Bottle Feeding
You may want to get your baby introduced to bottle feeding for a number of reasons. Some common reasons why many mothers turn towardsbottle feeding for their babies are:
- The baby does not get enough breast milk and is not gaining enough weight. Your doctor may advise you to supplement your breast milk with a formula. This is a key reason why most mothers get their babies started with bottle feeding. Usually, feeding your baby exclusively on breast milk for the first six months is an ideal choice.
- You will have to be away from your baby. You decide to express your milk using a breast pump and store them in the refrigerator for someone else to feed him in your absence.
- You are under medication which prevents you from breast feeding or you have a breast infection. Again, you might consider the option of expressing your breast milk to feed your little one.
In all these cases, you can feed your baby with a feeding bottle. Feed your little one until he is full. If he refuses to suck or spits out the nipple, he is usually full. When you start formula feeding, your little one may vomit a little. This is because his stomach finds it harder to digest the formula. So, remember to burp him by patting him on the back.
The later you introduce your breastfed baby to the feeding bottle, the more time he takes in adjusting to it.
Tips for Successful Bottle Feeding
- Establish skin-to-skin contact with your baby just like when you breastfed him. Hug him close and provide him the same warmth and comfort you gave him during breast feeding.
- Do not force your baby to finish a feeding bottle in a single feed.
- Ensure that the size of the hole in the teat is of the correct size. Milk should fall only drop by drop when you turn the filled up feeding bottle upside down.
- Most babies prefer warm baby formula or breast milk. So, you can keep the bottles warm by immersing them in a bowl of hot water or pouring hot water on the bottle. To check if the baby formula is of the right temperature, just shake a few drops of the formula on your inner wrist. If it feels warm, then you can safely feed your baby.
- Switch your arms each time you feed your baby. He will be able to see around him from different angles. You will also avoid tiring your arms.
Different types of bottles and nipples are available in the market. Silicone nipples last longer than latex nipples. Some feeding bottles contain throw away plastic liners to hold the nipple in place and prevent the baby from sucking air.
Where to buy Feeding Bottles and other accessories in India?
Shoppers Stop has a vast range of feeding bottles and bottle accessories by Mother Care, Philips and Avent to help you feed your baby breast milk. That’s Cute has anti colic feeding bottles in different shapes that can help to minimise colic in your baby. Kid Studio has a wide range of feeding bottles that you can choose from to feed your baby. They also have silicone nipples that you can buy separately without the bottle. Sunbaby an online Indian store provides a whole lot of feeding accessories such as feeding bowls with spoons and lids, moulded plates and bowls to make solid feeding exciting. Kids Kingdom offers you feeding bottles that are easy for your baby to hold without slipping. These bottles have a flow adjustable nipple. Bonne feeding bottles are made of polycarbonate and polypropylene that are FDA approved. Moreover, these bottles are lightweight, unbreakable, odourless, heat resistant, easy to clean and hygienic. Bonne nipples are made of liquid silicone and natural rubber. They are available in different shapes and sizes.
Video on Giving Baby a Feeding Bottle
How should I position my baby for bottle feeding?
Positioning your baby right is the key tip for successful bottle feeding. When feeding your baby, hold her head at a slightly higher level than her body. This will stop the formula or milk from flowing into her inner ear and causing an ear infection. Tilt the feeding bottle in such a way that the bottom of the bottle faces upward. If you position the bottle like this, the nipple is always filled with baby formula. So there are lesser chances of her swallowing air and vomiting later. Do not shake the bottle, because this can choke her.
Are there any safety measures I should take when I use a feeding bottle for my baby?
Yes, of course. Some steps to be kept in mind for safe bottle feeding are:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and dry them well before you handle the bottles and fill them with formula.
- Clean the bottles with hot water. It is a common practice to sterilize the bottles and nipples before every use.
- Follow the formula mixing instructions carefully.
- Do not heat the baby formula in the microwave because the formula could get heated unevenly.
- Do not save the excess baby formula left over in a feeding bottle for the next feed. This is a key source for bacteria to germinate.
- Clean the feeding bottle immediately after each feed.
- Check to see that there are no air locks. Air locks could cause your baby to suck in air resulting in vomiting.
- If you are traveling and prepare many feeding bottles of formula before hand, store them in your refrigerator.
- Keep unused bottles of expressed milk in the refrigerator and thaw them before you use them.
- Check the hole in the teat to ensure the smooth flow of milk. If the hole is too big, milk will start flowing rapidly and choke the baby. If it is too small, the milk will not flow with ease and your baby will suck more air. This results in colics and vomiting after feeds.
- Do not allow your baby to handle the feeding bottle alone or leave him alone with the feeding bottle.
- Avoid metal based feeding bottles.
- After feeding, if your baby does not release himself from the feeding bottle, do not pull the nipple from his mouth. Put your little finger in between his gums and the teat to release the feeding bottle.
A main advantage of bottle feeding is that the baby's father, siblings and other relatives can also develop a close bond with the baby during feeding.
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