| Breastfeeding is always preferable to bottle feeding, | | | | turn it on. A light will usually indicate when the bottles |
| but if you are about to start bottle feeding your baby | | | | have been sterilized. You can also buy plastic |
| you should first talk to your midwife about the | | | | sterilizers that are designed to be used in a |
| advantages and disadvantages of bottle feeding. Here | | | | microwave. If you have neither, then you can sterilize |
| are some bottle feeding tips to help get you started. | | | | your baby's milk bottle by placing them is a saucepan |
| There are three types of infant formula. Powdered | | | | of boiling water and leaving them in it for 5 minutes. |
| formula is the cheapest and the most widely used. | | | | To prepare formula, boil water for five minutes and |
| You have to mix the powder with sterilized water. | | | | cool it before mixing it with powdered or concentrated |
| Concentrated formula is in liquid form. Like powdered | | | | formula. If you are using bottles with disposable liners, |
| formula, you have to first mix it with sterilized water | | | | throw away the liner after use. You can store |
| before feeding it to your baby. It is more expensive | | | | prepared infant formula in the fridge for up to 48 hours. |
| than powdered infant formula. The third type is | | | | You can reheat the infant formula by running it under a |
| read-to-feed infant formula. You simply open the | | | | hot tap. Never warm your baby's milk using a |
| carton and feed it to your child. It is the most | | | | microwave; it can get too hot. |
| expensive of the three types of infant formula. | | | | The old fashioned way of testing the temperature of |
| Always follow the mixing instructions provided. It is | | | | your baby's milk still works best; simply shake a few |
| sometimes tempting to add a little bit more, especially if | | | | drops on to the underside of your wrist. If it feels |
| you believe your child is extra hungry. But infant | | | | warm but not hot it is ready to give to your baby. |
| formula has been specially prepared to give your baby | | | | When feeding your baby, make sure her head is a little |
| the correct dosage of ingredients, so you shouldn't | | | | higher than her tummy. You should keep the bottom of |
| deviate; giving too much formula can be bad for your | | | | the bottle raised so that the nipple stays full of milk at |
| child, especially over the long term. | | | | all times, so that air doesn't get in. If your baby drinks |
| Never use any infant formula that has passed its | | | | formula mixed with air she may spit up. Hold your baby |
| sell-by date. | | | | close and look into her eyes as you would do when |
| Always use clean plastic or glass bottles. These | | | | breastfeeding. |
| should have previously been washed in hot soapy | | | | Finally, bottle feeding has one huge advantage over |
| water and then sterilized. There are various sterilizing | | | | breastfeeding. That is other members of the family |
| devices on the market. Some electrical ones - the | | | | can bottle feed your baby. It's a great way to get dad |
| easiest to use by far - just require you to place the | | | | and older siblings to get involved care for baby. |
| cleaned bottles in a plastic holder. You close the lid and | | | | |