Cleaning And Sterilising Feeding Equipment
Newborn and young babies are at risk of infection because their immune system is not fully developed yet. You must wash and sterilise all feeding equipment until your baby is at least 6 months old. From 6 months, thorough washing and rinsing are enough.
Follow the steps below for all feeding equipment that you use for your baby whether you are using expressed breast milk or infant formula.
Start With No More Than One Or Two Formula Bottles A Day
Each day, your body makes breast milk based on the concept of supply and demand. When you start to add formula, it can affect how much breast milk you make. If you plan on supplementing one or two bottles a week, it shouldn’t affect your breast milk supply. But if you give your child one or two bottles of formula a day, your milk supply will begin to drop.
How Is Formula Different From Breast Milk
Formula is a nutritionally complete food for babies. Many formula products contain extra ingredients so that they more closely match breast milk.
One of the main differences between formula and breast milk is that breast milk contains antibodies, which help protect the baby against a range of illnesses. The nutrition in breast milk adapts over the babys lifespan, unlike formula whose nutritional content stays the same.
Breast milk also has less protein than formula. Choosing a formula with less protein will reduce your babys risk of becoming overweight or obese as they get older.
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Best Baby Formula For Gas
Those toots may be cute at first. But your baby may have a lot of discomfort with gas. Keep in mind that severe gas may be a sign of allergy or other medical issue. So, if switching formulas doesnt help, head in for a check-up.
Price: $$Key features: Enfamil claims that in clinical trials this formula reduced gas and associated fussiness and crying in just one day. This formula also contains a high amount of DHA to help nourish and develop your babys brain.Considerations: Many parents are pleased with this formula and feel it does seem to help their babies. A few noted that they didnt like the packaging and that the formula left an oily residue in the bottle after feeding.
How To Prepare Baby Formula
Carefully read the directions on the formula tin. Different formulas have different-sized scoops and you make them up in different ways. Make sure you check the use-by date, which you can find on the base of the formula can. If you have formula thats past its use-by date, throw it out.
- Use cooled, boiled water to make up formula. Its a good idea to let the boiled water cool for around 30 mins, so its lukewarm or around room temperature. You can do this in advance, storing the cooled boiled water in the fridge in sterilised bottles until you need them.
- Check the expiry date on the tin, then:
- pour cooled, boiled water into the sterilised bottle. How much you need depends on how much youre making
- following the directions on the formula tin, measure the right number of scoops into the bottle . Level off each scoop before you add the formula to the water. Seal the bottle with a ring and cap
- thoroughly mix the powder and water by:
- tapping the bottle gently on the bench so the powder falls into the water
- swirling the bottle gently
- then giving the bottle a good shake.
- never add anything to the formula to sweeten it
- check the temperature of the formula by tipping a few drops on the inside of your wrist. It should feel lukewarm
- if your baby doesnt finish all the formula, throw it away within an hour.
Writing the date you opened the formula on the lid of the tin may be helpful. Any opened tins of formula should be thrown away after one month.
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What To Feed A Newborn: A Feeding Guide
The newborn feeding guide from Enfamil will help you understand the amount you should feed your baby, though it can vary depending on your individual baby’s needs. Your baby will typically turn away from the breast or bottle when they are no longer hungry. This is only a guide. Visit enfamil.ca for more information.
The Amount Of Formula
First Days
When you have any concerns about your babys development or the amount of infant formula they are receiving, consult with your childs doctor or nurse. The belly of your newborn infant is relatively tiny. They do not need a large amount of baby formula with each meal to be satisfied.
If your baby is just receiving infant formula and no breast milk, you may begin by giving them 1 to 2 ounces of newborn formula every 2 to 3 hours in the early days of life. If your infant seems to be hungry, give them extra food.
Usually, formula-fed infants will feed 8 to 12 times each day. Consult your kids doctor or nurse to determine the appropriate amount of infant formula for your child. Your babys belly expands as they develop. Your baby will be able to consume more infant formula at each meal, and the duration between feedings will increase.
First Weeks and Months
The duration between feedings will gradually increase during the first several weeks and months, with most baby formula-fed infants needing to be fed every 3 to 4 hours. This may entail waking your infant to feed. To assist your baby wake up to feed, try caressing, petting, undressing, or changing the diaper.
Certain feeding rounds may be lengthy, while others may be brief. Thats OK. Babies will typically take just what they need at each meal and stop eating when satisfied.
6 to 12 Months Old
12 to 24 Months Old
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Sterilise All Equipment For Bottle
You must sterilise all bottle-feeding equipment until your baby is 12 months old. This is very important.Always remember:
- Steam can cause severe skin burns, so be careful when boiling or steaming equipment.
- Place all equipment out of reach of children.
- Avoid unnecessary handling of sterilised equipment and do not touch the inner surfaces of bottles or teats.
First, wash all the equipment in warm, soapy water. Use a clean bottlebrush to thoroughly remove all traces of milk, then rinse, then sterilise. You can use different sterilising methods, such as boiling, chemicals, steam or microwave steam.
Preparing Safe Water For Formula
From birth until your baby is at least 6 months old, all water used for formula should be boiled and cooled to room temperature on the day you use it. Make sure you leave enough time for the boiled water to cool to room temperature before its needed.
1) Boil enough water to last the day.
- If you use an electric jug, boil a full jug until it turns off.
- If you use a stove top kettle, boil until it makes a loud whistle.
- If you are boiling water in a pot on the stove, let the water come to a rolling boil for 1 minute.
Pour boiled water into a sterilised container, cover and leave to cool to room temperature until it no longer feels warm. Store out of direct sunlight. Keep for up to 24 hours throw it away after that.
If you live in a city or a town
From 6 months of age you can use cold water straight from the tap to make formula. Run the tap for 1015 seconds before you collect the water.
