How to Formula Feed a Baby
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding a baby, but it is ultimately the choice of the mother, and some women may have difficulties breastfeeding. If you choose to formula feed your baby, knowing how to prepare and clean the bottles, as well as how to hold the baby during the feeding, can make the process much easier for parent and child. As your baby grows from a newborn to an infant, he will require different amounts of formula for each feeding and the frequency of feedings will change. Visit the American Academy of Pediatrics website to find out just how much and how often your baby should be eating.
Things You'll Need
- Baby bottles
- Pot
- Tongs
- Dish towels
- Burp cloth
- Mild dish soap
Instructions
Choose the proper formula for your baby. Most babies are fine drinking formula derived from cow̵7;s milk, which is the most common type sold. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend using low-iron formulas. Your baby may need a special type of formula, such as hypoallergenic if he develops a dairy protein allergy, or soy formula if cow̵7;s milk formula upsets his stomach. If dairy protein allergies run in your family or if your baby begins to show signs of stomach issues, discuss this with your child̵7;s doctor to see if he needs to drink hypoallergenic or soy formula. Sterilize the bottles and nipples before the first use. It̵7;s not necessary to sterilize them any other time, unless you have well water, in which case they should be sterilized every week or so. Put all disassembled parts of the bottle into the dishwasher to sterilize, or boil them in a pot for 15 minutes with enough water to cover all parts. Remove the items from the pot with tongs and lay them out to air-dry on a clean dish towel. Prepare the bottle according to the instructions on the formula. Measurements and mixing instructions may vary among formula manufacturers. In general, mix the water and formula together in the bottle and shake it up well. If you have well water, you will need to buy nursery water or boil the tap water for five to 10 minutes to use for mixing formula. Let the boiling water cool down completely before using it in your baby̵7;s bottle. Always test the temperature of the prepared formula prior to giving the bottle to your baby. Squeeze the milk onto the inside of your wrist to make sure it̵7;s warm, but not hot. Position your baby properly to begin the feeding. Cradle him in one arm with his head in the crook of your elbow and his bottom resting on your thigh. Move the nipple of the bottle gently over his lips to let him know it̵7;s time to eat. Once he begins sucking on the nipple, hold the bottle slightly upward so the milk is filling the base of the nipple. Keeping the milk continuously in the nipple will help prevent him from sucking in excess air during the feeding. Burp your baby as needed during the feeding. It̵7;s not necessary to interrupt his feeding to burp him, unless he̵7;s showing signs he is ready. If he begins fidgeting during the feeding, bring the baby up to your chest with the front of his body facing yours and his chin resting on your shoulder. Place a burp cloth on your shoulder for protection against spit up. Pat the baby gently on the back until he burps. Clean the bottles after each use. Disassemble all parts of the bottle and rinse them under warm water. Fill a clean sink with hot water and put a couple of drops of mild dish soap into the water. Let the bottle parts soak in the water for 30 minutes, then scrub each part individually with a bottle brush. Rinse well, then lay all parts of the bottle on a clean towel to air-dry. Bottles can also be washed on the top rack of a dishwasher.
