Bottle Feeding

What is bottle feeding?

Choosing whether to breastfeed or formular feed their baby is one of the biggest decisions expectant and new parents will make. Health experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants. Even though exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first 6 months of life, there are many reasons why new mothers will have to feed their children expressed breast milk or formula with a feeding bottle.

For the mother these include: Inverted nipples, Medications, Unavailability and for the baby: abnormal mouth or throat, Allergy to breast milk. For mothers who cannot breastfeed or who decide not to, infant formula is a healthy alternative. Formula provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.

What are some misconceptions about bottle feeding?

There are no studies that show that children who are bottle fed have dangerous levels of plastic in them. While breast-milk has been shown to stimulate brain growth, this desired effect is not compromised when babies are bottle fed with it us some believe. In a society that encourages and praises breastfeeding, it is important to note that caretakers have their reasons for straying from the societal norm and some of the reasons maybe private to parents.

How can you bottle feed a baby?

• Once your bottle is prepared and at the ideal temperature, it’s time to start feeding your baby.
• First, find a position that’s comfortable for you and safe for your baby.
• Hold the bottle at a horizontal angle so that your little one has to gently suck to get the milk.
• Be sure that the milk fills the entire nipple so that your baby isn’t gulping lots of air, which may result in gas and fussiness.
• Be sure to take breaks every few minutes to gently burp baby. If they seem particularly squirmy during a feeding, they may have a gas bubble; take a pause and gently rub or pat their back.
• Use this opportunity to bond with your baby. Hold them close, look into their wide eyes, sing soft songs, and make feeding time a happy time.
• Cradle your baby

When you think of holding a newborn baby, you probably envision yourself cradling them in the nook of your arm. This is a great position for feeding your baby a bottle. Rest their head in your elbow bend and tilt them up so they’re at a comfortable angle. This position is ideal for some bonus skin-to-skin contact.

Sitting position

Sit down and place baby upright in your lap with their back against your stomach and chest. This position is especially encouraged for infants with reflux. Just be sure that you’re tipping the bottle to completely fill the nipple with milk.

Rest baby on your legs

Sit or lay down, and prop your baby on your legs with their back against your thighs and their head near your bent knees. This position allows for eye contact and interaction. Bottle feeding requires good cleaning in between feeds which may be difficult for places with irregular water supply. A recommended alternative is the cup and spoon method, because of its ease of cleaning. An added advantage is it requires the attention of the person feeding throughout the feeding process.

How long should bottle feeding take?

A bottle feeding should take about 15-20minutes. If the baby finishes the bottle in 5-10 minutes, the flow is likely too fast. A fast flow can be suspected if baby is swallowing too fast with wide opened eyes and open fingers. If the baby takes 30-45 minutes to finish the bottle, the flow is too slow. Consider changing the bottle and nipple to meet the baby’s need.