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Bottle-Feeding
Guidelines
By
Robin Obrien
In every doctor's surgery and hospital reception the
walls are plastered with breastfeeding advice. What you
don't often see are best practice guidelines for mothers
who choose to bottle feed their baby. So, to rectify
this, here are a few pointers.
Don't let your baby's crying be the cue to begin
feeding. If your baby's upset before you begin
bottle-feeding then she may well fuss during her feed.
Breastfeeding mothers are told to breastfeed frequently
and the same advice applies to bottle-feeding. One
important point to remember though is that formula milk
takes about four hours to digest compared to two hours
for breast milk, so the interval between feeds should be
longer for bottle-feeding.
A newborn baby will take up to about 85ml (3fl oz) per
feed. As she grows older the amount of feed will
increase as will the period between feeds. Babies know
when they've had enough so don't worry if your baby
hasn't finished all the milk. Discard any milk left in
the bottle; never, ever attempt to feed this to your
baby later on. Formula milk that is left sitting is a
perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you baby still
appears hungry after emptying the bottle, offer her more
milk. You won't overfeed your baby.
The best way to hold a baby for bottle-feeding is
straightforward. You hold the baby as you would for
breastfeeding but in a slightly more upright position to
make it easier for her to swallow and to prevent formula
from spilling and running into her nostrils and ears.
Don't just put the nipple of the bottle straight into
baby's mouth. Rather, gently rub your baby's cheek and
lips with the nipple, just as breastfeeding mothers are
advised. This gently rubbing stimulates your baby's
'rooting reflex'.
You can reduce the amount of air your baby consumes by
tilting the bottle to ensure that the nipple contains
only milk. Wind is uncomfortable for babies and, after a
feed, they'll let you know all about their discomfort.
It's usually best to avoid baby wind, for both mother
and child!
Take your time and allow your baby to pause from time to
time. It is quite normal for babies to stop drinking for
a while before continuing. As they grow older they can
also have a tendency to lose concentration and to look
about them instead of feeding. Therefore, before you
feed your baby, make your surroundings as peaceful and
relaxing as possible. If you're feeling uncomfortable
during the feed, then change positions. Remember, if
you're uncomfortable or distracted during a feed so will
your baby.
Feeding isn't just about giving your baby nourishment;
it's also about giving comfort. Hold your baby close to
you and maintain as much skin contact as you can. During
the feed, stroke, caress, talk and keep eye contact with
her, and above all, smile.
Feeding a baby is a special time for both mother and
child. It can be a relaxing and comforting experience
for both. To ensure that it is, follow the points above,
and most importantly, follow your baby's lead; they
often know better than we do what is the best way of
doing things.
Robin O'Brien is founder a site that helps mothers who
may have
baby bottle tooth decay. Everything, from choosing
the right
infant formula, to the advantages of bottle feeding.
Article Source:
Robin Obrien |
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