If you have a newborn infant, there are two common feeding methods–breastfeeding and bottle feeding. This article is going to focus primarily on the latter. It is going to let you know what are the steps for bottle feeding a baby. Also, you might wonder, how long should bottle feeding take? As well as how I can improve my bottle feeding? We will answer all these questions and more in the following article about bottle feeding tips.
When is a Good Time to Introduce the Bottle to My Baby?
The answer to this question depends upon if your baby started off with breastfeeding or bottle feeding. Obviously, if you’re going to strictly bottle-feed, this introduction will be following the birth.
However, if you are breastfeeding, you should wait a minimum of three weeks before bringing the bottle into the picture. Introduction to bottle-feeding too soon can impede your baby’s lucrative formulation to breastfeeding. This impediment is not nipple confusion–it created by breasts inability to create enough milk due to a lack of stimulation.
Yet, waiting too long may result in your baby completely rejecting the bottle. This is due to favoring the breast, the mode he or she has become accustomed to.
Feeding a Newborn from a Bottle
Newborn babies have no problem instinctively latching onto the nipple of a baby bottle. This is some good news for those just learning how to bottle-feed a baby. It will be more convenient for others to care for your baby if bottle-feeding has already been introduced. Bottle-feeding your little one has an additional advantage–that is it gives mom a much needed rest!
If you are not feeding your baby breast milk there is no worry about running out of food either. Whoever is caring for your little one can always whip up a bottle of a favorite formula.
How do I Prepare Bottles for Night Feeds?
Every parent understands certain actions need to be taken when preparing baby’s bottles for nighttime feedings. This is particularly true if you are combining formula with breast milk for feedings. This next section will answer the burning question, ‘how do you prepare bottles for night feeds?’
You need to ensure to have readily available all supplies for feeding your baby. Set out supplies in an area near the baby’s cradle or bassinet. If you prefer powdered formula, you will need the following supplies:
- Water bottle
- Clean, empty baby bottle
- A container filled with some powdered formula along with a scoop
- A cloth for burping
When everything is set out, you are able to make a fresh bottle quickly, to accommodate your hungry baby. Having the powdered formula and water bottle setting out is faster than having to heat a premade formula.
Opting to make formula bottles ahead of time requires storing them in a cooler beside the bed. This is because a bottle of formula is only safe for about one hour outside of the refrigerator.
Preparing Breastmilk bottles for Middle-of-the Night Feedings
You have a couple of choices when it comes to feeding your baby breastmilk in the bottle. The first is to pump before retiring for the evening. A bottle of breastmilk will last at room temperature for up to 6 hours. If your little one is on a regular schedule, then this is a good option for night feeding.
The second option is to gather all the supplies you need while the baby is still asleep. The materials you will need to include:
- An ice chest for storing pre-filled bottles of formula or breastmilk
- A bottle warmer
- Some form of burping cloth for cleaning up
Although it is convenient having the bottles already prepared, it does take a few minutes to warm the milk. Waiting for the milk to warm can be frustrating for the mother and baby. Making a few minutes feel like an eternity; particularly when your anxious baby is crying with hunger.
What are the steps to bottle feeding a baby
When submitting the bottle to some babies, they take it without a hitch. Some other babies might need a bit more convincing. This next section offers suggestions for teaching babies how to get accustomed to taking the bottle during mealtimes.
- Getting the Bottle Ready: If preparing a formula bottle, you should study and follow the preparation instructions on the container. There are various baby formula brands, and each one has contrasting proportions of water to liquid concentrate or powder. Depending on the type of formula you decide to go with, avoid adding too little or too much water. In doing so, it could prove detrimental to the health of your little one.
- Give the Bottle a Temperature Test: Checking the temperature is important before beginning any feeding. This is because you don’t want to burn the delicate skin inside your baby’s mouth. You must ensure the liquid in the bottle isn’t too hot. How you do this is to shake the formula bottle, or gently swirl the breastmilk around in the bottle. Next, let a few drops of liquid land on your inner wrist area to test the temperature. If the liquid burns your skin, it is too hot. An ideal temperature to ensure you won’t burn your baby is lukewarm.
