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[B822]Bottle Feeding A Baby

by Robin Obrien, Rob

If you've decided to bottle feed your child then you must first acquire the correct equipment. First on your list should be an adequate bottle sterilizer. There are several different types to choose from. The cheapest option available is to buy a bottle sterilizer that works by placing it in a microwave. Their big advantage is cheapness, but they do have a couple of drawbacks; first you must thoroughly clean your microwave after cooking spicy food. Secondly, portability can be problematic. A more expensive option is to purchase an electric bottle sterilizer. You simply wash your baby's bottle and then place them into a plastic tray, which is then placed into the sterilizer. This is the best way to sterilize your baby's milk bottles, however, be sure to place only the amount of water into the sterilizer as specified by the manufacturers - don't put more than is recommended. Finally, you can purchase an electric/microwave combination. Basically, this means you can place the interior tray into a microwave rather than using the electric unit. Whichever type you purchase, don't forget to wash it occasionally.

Ensure that you wash your baby's bottles correctly. Use a bottle washer especially made for cleaning babies bottles. Wash bottles in warm soapy water and use salt to clean the teats. Make sure use rinse thoroughly after cleaning. Never sterilize your baby's bottles with the teat or caps left on.

Germs require 3 things to thrive; water, sugar and warmth. Infant formula can provide ideal conditions for germs to breed. Always make infant formula just before you need to and discard any that is left over after feeding. Never give your baby milk that was made for a previous feed; would you like to drink milk that has been left standing for hours in a warm room? Also, when travelling, never make formula in advance. It is better to take hot water and mix the milk powder just before feeding. It might be worthwhile buying ready-to-use for long distance trips.

Never share your baby's bottle with another infant, even with other siblings. Sharing is the surest way to spread germs from one baby to another. Make sure your own hands are clean before you prepare your baby's formula.

Take care of your baby's teeth. Bottle feeding tooth decay is a real risk. Infant formula usually contains more sugar that breast milk. You should never put baby to bed with a bottle, which the baby can suck on for hours. The sugary liquid flows over the baby's upper front teeth and dissolves the enamel, causing decay that can lead to infection. The longer the practice continues the more damage to the baby's teeth and mouth. Treatment is very expensive.

Bottle feeding will provide your child with all the nutrients it needs. By following the guidelines above, you can also ensure that bottle feeding is as germ-free and safe as breastfeeding.

If you're bottle feeding your baby it's easy to see how much baby is getting. Manufacturers provide instructions on how to make formula milk and how much milk a baby should consume. The guidelines state how much to feed a baby for a particular age and weight. So, why do babies run a greater risk of being overweight when they are bottle fed?

The biggest reason for excessive weight gain is because parents ignore a baby's signals that she's had enough. Breastfeeding mothers are taught to follow baby's lead. Breastfeeding mothers are taught to offer breast milk when the baby wants it and to stop breastfeeding when she sees signs that baby has had enough. Mothers who choose to bottle feed are seldom, if ever, given this advice. Rather, mothers feel obliged to follow instructions printed on the side of a container. But guidelines aren't suitable for every child; each child is unique, different. Because of blind acceptance that manufacturers of formula milk know best, many mothers are tempted to make baby finish the bottle.

Nicolas Stettler, a pediatric nutrition specialist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, studied data on a large group of bottle-fed babies. He found a correlation between rapid weight gain in the first four months and being overweight at age seven. This, he suggests, may be due to overfeeding. ?With bottle-fed babies, a mother can override her baby by urging him to finish the bottle,? he explains. ?The mother needs to be responsive to her baby's cues.? When babies are constantly overfilled, past the point of feeling replete, then in time they may learn to ignore the ?full signal?. Also, for most babies, drinking milk isn't just about getting nutrition; it's about comfort. Therefore some babies will often feed even when they're not hungry.

A mother must be on the lookout for signals that baby has been fed enough. But what signals should a bottle-feeding mother be looking for? Firstly, follow the advice given to breastfeeding mothers. That means letting your baby take ten or 12 sucks, then removing the bottle, then allowing ten or 12 more sucks, then another break, and so on. This pacing is particularly important for a newborn, less so after about four months. During these breaks, remove the nipple from your baby's mouth as you might accidentally press it against her palate. If, after one of these breaks, your baby does not open her mouth for the bottle, she's probably finished. When you baby is drinking watch her mouth. If your baby's mouth relaxes or goes slack so that she's no longer sucking actively, she is finished drinking. If you baby is no longer keeping eye contact, rolling her head from side to side, or is trying to push the bottle way; she's finished drinking.

Formula-fed babies are known to put on weight in a different pattern compared to breastfed babies. This difference is most marked after two or three months, when formula-fed babies gain weight slightly faster than breastfed babies on average. Breastfeed babies typically gain weight more slowly after the first three months. Also, they tend to be slightly leaner at a year old than formula-fed babies. Bear this in mind if you are comparing your baby's weight gains against a weight chart.

Baby's weight gains can be erratic and it's not unusual for new born babies to loose weight in the first few days. If you are concerned about your baby's weight you should immediately get medical advice. As discussed above, the most important thing is to follow your baby's lead as to how much it needs; not anyone else's.

Article Source : help for parents of

Robin Obrien has sinced written about articles on various topics from Modelling, Prom Dress and Kids and Teens. Robin O'Brien is founder of . It offers advice on all aspects of bottle feeding, including. Robin Obrien's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.