Bottlefed babies tend to be more prone to tummy upsets, so it’s important to practice good hygiene when making up your baby’s bottle. Wash your hands before starting and make sure the bottles you use are clean and sterile. Make up feeds as and when you need them to minimise the risk of contamination.
Fill a bottle with cooled, boiled water to the correct level. Make sure you always pour the water in first as it is important you have filled the bottle to the right level.
Use a scoop (provided with the formula milk) to put the correct amount of powder into your baby’s bottle. The instructions on the formula packet will tell you how many scoops you need.
Gently pull the teat through the screw top of the bottle.
Screw both onto the bottle.
Secure the lid over the bottle and teat, and shake vigorously for 10 seconds to combine water and powder.
Before feeding test the feed temperature on the inside of your wrist, it should feel just warm. If you think it is too hot, hold the bottle (with a cap covering the teat) under a cold running tap for a minute or so and test again.
Teats Explained:
Never mind nipple confusion, you’d be forgiven for succumbing to teat confusion, such is the number of different types on offer! It can be baffling, but really, there are only three things to consider:
Material:
Teats are made from silicone or rubber. Rubber ones are softer and more nipple-like in texture, but are delicate and more easily damaged. Silicone varieties are more durable and taste better.
Shape:
Choose from the traditional bell shape or a rounded orthodontic one. The latter is designed to more closely resemble a real nipple.
Flow:
The rate at which your baby is able to suck milk from the teat depends on how many holes there are in it – the more holes, the faster the flow. Generally, it’s thought that newborns prefer a slower flow, while older babies, who can cope with more milk per suck, prefer a medium or fast flow. Bear in mind, though, that newborns get tired quickly if they have to suck very hard, so be prepared to try a few before you find the right one for your baby.
Remember!
After a feeding, throw away any leftover formula. NEVER reheat it, as it’s no longer sterile.
Any sterilized equipment not used within 24hrs will need to be re-sterilised.
All you need to know about sterilising
The Do’s and Don’ts of bottle feeding
