What equipment do you need to bottlefeed? What technique works best? How do you make up infant formula?
Posted: 29 May 2009
by Emma Hartfield
Don’t panic if you keep hearing that it’s bottle versus breast. It can be a minefield of info telling you how best to feed your newborn. There are lots of reasons why you may use a bottle, even if you’re breastfeeding, so here’s a simple guide to the basics of bottlefeeding, whether you’re giving your baby infant formula, breast milk or both. If you’re planning to combine breastfeeding with bottlefeeding, get your baby used to the breast first.
Even if you’re breastfeeding exclusively, it can often be useful to express milk that you can then feed to your baby in a bottle later. You might also like to use a bottle sometimes if you feel self-conscious feeding in public, or to enable your partner to share feeding duties.
What equipment will I need to bottlefeed?
- At least six bottles. You can choose from anti-colic, BPA-free, microwave-sterilised or disposable bottles to suit your needs.
- At least six teats. These come in different flow sizes, which are designed to accommodate a baby’s changing feeding speeds as they grow.
- If you’re planning to express, you’ll need a breast pump. Choose from either a hand or electric pump. Electric systems are more expensive but will save you time and effort if you’re planning to express a lot.
- If you’re not expressing, you’ll need a supply of formula milk, suitable for the age of your infant. At six months you can move on to a follow-on formula. Cows’ milk shouldn’t be used as a main drink for babies under a year as it doesn’t contain all the nutrients that infants need.
- A sterilising system. You can choose between kits that work in a microwave, electric systems that steam-clean bottles, or cold water kits that use a chemical solution to kill germs.
Expert Tip
It’s important that your baby-feeding technique at the breast is good, and that your milk supply is given time to fully establish. You can then start to gradually introduce bottlefeeds, so there are no sudden upsets if you’re planning to go back to work or want to go out and can’t be there to feed.
Vicki Scott, AVENT feeding expert
The correct feeding position
Vicki Scott, AVENT feeding expert, suggests the following steps to get the correct bottlefeeding position:
- Get yourself comfortable and have some close contact with your baby during and after feeding.
- Encourage your baby to open his mouth wide by touching the teat of his feeding bottle to his lip.
- As your baby opens his mouth, gently introduce the teat. As you do this, make sure that your baby’s tongue is facing down.
- Your baby’s lips should be around the wide part of the teat at the bottom. Look for a natural jaw movement and a wave-like pattern of tongue movement, which encourages natural suckling behaviour.
- Tilt the bottle so that the teat is always full of milk – this will make sure that your baby avoids swallowing air as he feeds.
- He will naturally release the bottle when he needs a break – or he may fall asleep.
How to make up a bottle with infant formula
- Boil fresh tap water and let it cool for a few minutes (but not longer than half an hour to ensure it’s still hot enough).
- Make sure the area where you’re preparing the feed is clean, and wash your hands thoroughly.
- Sterilise all feeding equipment.
- Make up the feed according to the instructions on the formula container.
- Pour the boiled water in first, then add the recommended amount of powder – don’t be tempted to use more.
- Screw the cap on tightly and shake well until all of the powder is dissolved.
- Cool the feed down, and test its temperature by dripping a little on to the inside of your wrist before you give it to your baby.
- Throw away any unused feed and clean the bottle thoroughly.