- Get Yourself and Baby Comfortable: Because you and your baby are going to be sitting in the same position for 20 minutes or longer, this is imperative. Ensure both of you are comfortable and able to relax. Your baby’s head should be placed at an angle of 45 degrees and cradled in your arm’s crook. Ensure the baby’s neck is kept in alignment with the head. You should have a pillow nearby to use as a rest for your arm, this assures it doesn’t get tired.
- Positioning the Bottle: Do not hold the bottle directly up and down. Instead, maintain it at a slightly slanted angle the entire time you are feeding. Doing so aids the flow of liquid at a pace your baby has control of. This averts choking or coughing, which can result in the inhalation of excess air, increasing the chance for painful gas bubbles. When your baby has eaten about half the liquid, it’s time to swap sides. This not only gives the baby a new point of view, but also allows your arm some much needed relief.
- Inspecting the Nipple: As the baby is eating, keep close vigil to the noises your little one is making. Sounds of sputtering, gulping, or liquid spewing from the sides of its mouth could indicate a compromised nipple. The nipple could be causing the liquid to flow too quickly from the bottle. On the other hand, if the baby is struggling or seems agitated, the flow might be diminished. Perhaps the cap is too tight, establishing a type of vacuum reaction. If loosening the cap a bit doesn’t help, put on a different nipple.
- Choosing the Right Bottle: Choosing the right bottle can be a tricky task. You can ask others, read product reviews, but mostly it will be trial and error. The right bottle will come down to being the one that fits well with your baby.
What about Adding Cereal?
Milk or formula doesn’t seem to be satisfying my baby to allow him to sleep through the night. He wakes up hungry in just a few hours. Should I add a little cereal to the formula to give it some thickness? This is an absolute no-no! It doesn’t matter if you are feeding baby formula or breastmilk. You should never put baby cereal into the bottle with pumped breast milk or formula. Thickening it up does not act as a sleep aid for your baby. Besides, your baby might have a hard time swallowing this mixture and could even choke on it. In addition, cereal adds extra calories that could make your baby gain too much weight.
Issues to Bottle-Feeding and Quick Fixes
Bottle-feeding is usually pretty easy; however, there are times when problems arise. There is good news though, most of these problems are common and there are quick, simple solutions available. If you ask yourself, how can I improve my bottle feeding, these might help.
- Your baby starts crying, squirming around, or reverses position abruptly while eating. This could be a signal the baby has bubbles forming in its tummy and needs to be burped. One way to ensure your baby doesn’t get these gassy bubbles is mid-way through feeding take a burp break.
- Your baby gets sleepy half way through the meal. First off, verify that your little one is truly sleeping. Perhaps the action of sucking has sedated your bundle of joy to the point of blissfulness. If after verifying the baby’s condition proves he or she is indeed sound asleep, you need to awaken the baby. You can do this by softly tickling the feet, changing positions, or taking a burp or diaper change break. An important note: if this happens often, perhaps you are feeding too close to naptime. It might be time to make modifications to your baby’s eating timetable.
- If the baby is struggling or working extra hard when eating, the angle of the bottle neck might be wrong. It could be forcing the flow of liquid to be released too quickly. This will make your baby gag or choke.
- Baby has some congestion going on and it’s difficult to suck. Try using a humidifier or saline drops bought over-the-counter. You can also try to clear out the mucus using a suction bulb. Your baby might not feel like eating when congested, causing a little bit of weight loss.
How do I Know My Baby is Hungry?
Now that you know how to feed your baby with a bottle, do you know the signs that he or she is hungry? This last section is going to help you to answer this question. You don’t have to wait until your baby is in tears to know it’s hungry. Usually, if your baby is crying, it has reached the point of extreme hunger. Below are some signs to look for:
- Baby starts snuggling up to your breasts;
- Sucking on their hands, clothing, or even your arm;
- Opening the mouth, sucking on the tongue or lip, appears like your baby is sticking out its tongue;
- Making short, low-pitched crying sounds;
Final Thoughts
You now have the answers you require to effectively feed your baby with a bottle. The most important thing to remember is feeding time is a time for bonding. This is an essential period in every baby’s life to establish the feeling of love and trust for its parent. Although breastfeeding affords skin-to-skin contact, there are plenty of opportunities to develop similar feelings through bottle feeding. Try to relax, let nature take its course and enjoy these feeding sessions. Before you know it, your baby will not be a baby anymore. Allow the milk and love to flow!
