The best food for your baby is breast milk, but sometimes it is impossible to breastfeed, then use bottle formula feeding as an alternative. Although formulas are specially an thoroughly made especially for bottle feeding, they are still lack of some vital elements natural for breast milk.
Making Up the Formula
To make the formula properly, you should read and follow thoroughly the instructions on the can, paying special attention on dozes indicated. It is quite inadvisable to cook the formula deliberately, for different formulas may use different size scoops and are mixed with different amounts of water.
Always use the scoop provided in the can of formula. To use proper amount of formula, scrape the sterilised knife over the top of the scoop to level the powder. Do not pack powder in the scoop too tightly.
Bottle Feeding Your Baby
Before starting to feed the infant, it is necessary to check the formula’s temperature, it shouldn’t be neither hot, nor cold. The best way of checking the formula is to sprinkle some drops of the formula on the back of your hand, if you hardly feel it, than the formula is all right, having the human body temperature, about 36°С.
When feeding, watch the formula to fill up the neck of the bottle, otherwise the baby would suck much air and burp.
Be sure that the nipple hollow is neither wide nor fine, if its too wide — the baby would choke up the milk, if its too fine — it would be too hard for the baby to suck, and he would not get enough milk. To check the nipple hollow, overturn the filled bottle — the milk should pour off in thin stream for few seconds, then it comes out in drops.
The formula should be prepared just before feeding. In special cases it could be made in advance. This case close the bottle with prepared milk with a lid, or plug the bottle with sterile cotton tampon and refrigerate. Before feeding, heat the bottle to 36 °С in special heater or by immersing it in a large bowl with hot water. Do not use the microwave. Microwaves heat unevenly, and the hot milk can burn your baby.
If some milk remained in the bottle after feeding, pour it off, don’t use it for the next feeding. Wash thoroughly and dry all utensils used for making formula and feeding infant.
Hold the baby while feeding. It is very important to communicate with your baby while feeding. Try to use these minutes to show him all your love and care, he needs to feel it.
How Much and How Often to Give
Most babies like to be fed every three or four hours. Some like to be fed a bit more or a bit less often. The amount of formula any individual baby needs varies a lot. If he is taking all of the quantity suggested on the tin for his age and/or weight, it is time to move up to the next step. If he seems to want a lot more than the recommended amount and is getting more unsettled, spilling a lot, or gaining excessive weight, talk to your child health nurse or doctor about it.
