Baby Formula Feeding Do’s and Don’ts
Everyone agrees that breastfeeding is best, but for various reasons, many mothers choose to bottle feed with formula. Although there are more baby formula choices now than ever, it’s not as simple as you’d think to formula feed. Here are my baby formula feeding Do’s and Don’ts:
Do: Ask your doctor for help in choosing a baby formula. Many doctors prefer certain specific brands because they’ve seen patients use them with success over the years.
Don’t: Be afraid to switch. There are formulas made to help with digestive issues (such as acid reflux). Don’t be afraid to try them if you feel like your baby could benefit for them. If you do switch formulas, do it slowly and carefully as baby’s tummy might not be able to handle an abrupt switch.
Do: Warm baby’s bottle. When a mother breastfeeds, the milk coming out of her is warmed by her body. Don’t upset baby’s tummy with cold formula. Warm up your baby’s bottle under hot running water (and shake it to evenly distribute the warmth) or use a bottle warmer.
Don’t: Use a microwave to heat your baby’s bottle. The microwave doesn’t heat evenly and the formula can have “hot spots” which can seriously burn a baby.
Do: Wash your baby bottles. It sounds silly, but I’ve seen parents do a quick rinse of a bottle and then refill them. This is not a good idea because your baby’s saliva can encourage bacteria growth in the bottle, which can get out of control and potentially make your baby ill. You can boil them, or put them through the dishwasher on the hottest setting, but you must make sure they are clean. In my opinion, glass bottles are easier to clean than plastic. If you choose plastic, consider BPA free bottles.
Don’t: Use a towel to dry your baby bottles. Air drying is much more sanitary than a towel. You can find drying racks just for baby bottles, and they are usually very inexpensive.
Do: Prop up baby so that his or her head is higher than her stomach. Hold the bottle so that the nipple stays full of formula and not air, which can cause uncomfortable gas. It’s also best to keep baby’s head up higher so that baby doesn’t gulp too fast. Have a burp cloth ready and burp your baby every so often during the feeding so there is not a build up of gas.
Don’t: Prop your baby’s bottle up. You must hold your baby while he or she is eating, there is no alternative. Not to alarm or upset anybody, but babies have died from propped bottles: The item used to prop the bottle can fall on baby’s face and suffocate them, or the bottle can unexpectedly leak and drown baby. It’s scary, but true.
Use your feeding time with baby to bond. Gaze into your baby’s eyes and smile. Sing to your baby. Make feeding times happy times.
Find at Smarter.com: Shop for baby feeding products.
Image Source: abcnews.com, 1-formula.com
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