How Many Bottles Do You Need For Newborn

Compatibility With Breast Pump

This is something you only realize when you start pumping your milk. It is so convenient to be able to express the milk straight into the bottle and then give it to your hungry baby or store in the fridge. Its a time-saver and makes mom life so much easier!

If you cant breastfeed your baby, but still want to serve them the breast milk, using the breast pump is your solution.

In that case making sure the baby bottle is compatible with your breast pump should be on top of your list.

Some bottle brands only work with that particular brand of pump, while other bottles are compatible with a variety of other breast pump brands

Nanobebe is one of the bottles that are compatible with many breast pumps allowing you to express your milk directly into the feeding bottle

Bottles When Not Breastfeeding

When your child is on formula since birth, the number of bottles you will use varies. There are two factors to put into consideration if you are to get the number of bottles you will need. These include:

If you are a stay at home mom, three bottles are a good number. However, the above two factors are likely to influence the right amount you will need. Are you planning to make the bottles in advance? Then, you can buy one bottle every two and a half hours.

For the baby who goes to daycare, one bottle for each two and a half hours might be enough. However, keep some spares at home. It will be beneficial just in case you are too busy or not in the best moods to sterilize the bottles.

Measuring Exact Amounts Of Formula And Water

It is important to measure the formula and water carefully. Too much or too little is not good for your baby.

For each 30mls of water, you need one level scoop of formula powder. Use the scoop in the formula box and run a clean knife across the top to level the scoop. For example, if you are making up a 90mls feed, you will need to add 3 level scoops of formula to 90mls of cool boiled water.

Also Check: How Often Can I Bathe My Newborn

How Much Formula Your Baby Needs

This table is a guide only. Talk to your public health nurse or GP if your baby is taking a lot less or a lot more formula than the amounts in this table.

Never re-use leftover milk once your baby finishes feeding. Throw the milk away after two hours.

At around 6 months you need to start weaning your baby on to solid foods.

When Do You Need Bottles

You can start using bottles from day one. If youre breastfeeding, you may choose to wait to introduce a bottle until baby has gotten the hang of nursing, usually between about three and six weeks.

Babies usually use bottles until at least one year old, which is when the AAP says its okay to transition your little one from breast milk or formula over to cows milk. However, many breastfeeding parents continue to nurse well into the second year and beyond.

Don’t Miss: Can I Use Water Wipes On Newborn Face

First Tip For Choosing Baby Bottles

While we do recommend you stock up on certain things before your baby arrives, bottles isnt one of them. Thats because even though some bottles are marketed as magical feeding unicorns, the ultimate decision-making factor will be which ones get the thumbs-up from your baby. So, start out with just a few . That way youre not stuck with a full stock of bottles that may get the thumbs-down from your little one.

Now lets get to those bottle basics.

What Type Of Bottle Should I Buy For My Baby

The use of Bisphenol A is banned in baby bottles due to concerns from the European Commission that chemicals may leach out of the plastic.

So always look for BPA-free products .

Choosing the right bottle is really down to you and its important to note you cant go too far wrong with the large name baby brands such as Medela and Tommee Tippee.

Some things you may want to look out for in terms of the bottles you choose include:

• Special features. Some bottles claim to be anti-colic as they reduce the likelihood of your baby swallowing too much air during a feed. Parents have mixed results with these and really there is no product that absolutely guarantees to prevent colic. There are several downsides to anti-colic bottles, the main one being they often come in multiple parts that make them much harder to clean and then reassemble. Other special features include heat-sensitive bottles that change colour of the milk is too hot.

• Wide neck. If you are formula feeding then it is much easier to get the formula powder into the bottle if the neck is wider.

• Stability. Tall and skinny bottles may be knocked over easier. Bottles such as Tommee Tippee have a less top-heavy designs that makes then harder to knock over.

• Material. Glass bottles are not as popular as the BPA-free unbreakable material but they have positives such as being environmentally-friendly as they can be recycled.

Read Also: How Much Does My Newborn Need To Eat

Consider Your Storage Space

Bottles are going to take storage space that you may not have. You might be tempted to overbuy just to be on the safe side, but remember that you are going to need dedicated storage space for bottles, nipples, and other bottle accessories. The more you buy, the more space youll have to find. If you are living with limited storage space, then you are probably going to have to make do with fewer bottles.

What Are Signs That My Baby May Be Allergic To Formula

• He or she acts fussy or cries after a feeding.
• He or she has diarrhea or trouble having bowel movements. The bowel movements may be small and very hard.
• He or she has a red rash on his or her face or around his or her rear end. The rash may feel rough when you touch it.
• His or her stomach feels full or tight after a feeding. He or she may cry and pull his or her legs up to his or her stomach because he or she is in pain.
• He or she vomits after almost every feeding.
• He or she wakes up often during the night.

Don’t Miss: Why Do Newborns Have Seizures

How Many Baby Bottles Do I Need Bottom Line

In conclusion, there isnt a standard number of bottles that works for all mothers.

That number depends a lot on various factors like the age of your baby, your budget, etc. Think about how often your infant is bottle-fed.

Also, as mentioned in the article, you should research the safest bottle materials, sizes, shapes, and more.

Finally, think about your personal situation and lifestyle because you should buy more bottles if you are a working mom while stay-at-home moms could also rely on fewer bottles.

What Bottle Types Are Available

When shopping for baby bottles, youll discover that there are many different types. Most bottles are made from lightweight plastic, while others are constructed of glass, silicone, or even stainless steel. Baby bottles are also available in several sizes, ranging from 4-ounce newborn sizes to 12-ounce varieties.

