Basic Bottle-Feeding Tips and Advice for Parents

I work with parents daily who are having trouble feeding their babies. Usually with these children there is a physical or medical reason why they are not eating well. But regardless of the reasons the basics are the same.

Here are some useful tips and advice on feeding your baby.

The Basics of Bottle-Feeding

• Make sure you and your baby are in a comfortable position during feeding time.
• Hold your baby in a semi-reclining position when feeding him. Avoid lying your baby flat while feeding him. This position can cause formula to run into the eustachian tubes of his ears and cause ear infections.
• Make sure that the nipple clears your baby's nose and that the nipple remains full of formula to prevent your baby from sucking air and getting gas.
• Baby bottles that use bags usually control air flow and gas bubbles better then plastic that don't require a bag.
• There are a ton of different nipples on the market. If your baby does not need a special nipple(i.e. Cleft Lip/Pallet)I like the Gerber Nurser the best.

• Premixed baby formula is more convenient and more expensive than powder formula. They both have the same nutritional qualities.
• Make sure to follow the directions for mixing your baby's formula exactly. Adding too little formula mix can reduce nutrients and calories. Adding too much mix can cause stomach upset and digestion problems.
• Mix Powder baby formula with warm water to help the mixture dissolve. It is generally recommended that formula be mixed with filtered or baby-water to avoid exposing your baby to chemicals. Formula can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
• Never use formula that has been left out for more than 1 hour.
• Be extra careful with formula storage in the summer time.
• Very young babies can not tolerate cold formula or juice.
• Warm baby bottles in a cup of hot water. Shake well before giving it to your baby.
• You should avoid warming baby formula in the microwave. Microwave ovens can over heat and leave a hot spot in the center of the formula and badly burn your baby's mouth.
• Clean nipples by scrubbing them in hot soapy water or place them into a dishwasher basket and run through the dishwasher.
• Replace nipples when they begin to feel soft and sticky.

• Allow daddy to participate in bottle-feeding routines. This is a special bonding opportunity with your baby and it's important to allow daddy time to share in this too.
• Stop and burp your baby when he has taken half of his bottle. If he does tend to be a gassy baby you may need to burp him more often during feedings.
• Make sure you use the proper flow nipple for your baby's suck/swallow and breathe abilities. Very young babies should use slow flow nipples.
• When you can bottle-feed your baby 5-6 ounces at one time and has fair head control transition him to a medium flow nipple.
• A Baby that is beginning to sit with support and drinking 7-8 ounces at a time will most likely be able to handle a fast flow nipple. Watch your baby for trouble getting used to the new flow by coughing or gagging.
• The amount of formula that your newborn can drink right away will often depend on the baby. My son started at 3 ounces every 2-3 hours and jumped to 4 ounces within a couple of days. The average newborn starts out eating 2 ounces every 2-3 hours.
• Between 1 and 3 months your baby should increase the amount of formula he takes per feeding and decrease the number of feedings per day.
• Generally a baby should finish a meal within 30 minutes. If it takes longer than this for your baby to finish his bottle mention this to your pediatrician.
• If your baby finishes a bottle within 30 minutes and still seems to be hungry try adding an additional ounce per feeding.
• Babies have varying appetites just like adults. The amount of baby formula can vary from one feeding to the next and from one day to the next without there being a medical concern. But if this remains a pattern for more than 3 days notify your baby's doctor.

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