If you use bore or tank water
Bore water and tank water should be boiled until your baby is 18 months old. If your water comes from a private supply , have it tested for any contaminants that could harm you and your baby. If testing shows water is high in nitrates, it is not suitable for preparing infant formula.
Bottled water
Bottled water is not recommended as it is not sterile. Like tap water, bottled water needs to be boiled then allowed to cool before it is used to prepare formula.
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Starter Or First Formula
There is a variety of starter formulas based on cows milk protein . Formula based on soy or goat’s milk is also available. These formulas are suitable for babies from birth to 12 months.
Read the label carefully because:
- formulas developed for toddlers as well as pregnant women can look very similar, so check the label carefully to ensure your baby gets a formula that is safe and appropriate for their age.
- the label may list a number of additions such as LCPUFAs , probiotics or prebiotics. These ingredients are added because they are found naturally in breastmilk.
How Much To Feed A Baby: The Basics
Right from the start, your baby needs the right nutrition to support healthy development. The Canadian Pediatric Society, Health Canada, Breastfeeding Committee for Canada and Dietitians of Canada recommend exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months, as breastmilk will provide your baby with all of the nutrition that they need. After six months you can begin introducing solid foods. They further recommend that if you are breastfeeding, you give your baby a daily Vitamin D supplement of 400 IU. If breastfeeding is not an option, dont worry: Infant formula like Enfamil A+ is designed to meet the nutritional requirements your baby needs.
Feeding Highlights for Year One
- For the first six months, breastmilk and/or baby formula will provide your baby with the nutrition they need.
- Initially, most babies do not need breastfeeding and formula feeding schedules. However, they will settle into more of a routine as they get older
- Whether you are breastfeeding or formula-feeding, it is important to listen to your babys feeding cues and feed them according to their hunger.
- Around six-months old is when you can begin to introduce solid foods to your babys diet below.
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How To Choose A Baby Formula
At the most basic level, theres really no wrong choice when it comes to formula. Since everything youll find is technically safe to use, that means that what you put in your cart is really up to you, your preferences, and your budget.
You might ask yourself if a certain brand or type:
- is easy to find at a local store or online
- has a price point that fits within your budget
- meets your need for convenience
- is appropriate for your childs special needs
Beyond that, youll need to see what works best for your baby. Know that most formulas contain 20 calories per ounce. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should choose a brand that contains iron to help prevent iron deficiency anemia.
Anything else thats added to the formula, like fatty acids and other ingredients found in breast milk, are completely safe, but they may or may not provide the benefits written on the box.
Keep Prepared Bottles Of Formula Refrigerated Until Ready To Use
If you’re traveling away from home, store previously prepared bottles in an insulated container or a tightly sealed plastic bag with a small ice pack or a dozen ice cubes. The formula will stay fresh as long as most of the ice is frozen. Don’t use pre-mixed formula that’s no longer cold to the touch it’ll have to be tossed.
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How Can I Tell When My Babys Eaten Enough
The best way to tell if your babys getting enough to eat is by having your doctor monitor their height and weight at visits. Both should be measured at every visit. Signs you can look for are right in their diaper. Around six wet diapers and one or more stools per day can show theyre eating well.
Feeding your newborn is a great time to bond and knowing more about your newborns formula-feeding schedule can help alleviate some of the feeding stress. Were here if your little one is running into feeding difficulties too. Dont worry, there are tips for feeding issues you may come across.
It will all work out. You will get the hang of this & there is no such thing as a bad parent, as long as you try everything with love first!! Enfamil® mom
What Are The Benefits Of Breastfeeding
Infants who are breastfed are less likely to develop health issues like allergies, asthma, diabetes, ear infections, diarrhea, and sudden infant death syndrome . The longer you breastfeed them for, the more protected your baby is from these health issues.
Breastfeeding can also benefit you by lowering your chances of getting high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. It can also help your uterus shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size and lower the amount of bleeding you have after birth.
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First Weeks And Months
Some babies need additional vitamin D.
Babies who are fed breast milk exclusively or who receive both breast milk and infant formula need extra vitamin D, starting shortly after birth. They can get this through over-the-counter vitamin D drops. Babies receiving only infant formula do not need vitamin D drops. Infant formula is fortified with vitamin D.
- Over the first few weeks and months, the time between feedings will get longerabout every 3 to 4 hours for most infant formula-fed babies. This means you may need to wake your baby to feed. You can try patting, stroking, undressing, or changing the diaper to help wake your baby to feed.
- Some feeding sessions may be long, and other feedings short. That is okay. Babies will generally take what they need at each feeding and stop eating when they are full.
There Is Not Better Milk Than Breast Milk
In all mammal species, a mother’s milk is the ideal food for a newborn. Dogs are no different. The little puppies need the nutrients which are naturally formulated by the mother. The act of breastfeeding also helps to reassure the puppy and create an important sense of well-being. Replicating nature’s formulae is a notoriously difficult endeavor. At the same time, in an emergency situation, a suitable facsimile is necessary.
The first meal of a puppy will be colostrum. Colostrum is a nutrient and antibody rich form of milk which is designed to give a boost to the puppy’s immune system. On the commercial market there are companies which have created their own newborn puppy colostrum formula for this same purpose. They also provide various other feeds and supplements over the course of the dog’s life.
Unfortunately, you may find yourself looking after a newborn puppy and these commercial products are not available. You may be in the country, far from the nearest pet store or veterinary clinic. Not all areas will have the same resources, so a homemade newborn puppy formula is necessary.
Some people think you can simply give the puppy cow’s milk, but this is not true. The levels of nutrients in a dog’s milk are not the same as those in cows. It may work in a pinch, but it can damage their health if used for prolonged periods.
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