Also Check: What Do I Need For A Newborn Baby Checklist

Actions For This Page

• Breastmilk is the feeding option of choice for infants.
• If breastmilk is not available, then infant formula is a suitable alternative.
• Breastmilk or formula should be the main milk used until the baby is 12 months old.
• Choose a formula to match the age and needs of your baby, and always read the label carefully as labels for other products can look very similar to those for infants.
• If you believe your baby has a problem with feeding, discuss this with your maternal and child health nurse or doctor before switching brands.

How Do I Safely Switch To A Different Formula

Before making the decision to switch, be sure to talk to your doctor. Parents often assume that formula plays a part in a baby’s fussiness, gas, spitting up, or lack of appetite. But often that’s not the case.

If your doctor gives the OK to switch formulas, he or she will recommend a way to do it so that your baby’s feedings and digestion aren’t interrupted. The doctor may suggest mixing the two formulas together little by little, then eventually eliminating the original formula altogether.

p

You May Like: How Can A Newborn Sleep At Night

How Often You Wash Bottles

How often do you think youll be able to wash bottles? You are going to be exhausted and overwhelmed for those first few weeks. If your baby is primarily bottle-fed, you are going to be going through a lot of bottles. Even if you are primarily breastfeeding, you will still use some bottles. Consider your circumstances. Youre much more likely to be able to wash bottles every day or every other day if you have a dishwasher. If you dont have a dishwasher, washing bottles is going to take a lot more time and effort, and youre probably not going to get a chance to do it as often and will need more bottles to compensate.

How Many Bottles And Teats Do I Need

This will depend on how frequently youre planning to use bottles to feed your baby. If youre planning to exclusively express your breastmilk or use formula, as well as sterilising equipment, you might want around four or six bottles and teats to get you started. This is because newborns tend to feed eight to 12 times over 24 hours so youll need enough to cover the feeds.

If you plan to use bottles occasionally, or once a day, then it might make sense to buy just one bottle and teat.

If youre planning to breastfeed, dont worry too much about buying bottles just in case. Over 90% of maternity units in the UK are now Baby Friendly Accredited, which means your midwife should be able to support you if you do have any difficulties with breastfeeding straight after birth . Theyll help you with hand-expressing your colostrum and feeding it to your baby using a spoon, syringe or feeding cup . Find out whether your maternity unit is accredited here.

You May Like: How To Tell If Newborn Has Autism

A Bottle Sterilizer Is More Convenient

You can sterilize bottles, nipples, and anything else by placing them in boiling water. However, this doesnt compare to the convenience that a bottle sterilizer offers.

You simply put everything inside of it, and then push a button. Whether youll wish you had one depends on how much time you have on your hands. If youre working full time, a single mom, and have other children, just pick one up now.

The Type Of Bottle Matters Too

Most bottles are plastic or glass bottles that need to be washed. However, Playtex bottles with liners do not. This is one of the many reasons I love them.

The drop-in liner sits in the bottle. Because of this design, the bottle itself doesnt need to be washed with every feeding. Instead, you can simply throw away the liner, pop in a clean nipple, and wash the nipple ring if you want to.

It doesnt come in contact with the formula, so you dont have to wash it every time you use it if you cant for some reason.

This is why you need significantly fewer Playtex bottles than other brands. You can easily buy a few extra nipples to save yourself the cost of buying a lot of bottles.

Recommended Reading: How To Sponge Bathe A Newborn With Umbilical Cord

Do I Need To Warm The Formula Or Breast Milk For My Baby

• Most babies enjoy drinking warm formula or breast milk, but you do not have to heat it. You may warm it by putting the bottle in a pan of warm water. Do not warm it on a lit stove, because it may curdle. Another way to warm the formula or breast milk is to run hot water over the bottle. Shake the bottle and then spray the liquid on the inside of your wrist before you give it to your baby. The temperature should be slightly warm and comfortable to your skin. It should not be hot.
• Do not use a microwave to heat formula or breast milk. A microwave overheats the liquid in the center of the bottle. The liquid may just feel warm when you test it, but it may be very hot in the bottle’s center. The milk may burn your baby’s mouth when he or she drinks it.
• Always throw away any leftover formula or breast milk. Leftover formula or breast milk that has not been refrigerated can grow germs and make your baby sick. Do not feed your baby breast milk or formula left at room temperature for more than 1 hour. Do not freeze ready-to-eat or premixed formula.

Wait Until Baby Arrives Before Purchasing Bottles

I know, this goes against every nesting instinct you probably have going on right now, but hear me out. While you might want to have a couple of bottles on hand for when the baby arrives, you really want to wait to stock up until you know what life will be like with your baby.

Are you planning on breastfeeding? Perhaps that plan doesnt pan out, as it didnt in my case. I had full intention of nursing our son, but due to some pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, he was born jaundiced and with low blood sugar. The nurses didnt have time to wait for my milk to come in, as they needed to get his sugars up. So, he was given a bottle right away, and from then on, preferred bottle to breast, despite my most valiant efforts to breastfeed. I hadnt stocked up on bottles because I had planned to nurse, but when that changed, I was able to purchase the bottles that worked best for our son.

Are you planning on bottle feeding? Maybe you know already that you will be either pumping breast milk or formula feeding, either method requiring bottles. But, perhaps your little one makes an early appearance, and you are in need of some preemie bottles. Or, maybe your baby is colicky and you require a special brand of bottle to soothe their tummy. You wont know these variables until your baby arrives, so hold off on buying a bunch of bottles before your baby is born. Have a few on hand just in case, but thats it.

Recommended Reading: Why Does My Newborn Cry After Feeding