she can drink about 20 to 25 ounces a day, or three to four ounces every four hours.
- Babies who are allergic to the protein in cow’s milk, which is the main ingredient of most baby formulas, have two types of reactions: symptoms that appear immediately after feeding or symptoms that appear a week or so later. Wheezing, stomach upset, and itchy, watery, or swollen eyes are just a few of the signs. Switching formulas is typically what it takes to deal with a milk allergy. Within two to four weeks of finding a formula that your baby can handle, her symptoms should disappear. However, if a serious reaction occurs, such as swelling in the mouth or throat, hives, or vomiting, contact your doctor as soon as possible, then call 911 or go to the emergency room.
These are some of the tips to remember when you are bottle feeding, don’t give up, and be consistent with the process, eventually your baby and you will be more comfortable. Hope this helps, if you face additional challenges, please consult a pediatrician immediately.
Happy parenting!
AUTHOR’S BIO:
I am Lana Murphy, a post-graduate in humanities and communications, and an inquisitive person who loves writing. My forte is a digital marketing and everything that has to do with phones and screens. I’m working for Tiny Twig. I am someone who believes that one person can make a change and that’s precisely why I took up writing which is the best tool to communicate these days. I have a decade of experience in writing and marketing.