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.
If Your Baby Has Reflux
Acid reflux or chronic spitting up is rough! There is sadly no magic pill to make it go away. But you might consider a formula with a high whey content.
Milk proteins come in two categories: whey and casein. Whey proteins stay liquid in the stomach and so empty out of the stomach more quickly. Enfamil Infant is a full-size protein formula that is 60% whey the highest whey in the full-size protein category.
Gerber Good Start GentlePro, Gerber Good Start SoothePro, and Similac Pro-Total Comfort are all formulas in the partially hydrolyzed category that are each 100% whey.
You could also consider a thickened formula for acid reflux. Enfamil AR adds thickeners to the formula so that gravity works with the baby to help keep contents in the stomach.
These formulas are each full-size protein formulas that are mostly casein protein. Thus, thickened formulas may potentially help reflux symptoms for a different reason than whey-predominant formulas.
Is Formula Vegetarian Or Vegan
Most formula, and all formula for babies under six months old, is made from animal milk protein. Information on suitable formulas is available here from First Steps Nutrition Trust.
Soya-based formulas are suitable for vegetarians, but are not recommended for babies under six months old except under medical supervision . There are currently no infant milks suitable for vegans in the UK because even those without animal proteins contain vitamin D from sheeps wool .
It is recommended that those who follow a vegan diet breastfeed throughout their baby’s first year of life. They can move their children onto a non-animal milk at one year of age. Parents who want to bring up their children as vegans should seek medical advice to ensure their nutritional needs are being met .
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Formula For Specific Considerations
I cant emphasize enough that there is no perfect formula. Every baby is unique! This means the best formula for your baby is likely totally different than the best formula for your neighbors kid or your favorite celebrity.
If you want to start or switch formulas, talk to your pediatrician. Here are some suggestions that might help that conversation.
Sneak In Formula In The Midst Of Breastfeeding
One common strategy for introducing a bottle for the first time is to switch to a bottle towards the end of a breastfeeding session. Your baby will still be hungry for more and in the zone of feeding, and will ideally feel calm and relaxed enough to try something new, such as a bottle containing formula. A related technique is to put some breast milk on the nipple of the bottle, so that it smells and tastes more familiar for your baby.
If youre not able to introduce a bottle in the midst of a breastfeeding session, and have to start the feed with a bottle, try giving your baby a bottle containing expressed breast milk. This will get them used to the feel of the bottle, while still giving them the taste theyre used to. If this isnt possible, introducing a bottle of formula with even a small amount of breast milk on the nipple may still encourage your baby to accept the bottle as it tastes and smells more familiar.
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How Much Formula Should My Baby Be Eating
Bobbie® knows the key to a happy and healthy baby is keeping them well-fed. Just like Goldilocks, you dont want to feed your baby too much or too littlethe amount of formula theyre given should be just right.
While babies will certainly tell you when theyre hungry, its important to understand their hunger cues and know how much organic infant formula to prepare. This article will help you determine how much formula your baby needs to thrive.
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What Ingredients Are In Infant Formula
The majority of infant formula milks start with a base of cows milk protein, although a few contain goats milk protein. Lactose and other carbohydrates, vegetable, fish and other oils, vitamins and minerals are all added to the milk base .
The basic components of any infant milk, regardless of whether they’re powdered or ready-made, are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. The major infant formula producers develop their own brands with a combination of each of these components. You can see a full list of constituents on the packaging of infant formula milk for babies.
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Signs Your Babys Getting Too Much Formula
Babies are usually good at eating the amount they need, but bottle-fed babies can drink too much at times. Here are the signs that theyre getting too much formula:
- Vomiting after a feeding may be a sign that your baby had too much.
- Tummy pain after a feeding can also be a sign of overfeeding. If your baby draws up their legs or their tummy seems tense, they may be in pain.
If your baby seems to want to eat all the time, even after finishing a bottle, talk to your pediatrician. Using a pacifier may help soothe their need to suck.
How To Formula Feed
- After preparing a bottle and testing its temperature, you are ready to give your baby a bottle.
- Feed every two to four hours. Start with one ounce at each feeding. Gradually increase this amount as your babys appetite grows.
- Make sure your babys tongue is under the nipple and the baby has more than the tip of the nipple in their mouth.
