Bottle Feeding Tips For Newborns
Babies should be held with their head supported using a pillow, while you cradle her in your arm during bottle feedings for some extra skin-to-skin contact.
Pace your feeds by monitoring for signs that your baby has had enough. Prolonged milk pooling in baby’s mouth can lead to tooth decay.
1. Choose a sterile nipple
Bottle nipples come in all sorts of shapes, materials and sizes – some babies respond better to certain styles than others, so it is wise to try several before finding what your child prefers. Nipples can be made of latex or silicone; latex tends to be soft while silicone firmer. Be sure to sterilize both before use with hot water and bottle brush – no matter which you pick! Additionally, keep in mind that most nipples should only be used once before being replaced after every feeding or when signs of wear such as stickyness, discoloration or cracking appear – replacement will also need be needed every time after every use or when worn signs such as becoming sticky, discolored discoloration discoloration discoloration discoloration discoloration thinness or cracking appear.
A good nipple should be easy for your baby to use, with small holes that permit only small amounts of liquid through at once – this mimics how real breast milk would naturally provide nourishment to their baby. A larger flow may make sucking too difficult and cause frustration among newborns.
Once you’ve selected a bottle nipple that suits your baby’s preferences, remember that fussiness during or after feedings might not be directly attributable to it; rather it could be due to gas or disliking their formula/milk. In such instances, consult with a healthcare provider; sometimes changing formula, pacing the feed, addressing digestive problems with medicine or discussing breastfeeding or switching to formula with lower fat content could provide solutions.
2. Hold the bottle at an angle
No matter the method or position used to bottle feed your child, certain techniques and positions can ensure an optimal experience for both mother and baby. Particularly with newborns, precautionary steps must be taken in order to prevent issues like air swallowing and overfeeding so as to provide both you and your little one with an ideal beginning on their bottle-feeding journey.
Hold the bottle at a 45-degree angle instead of holding it horizontally to reduce how much air your baby swallows and help alleviate any gas issues they might be having. Make sure to burp regularly during feedings so they don’t become overfull too quickly.
Pacing the feeding is also key, particularly for babies who are used to breastmilk feedings, since their bodies have grown used to controlling how much milk comes in. To do this, simply allow your child to sucking at their bottle for 10-20 minutes, before temporarily pulling away the nipple so they can latch back on during a “pause.” This will give your little one time to rest and recover after their work in feedings has concluded.
Prop your baby upright when feeding from a bottle to reduce their risk of choking and ear infections, and don’t leave it in their mouth once they seem done consuming; short breaks between feedings may help burping needs as well as provide the opportunity to burp them!
3. Pace the feed
Paced bottle feedings can help babies manage their hunger more effectively by mimicking breastfeeds’ slow and steady delivery of milk or formula. By creating this experience for them, pacing bottle feeding helps ensure that babies can register when they are full.
Start feedings off right by placing the nipple across your baby’s lips (instead of tilting the bottle). When they start rooting and opening their mouth, gently stroke the nipple with your finger to initiate latching. Once they’ve latched on, keep the bottle horizontal to allow your child to control how much milk flows through. Every few swallows lower its base slowly to pause milk flow – similar to how breastfeeding mothers pause during their feeds – then when baby signals they are ready resume, raise it back to its previous position!
Take frequent breaks during feedings to burp your baby and show they are satisfied, this will reduce gas and overfeeding risk while giving them time to recognize hunger cues and tune into their natural feeding schedule.
Your baby will know they are done when they stop sucking, their nipple moves slightly or they begin dribbling milk. While this technique may take time to adapt to, once familiar it should help your little one become increasingly independent from its bottle over time.
4. Change the nipple every two months
Your baby’s age and how they use their bottle will dictate which nipple size works best. Newborns require slower flow rates while older infants may prefer faster flows once they master the art of sucking.
Nipples for infants come labelled with levels to correspond with infant age; however, this should only serve as a general guideline and shouldn’t replace your personal observations and your baby’s unique feeding habits. For instance, if your infant sucks aggressively during feedings and their nipple inverts due to forceful sucking action during meals, this could indicate they need a higher level nipple.
Be on the lookout for signs that your baby may be tiring of their feeds or taking longer than normal to finish bottles – these could be indicators that they’ve become bored of their bottle and it might be time for an upgrade!
Wear and tear can also be an indicator that it’s time for a switch, as worn out or loose nipples may cause the teat to invert during bottle feedings, leading to forceful flow that disrupts baby’s comfort during feedings.
Monitor all of the baby bottles and parts you own regularly for cracks, tears, discolorations or any signs of damage that could lead to germs or mold becoming harmful to their health. Bottles & nipples should also be rinsed after each feeding and air-dried after air-drying before storage; never soak or leave sitting in the sink as this can create mold and bacteria growth. When selecting bottles for proper care and storage purposes it is wise to choose glass over plastic ones as these last longer.
5. Interrupt the feed
Sometimes babies swallow air while bottle feeding, making them feel uncomfortably full and potentially sick. If this happens to your little one, take them off of the bottle immediately and give some skin-to-skin contact to bring up air bubbles from within their stomachs; try also gently massaging their back.
If your baby seems intent on reaching for the bottle instead of breastfeeding, they could be trying to express a strong desire to breastfeed. If that fails to satisfy their craving, try switching up their bottle nipple or teat; also consider switching to one with slow flow capability or newborn-specific options for maximum effectiveness.
Bottle-feeding can be a significant change for infants who have been exclusively breastfeeding, particularly for moms returning to work or other reasons. It’s best to introduce bottle feeding before leaving your baby alone for extended periods of time so your body can establish a solid milk supply while your infant masters the mechanics of breastfeeding suck-swallow-breathe.
Partner, friend or family assistance may be essential when starting breast-feeding your infant, as babies often associate mom with mealtime and will be less likely to react negatively when met by strangers initially. A lactation consultant may visit your home to offer tips for getting your infant to accept their bottle – they can check latch, recommend appropriate bottles for infants as well as troubleshoot any behavioral issues which might be impeding their progress – they might even provide hand pumps so you can try and establish a milk supply before switching over completely to formula.
