There is undoubtedly more work involved in bottlefeeding
as compared to breastfeeding but very soon a routine
will be established of cleaning and sterilizing the
equipment, formula preparation and giving the bottle.
Bottlefed babies are mostly fed with modified cow's
milk. All formulas are formulated according to government
regulations to ensure they replicate human milk as
closely as possible and contain the correct amounts
of fat, protein and vitamins. Inappropriate levels
of protein and minerals can put a strain on baby's
immature kidneys and cause dehydration. Cow's milk
doesn't contain sufficient iron for young babies;
goat's milk and condensed or carnation milk are not
suitable for young infants. Hence infant formula fed
from the bottle is a healthy alternative to breast
milk. Formula can be bought in powder, liquid concentrate
and ready-to-feed forms available in most supermarkets
and pharmacies. There are certain guidelines to making
formula milk. Good hygiene and following manufacturer's
instructions take precedence.
Safety Issues
Measurements:
Never heap or pack a scoop of formula
or add an extra one in the hope of providing extra
nourishment. Instead read the instructions carefully
and follow it and ensure the correct amount of water
is filled to the number of scoops. Always use the
scoop provided. Over-concentrated formula makes the
baby dehydrated and a weaker mixture results in an
undernourished baby. For extra formula, add more water
and powder in the right proportions. Always follow
the manufacturer's instructions totally.
Choking:
Never leave your baby to feed from a propped up bottle
even when she grows older. There is always the risk
that she can choke. Feeding this way can cause baby
to swallow a lot of air with the feed. Inspect bottle
teats each time you wash them to ensure they are not
worn or damaged.
Bacteria free:
Keep your baby's formula free from germs by washing
your hands before handling formula or equipment. Keep
the can tightly closed and sterilize everything you
use for measuring, mixing or storing the made up formula.
This includes bottles, teats and teat covers. Make
a bottle as and when your baby needs one. Discard
remnants as it contains bacteria from baby's saliva.
Milk Temperature:
Most babies don't mind taking milk that is slightly
colder than body temperature; it should be at room
temperature preferably. Do not use microwave to heat
formula as the bottle may feel cold but the contents
may have hot spots and could scald your baby's mouth.
Even if you choose to warm in the microwave ensure
the bottle is well shaken to increase the evenness
and test the temperature by letting a couple of drops
fall on the inside of your wrist. It should just feel
warm. Feed your baby right away and discard any leftovers
within the hour.
Excess Milk:
Never store warm formula in a thermos or electric
bottle warmer. Throw away any formula your baby leaves
behind. Don't try to save that half bottle for next
time by storing it in the fridge.
The Basics
1. Babies need a breast milk substitute
for the entire first year of life. You cannot count
on cow's milk to provide the nutrition as it contains
too little sugar and the wrong kind of fat. The protein
cannot be properly digested in your baby's tiny stomach
and the absence of iron makes it inappropriate. Babies
under one should not be fed any kind of unmodified
cow's milk.
2. Infant formula contains the extra
mineral critical for the health of your newborn. Liquid
colloidal minerals added to the formula will give
your baby over 60 essential minerals required for
proper physical development.
3. Formula kept at room temperature
becomes an ideal breeding ground for germs. A new
baby has few defenses against germs. Since she is
able to pick up innumerable number of germs from a
bottle standing around in a warm room, don't leave
one lying around. Reduce the risk of gastroenteritis
by keeping your baby's formula free from bacteria
as possible.
4. If you add too much of powder,
the feed will be too strong with too much protein,
fat, salt and less water. She will become fat from
too many calories and feel thirsty from too much salt.
The result can be one unhappy baby who cries a lot
and because she cries a lot you will give her another
bottle. If that bottle is concentrated again baby
will even be thirstier. The result will be a baby
who cries a lot, puts on a lot of weight and seems
to need a lot of feeding.
5. It's a bad idea to keep formula
warm when you plan an outing. Bottles once heated
should be fed right away. Warm formula kept longer
than an hour can cause bacteria to breed rapidly causing
stomach infection in your baby. Take bottles of prepared
formula in a cool box and warm them when he is hungry
in a bottle warmer. Alternatively you can measure
formula powder into empty milk containers and mix
with boiled water as you need one. Always carry an
extra feed during the trip.
6. Never introduce a routine at such
a tender age. Baby's routine right now is irregular
with frequent intervals. Baby tends to take longer
to digest formula as it contains slightly more protein
than breast milk and hence delays hunger for longer.
At this stage your baby will probably not take over
60 ml or 2 oz at each feed. This will increase in
quantity and decrease in frequency as he grows older.
Let him determine when he is to be fed. Don't feel
your baby has to finish his bottle; he will only get
too full and posset it back.
7. Possetting is when your baby brings food
straight back up. Common cause of possetting in young
babies is overfeeding. If you feel your baby didn't
feed well, offer her more food. If she doesn't take
it you can assume she has had her fill. Forcible vomiting,
if it occurs after several feeds, should be assessed
by your pediatrician immediately as it can lead to
dehydration.
8. Do not change milk formula without
consulting your pediatrician first. If you feel your
baby isn't feeding well or gaining adequate weight
consider changing to another brand or type but first
consult your doctor for advice.
9. Full term babies are sometimes
diagnosed as intolerant to lactose or protein in cow's
milk. They have difficulties digesting and eliminating
the protein from a dairy-based formula. There are
a range of specialized formulas which include hypoallergenic
and soy milk formulated to provide babies with all
the necessary nutrients. Consider trying soy-based
formula for one month.
10. When storing prepared formula in the
fridge ensure it is not stored beyond 24 hours. Keep
the bottles in the main body of the fridge as it is
cooler and not the door of the fridge.
11. During feeds, ensure you and
baby are in a comfortable position. Keep the bottle
tilted at an angle of 45 degrees so that the top is
filled with formula and not air. Always bottle-feed
your baby with her head higher than her body in a
semi-upright or upright position. Do not let baby
feed in a lying down position as this will cause fluids
to collect in the ear canal causing ear infections.
12. Once
baby stops sucking or when the feed is over, you may
want to burp your baby by holding her upright against
your shoulder and rub or pat her back gently. Since
babies may posset, it is a good idea to place a napkin
over your shoulder. If she doesn't burp after 3 minutes
she probably does not need to.
13. When cleaning the equipment wash
the bottles, teats, rings, discs and caps individually
with a bottlebrush in soapy water. Scrub the teats
and other parts thoroughly and rinse everything in
warm running water. Sterilize all the equipment in
a chemical sterilizer according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Alternatively boil most of the items
in a covered pan for 10 minutes and the teats for
only 3 minutes.
14. Always wash your hands before preparing
formula. Boil water for about 2 minutes. Let it cool.
Avoid using bottled water or repeatedly boiled water
as they may contain too much mineral salts.
15. After a few months your baby's
unique pattern will evolve on its own. Don't be overly
concerned about baby demanding food frequently just
because you are feeding her whenever she seems hungry.
An afterthought
Overfeeding
Fat cells once produced cannot be removed. As such
chubby babies grow into fat adults. It is very easy
to overfeed a bottlefed baby by simply adding extra
formula into the bottle and thereby extra calories.
Secondly in your bid to feed her properly you will
make sure she finishes to the last drop of every feed
even if she doesn't need it. Introducing solids too
early and syrupy drinks or fruit juices as substitutes
for water are other mistakes some mothers make.