- Tip the bottle far enough for the formula to fill the nipple and the neck of the bottle.
- Burp your baby after one ounce, or halfway through the feeding for older babies. How often your baby needs to burp depends on how much air was swallowed and how fast your baby drinks. Learn more about burping.
- Expect your babys appetite to vary from feeding to feeding. Some days your baby may drink a little more formula, other days less.
- Dont try to coax your baby to finish a bottle. Follow your babys appetite.
- Throw out any formula that remains after a feeding. Dont try to save it for the next feeding.
- Never prop a bottle or leave your baby alone to feed. This is dangerous and can cause choking, ear infections and tooth decay.
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If Youre Dealing With Baby Eczema
Partially hydrolyzed protein formula . Similac Pro-Total Comfort and Gerber Good Start GentlePro and Gerber Good Start SoothePro all have the same protein base partially hydrolyzed whey.
Enfamil Gentlease and Enfamil Reguline use a partially hydrolyzed mix of two types of proteins found in cows milk whey and casein proteins. One is not better than the other. They are just different, and different babies may thrive on one versus the other.
So if you start with Gerber Good Start GentlePro and things improve but you think your baby can be even more comfortable, then consider trying Enfamil Gentlease to see if that difference in protein source helps your baby digest more easily.
Should I Switch Formula Brands
In general, it’s best to stick with one type and resist the urge to switch, even if your baby is having problems like spitting up, gas, and colic. Most of the time, these problems have to do with your baby’s immature gastrointestinal tract, not diet. Try the formula for at least a couple weeks. After that, if your baby’s still having trouble, talk to your baby’s doctor about switching.
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What If I Need To Transport A Made
If it is not possible to follow the advice above, or if you need to transport a feed , prepare the feed at home, cool under a running tap or in a bowl of cold water, and cool it for at least 1 hour in the back of the fridge.
Take it out of the fridge just before you leave and carry it in a cool bag with an ice pack, and use it within 4 hours. If you do not have an ice pack, or access to a fridge, the made-up infant formula must be used within 2 hours.
If made-up formula is stored:
- in a fridge use within 24 hours
- in a cool bag with an ice pack use within 4 hours
- at room temperature use within 2 hours
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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Neonatal Formula For Premature Babies
If your baby was born prematurely, your pediatrician may recommend a neonatal formula. Neonatal formulas are designed to help babies who were born prematurely to grow and thrive. This type is usually fed to babies in neonatal intensive care units .
Formulas for babies who are premature are higher in certain nutrients than standard baby formulas, Dr. Badgett explains. Theyre also designed to work well with their immature stomach and kidneys, which usually cannot handle standard formula.
Talk to your pediatrician about neonatal formula, and how long your baby may need it. Once your baby has matured enough, you may be able to switch to a standard formula.
How To Store Formula
Once you prepare baby formula according to the instructions on the container, it can go bad if its left at room temperature for too long. Prepared baby formula should be used within two hours of mixing, and within one hour of when feeding starts. If the prepared formula is not going to be used within two hours, be sure to store it in the fridge immediately, and use it within 24 hours. Discard any formula left in the bottle after your baby feeds, as leaving it in the bottle can lead to bacterial growth.
Unopened formula should be stored in a cool, dry place. Depending on the formula, it may need to be consumed within one month of opening the container. Check the container for instructions on when the formula should be used or discarded.
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Do Not Try To Overfeed Your Newborn Kitten
As kittens will be adjusting to the volume of milk that youre giving them every day. It may be okay to increase the amount of kitten milk replacer in order to reduce the number of feedings per day.
But please be very careful because exceeding the amount of milk in your newborn kittens feedings per day can most definitely cause some problems if not done correctly.
Overfeeding your newborn kitten can lead to multiple medical issues. Here are a few to look out for if you feel like you have accidentally overfed your newborn kitten:
- Gas build up in the stomach and intestines
It may seem desirable to overfeed your kitten before you go to sleep so that you can get some more shut-eye throughout the night.
Please dont do this.
A newborn kittens stomach can only take so much and you will be doing more harm than good.
Although kittens will stop feeding when they feel full. Even newborns! Do not try to force-feed your kitten even more than they are willing to drink.
