About Bottle Feeding

Breast Milk or Formula?

• Although there is overwhelming evidence that breast milk is superior to formula, not all women have the physical or emotional ability to successfully breastfeed. Your physical health, lifestyle and financial resources will all determine what makes the most sense for your baby. Regardless of what you choose, remember that -- other than breast milk -- there are no safe substitutes for commercially prepared, Food and Drug Administration-approved baby formula. Experts at the Kids Health website state that babies require such a wide array of nutrients that even the most ambitious home concoction will leave your baby malnourished.

Preparing a Bottle

• To prepare a bottle of formula, follow the instructions on the packaging. Run warm tap water over the bottle to warm it up, test a few drops on your inner wrist to check the temperature and you're ready to feed baby. To prepare a bottle of breast milk, wash your hands and have a clean container ready for milk storage. Use your breast pump according to its instructions, and store milk in the refrigerator if you're going to use it within the next 24 hours. Otherwise, freeze your milk in a bag designed for human breast milk and label it with the current date and time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you freeze it in very small portions, because once you thaw your milk, you shouldn't re-freeze it. Thaw by swirling the milk bag in a warm bowl of water, or allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. Whether you use breast milk or formula, never heat up these liquids in the microwave -- this causes dangerous hot spots that may burn your baby.

How Much?

• Whether you're feeding formula or breast milk, it's best to feed your baby on demand -- that is, whenever he shows hunger cues. Cues may include turning his head from side to side, putting hands in his mouth, moving his lips and tongue or rooting at anything that touches his cheek. Generally, per feeding, newborns will consume 1 to 2 ounces; at 2 months, 4 to 5 ounces; at 4 months, 4 to 6 ounces; and at 6 months, up to 8 ounces. Babies who drink breast milk may feed more frequently because breast milk is digested faster than formula. However, the Kids Health website recommends you don't get caught up in numbers and instead feed when your baby seems hungry. Focus on small, frequent feedings if you're worried about baby not getting enough; because your baby's stomach is about the size of his fist, he can't take much milk in one sitting. If he falls asleep eating, is burping or spitting up excessively, don't attempt to get him to finish his bottle -- he's likely already full.

Holding Baby and Bottle

• Feeding baby is a regular opportunity for bonding. Hold baby in a semi-reclined position in your arms, making sure her head is aligned with her back. If her head is tilted to the side, back or toward her chest, it's difficult for her to feed comfortably. Minimize the amount of air baby swallows by tilting the bottle so that milk fills the nipple completely before placing the bottle to baby's mouth. If your baby frequently coughs, spits or seems to get exhausted suckling at the bottle, inspect the nipple. The bottle nipple should be large enough that liquid drips once per second, but not so large that it pours or drips quickly. Most commercial nipples will be labelled by age -- purchase one appropriate for your infant.