Formula Feeding for Babies
Bottle Feeding Information
Not every mum is able to, or chooses to breastfeed her baby for a host of very personal reasons. If you are thinking about bottle feeding your baby, this article will give you everything you need to know about formulas, bottles, heating formula and bottle sterilisation to ensure your baby is getting the nutrients they need, safely.
Whether to breast or bottle-feed is a very personal decision and one that you need to feel completely happy about. Before you make up your mind (or try either method), talk to your partner, your midwife and other mothers.
All babies under 12 months old must be given either breast milk or formula. Cows' milk does not contain enough iron and has the wrong balance of other nutrients for your baby.
Formula milk
Whilst there are many benefits associated with breast-feeding, it is important to remember that formula milk has been specially produced for bottle-fed babies. It is specifically produced to contain the right balance of vitamins and minerals that a baby needs to thrive.
Most formula milk is derived from cows' milk, which has been specially treated to make it easily digestible and its nutritional quality as near to that of breast milk as possible.
With lots of different formula milk to choose from, you should in the first instance, seek advice from your midwife.
However, if your baby is known to have lactose intolerance, or there is a strong family history of allergies that may be connected to cows' milk, you may need to use an alternative to regular formula milk. This may be a goats' milk, no lactose, anti-reflux or soy formula. You must seek advice from your doctor before introducing any of these to your baby's diet.
Different types of formula
For babies born prematurely, at low birth weight or sick, hospitals provide ready-made liquid formula because it is sterilised in the bottle, which means no risk of infection.
Some formulas contain more whey and others more casein (a protein). Younger babies usually prefer a whey-based formula milk as breast milk has more whey content in the early months. It is important that you use a formula to match the age of your baby. Formula is produced for a variety of different ages to suit newborns to six months, to six months to one year and so on. It differs between brands, so always read and check the manufacturers' instructions carefully.
Guidelines for using formula:
- Make sure you are using the right formula for your baby's age.
- Always use sterilised bottles and teats (until at least 3 months of age).
- When making up formula, always read the instructions on the tin or packet. The amounts of power to water have been carefully calculated to make sure that a baby gets the correct amount and balance of nutrients.
- Never add more powder than recommended because feeds that are too strong can be harmful to your baby.
- Make up formula as close as possible to feeding time, after washing your hands and reading the instructions.
- If your baby is under three months old, water used to make up formula should be first boiled and cooled on the day it is used.
- Boil water for three minutes or until an automatic kettle switches off. Cover it while it cools and until you need to use it.
- You can fill all of your bottles for the day (storing them in the fridge or on the bench). However, the Ministry of Health advises that you only add formula right before feeding time.
- Heating formula - the best way to heat formula is by placing the formula in a container of hot water. (Some babies may be happy to take their bottle at room temperature, but check this with your midwife first).
- The temperature of heated formula should be lukewarm. Check the temperature on the inside of your wrist.
- If you must heat formula by microwave, remove the lid and teat from the bottle first and heat in 10 second bursts, shaking well before each burst. Then leave bottle to stand for 2 or 3 minutes before testing its temperature.
- Heating formula by microwave is not recommended as microwaves heat unevenly and microwave-heated formula (or food) continues to heat after it has been taken out of the microwave.
- Use warmed formula within one hour of feed time.
- Throw out any unused formula in the bottle.
- Never reheat formula that has already been warmed or offer for feeding, as it is a potential breeding ground for bacteria.
- Check that you are using the right teat for your baby and that the flow is not to slow or fast, making the baby either work too hard or cope with leaks.
- Store tinned formula in a clean, dry place.
- Keep the lid on each formula tin and check the use-by date. Normally the powder should be used within four weeks of opening the tin.
For more information on bottle feeding, baby food and nutrition, look in the NZS.com directory.
Do you want to write for NZS.com, New Zealand's top Web directory? We are looking for New Zealand writers for our unique new article writing program - whereby you can write and submit articles for our website, and you will earn 50% of the revenue from the advertising on your article's page. Check out the Article Authors homepage to apply now!
Family images from Flickr: Bottle Feed, Kids Classroom and Hands.