How Much Infant Formula
Your doctor will give you an idea of how much to feed your baby when you first start using formula. Most babies need 2.5 ounces of formula per pound of body weight each day. This means that an eight-pound baby may drink about 20 ounces of formula a day. However, this is just an estimate. It is important to pay attention to your babys cues. Other than crying, signs that your baby may be hungry include smacking their lips, sucking and rooting .
Feed your baby as often as they want to be fed. It could be more in the beginning. This may be 8 to 12 times a day. Your baby may want to be fed less often as they grow and can take more formula at each feeding. How often your baby wants to eat will change as they go through growth spurts. Growth spurts typically occur at about 2 and 6 weeks of age. It can happen again at about 3 and 6 months of age.
Your baby is probably getting enough formula if they:
- Act satisfied after each feeding
- Gain weight regularly after the first 3 to 7 days following birth
- Have about 6 to 8 wet diapers a day
- Have about 2 to 5 or more stools a day at first
Baby formula is sold in several forms:
- Ready-to-use:This is the most expensive kind of formula, but no mixing is necessary.
- Concentrated liquid:This is a less expensive formula. You mix the liquid formula with an equal part of water.
- Powder:This is the least expensive formula. You mix one level scoop of powdered formula with two ounces of water and stir well.
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Six To Seven Months :
This is an important phase since solids are introduced for most babies after they cross the 6 months mark. If thats the case with your baby too, scale down the amount of formula he is being fed a bit. Babies should not be dependent on solids in this phase. It should only be used as complementary foods and most of the childs nutrition should come from either breastmilk or formula milk.
They would be consuming around 180 to 240 ml of formula milk per bottle in a day depending on how well the baby is responding to solids.
Growing StrongFormula feeding , Queensland Government
Raising Children NetworkNewborns nutrition, Australian Government
Raising Children NetworkBreastfeeding videos, Australian Government
Booklet: Breastfeeding and postnatal care, New South Wales Governmentavailable in English, Arabic, Chinese , Chinese ,Farsi, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi and Tamil languages
Thinking About Feeding Your Baby
When youre pregnant, its good to think about how you want to feed your baby once they’re born.
For some mums there are many things to consider, like your cultural beliefs, personal circumstances, and your own physical and mental wellbeing.
Talk to your partner, family/whnau, and your midwife or maternity carer about it, and have a plan so they know how they can help you
If you want to breastfeed and youre having trouble, call PlunketLine any time on .
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How To Choose Right Baby Formula
- Consider your babys age and stage of development. Different formulas are designed for infants of different ages, with different levels of nutrients and calories to support their growth and development.
- Consult with a healthcare professional. Your babys healthcare provider can help you choose a formula that is appropriate for your babys needs and can guide how to properly mix and store the formula.
- Read the ingredients list. A good quality formula will contain essential nutrients, such as protein, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Read the label carefully to make sure it does not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Check for any allergies or sensitivities. Some babies may be sensitive to certain ingredients in formulas. If your baby has a food allergy, make sure to select a formula that does not contain the allergen.
- Look for organic formulas. Many parents choose organic formulas, which are free from pesticides and other chemicals. Make sure to look for labels that say USDA Certified Organic or Organic on the package.
- Consider your dietary preferences. If you are breastfeeding, you may need to choose a formula that is compatible with your diet. Some formulas are made with organic ingredients or are free from certain additives or preservatives.
- Try different formulas if needed. If you are unsure which formula is best for your baby, you may want to try a few different options to see which one works best.
Signs That Your Babys Getting Enough Formula
Here are signs that your babys getting all the formula they need:
- Steady weight gain. They continue to gain weight after their first 10 days and follow a healthy growth curve during their first year.
- Happy baby. They seem relaxed and satisfied after a feeding.
- Wet diapers. They wet two to three diapers a day in the first few days after birth. Over the next few days, the amount should increase to at least five to six wet diapers a day.
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How Do I Formula Feed My Baby
The most common way to feed a baby with formula milk is with a bottle. There are lots of different bottle brands and styles to choose from. Teats can either be made from rubber or silicone and vary in shape. Theres no evidence that one is better than the other, so it just depends on what you like and if your baby has a preference. You may find that you try several different brands before you find one that works well for you and your baby.