Bottle Feeding - Parent Haven - A place for the REAL experts.......Parents

Before going out and buying everything you need of one type of bottle, you may want to try just a couple of different ones on your baby. Each baby can be different on what nipple they like the best. One of my sons did fine with the Playtex disposable bottles but the other son didn't like that kind of nipple and did better with the Avent bottles. Once you know what bottle works best for your baby I suggest the following supply of bottles:

Four to six 4 oz bottles

Four to six 8 oz bottles

Six to eight nipples, rings and caps

Bottle and nipple brush

Dishwasher safe basket for nipples and rings (optional)

Bottle drying rack (optional)

Insulated bag for travel

Most packaged bottles will come with nipples that are made for infants, which will be a slower flow. Make sure the flow from the nipple is not too fast. You will probably need to upgrade the nipple flow by 3 months.

Note: Disposable bottles can be less to clean but are slightly more expensive due to the supply of bags you will need.

We all know that breast milk is best for baby. This article is not to "promote" bottle feeding but to help the mothers who have either decided breastfeeding was not for them or were not as sucessful at breastfeeding as they had hoped. It can be of assistance to breastfeeding mothers too who want to supplement with bottle on occasion.

The ability or decision to breastfeed does not determine what kind of mother you are or will be. It IS possible to have intimacy with your baby if you are feeding by bottle. Make the most out of every feeding with baby as a breastfeeding mother does. Take time out of your day to feed your baby. You can feed baby skin to skin, cuddle baby in a cradle hold, rock and sing or talk to baby during feedings. Avoid propping a bottle for baby, especially in the first 3 months when the bonding time is so crucial. If you are out and baby needs to eat and you can't get in a position to hold and feed baby, every once in a while propping the bottle is not going to harm the baby. Try to make sure baby is not laying flat so it keeps the fluids from draining back into the ear canal. And don't leave your baby unattended with a propped bottle because choking could occur.

Only use FDA approved formulas. There are three forms that formula come in; ready to use (most costly), concentrate (medium cost) and powder (least costly). When traveling, I advise using the powder for easier control over storage of formula. Enfamil now has pouches of powder formula for making 4 and 8 oz bottles, which is great for travel.

There are 3 types of formulas to choose from:

Milk Based Formulas: Pediatricians generally recommend starting your baby out on a cow's milk variety. Most infants seem to tolerate these formulas well.

Soy Based Formulas: These dairy-free products are a good choice if there's a family history of milk intolerance or allergies. Many parents believe them to be a gentler option for babies who experience digestive difficulties, gas, cramps, spitting up and related colicky behavior. However, medical experts insist there is no proof that soy based formulas eliminates colic or that if your baby doesn't do well on milk based formula he well do any better on soy based formula.

Hydrolysate Formulas: These formulas contain treated proteins and are the most expensive. Your baby may be put on a hydrolysate formula if he is highly sensitive to soy and cow's milk formulas. Typically, they are unnecessary or inappropriate for the average baby.

You may try several different varieties of formula before finding the one best suited for your baby. You need to give the formula a good 10 days to 2 weeks for your baby's body to adjust to the formula. Consult your baby's doctor if you feel your baby needs to switch formulas. Check out our formula allergies page too.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be fed only iron-fortified formulas as a substitute for breast milk. . The claim of iron causing constipation has not been proven. And even if your baby does appear to have an initial reaction to the addition of iron to his diet, the digestive system usually adjusts within a few days.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, sterilization is no longer necessary as long as you use a municipal water supply (as opposed to well water) and have a dishwasher. Some formula manufacturers continue to recommend that you do boil water for about a minute before mixing it with powder and concentrate, especially for younger babies. Check with your pediatrician to be on the safe side.

Because newborns immune systems are still developing, they are defenseless even to the germs from our everyday environment. Therefore, it is very important to prepare and store formula safely.

Make sure to wash your hands before preparing the formula or bottle. Wash all the equipment you use to prepare the formula including rinsing off the top of the formula can. If you use powder formula make sure to replace the lid promptly.

With the canned formulas (ready to use and concentrate), refrigeration is required after opening. You will want to cover the can while in the refrigerator to prevent flavor contamination. The formula needs to be used within 48 hours of preparation, therefore only prepare a day worth of formula to reduce waste.

When preparing the concentrate or powder formula, be sure to use the appropriate amount of water to prevent affecting the nutritional content of the formula. If you use too much water it can cause baby to not get enough nutrients for growth needs or to satisfy hunger. Too little water can cause digestive and kidney problems and lead to dehydration. Don't worry if once in a while you have a little too much or not enough water. This is more for ongoing preparation being incorrect.

It is not necessary to heat the formula for your baby. Your newborn might refuse the bottle if it is given to him cold. The safest way to heat a bottle is by either holding it under hot tap water until it removes the chill off the bottle or put it in a pan of hot water and let it sit for a few minutes. But we all know that we live in an impulsive society today and the quickest way is the most desirable!! Therefore, instead of denying you the information you need to know on how to SAFELY microwave your baby's bottle. I will lay it our for you as I have found it in the "Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy and Baby's First Year":

Only use microwave for heating 4 oz of formula or more.

The bottle should be able to be stood up in the microwave.

Keep the bottle uncovered (no nipple) during heating; this is essential to allow excess heat to escape.

Because every microwave is different - remember that this is ONLY a guideline on how long to heat the bottle. For 4 oz bottles, heat at maximal setting for NO MORE then 30 seconds. (I usually only have to do it for 15 to get the chill off of the formula)

For 8 oz bottles, heat at maximal setting for NO MORE then 45 seconds. (I have never had to go over 35 seconds for this size bottle)

Replace the nipple assembly after heating.

Turn the bottle upside down 10 times (you don't need to shake it vigorously); this is essential to eliminate the difference in temperature between the top and the bottom of the bottle and to eliminate hot spots.

Always test the formula by placing several drops on your hand.

Formula should feel cool to barely warm to the touch.

Tip: When using powder formula it will mix much better in warm water. Avoid using hot tap water because the hot water draws more lead out of the pipes and so may have a higher lead level. I have microwaved the water slightly after putting the powder in the water. For a 4 oz bottle I have done it for 10 seconds and for a 8 oz bottle I have done it for 25 seconds. I do shake the powder formula bottles vigorously to help get the powder to break up and mix well.