Bottle Feeding
I have bottle fed both my children, for some it just feels right. Your health visitor and other medical staff will advise you on breast feeding as it is deemed to be better for the baby and encourages weight loss in the mother.
It is completely your decision on what you feel is right for you and your baby, you may of well started out breast feeding like I did but then with a poor latching baby may of moved to bottle feeding or it might of been your decision to bottle feed from the start.
Equipment You Need For Bottle Feeding
- Bottles, around 6 I would recommend
- Steriliser
- Tongs
- Teat brush
- Formula milk
- Expressed milk
- Jug or bottle warmer
Have a good look around, there are many of different bottles that you can purchase these days. Speak to your friends and find out what they used and get some good recommendations before you purchase any. Also check that the teat is age appropriate.
Making Up a Formula Bottle
All your equipment must be washed first and then sterilised before making a bottle up. So once this is done and you have cleared and cleaned a work surface, start by boiling the kettle, place your bottle on a clean surface and remove the top leaving the teat covered by the lid, fill your bottle with just boiled water to the required amount and replace the lid. You then need to follow the manufacturing instructions on how to prepare a formula feed.
Making Up a Expressed Milk Bottle Feed
As above all your equipment must be wash and sterilised first, start by pouring your expressed milk into the bottle and then place the bottle with the lid tightly secured into a jug of hot water to warm the feed, check it regularly until it reaches the required temperature.
Make sure you test the temperature of the milk before giving it to your child, you can do this by squirting a small amount onto the inside area of your wrist, if it is too hot then place the bottle with the lid on it in a jug of cold water until it is cool enough to feed your baby.
Never reheat a milk feed or warm it up in a microwave as this can cause hot spots in the milk and can scold your baby's mouth.
--Kerryflump (talk) 04:38, 4 May 2013 (UTC)
