Along with a new-born, newly-become parents also born and with that comes myriad new responsibilities and challenges. One of the hardest and toughest is feeding the baby. If you think bottle feeding is only about filling the bottle with the liquid and feeding the baby then you need to update your knowledge.
Either your baby feeds on bottle or has mixed feed i.e. bottle and breast milk, there are few things to keep in mind while feeding. So if you are a parent of a new-born or about to embrace parenthood for the first time, then this article is a must read for you.
Here Are The 6 Essential Tips For Bottle Feeding:
1. Feed Whenever The Baby Is Hungry:
While talking about feeding Doctors always suggest feed the infant whenever he/she is hungry. Feeding your baby at right time helps to the development of physical and neurological system. On the other hand, it restrains you to feed them when they don’t want. Some of the easy signs of a hungry baby can be sucking hands, feeling uneasy or crying. So next time you find these, feed them quickly.
2. Check The Right Position For Feeding:
Holding the infant in right position is also an important tip to remember while feeding. You should hold them in a position of 45 degree angle. While hold the bottle parallel to their mouth, so they consume some air and leave it through nose properly. Besides, it will also help to take the required amount of the liquid. But never feed the infant lying flat on their back as this will lead problems like ear infection, tooth decay even gas.
3. Check The Right Temperature Before Feeding:
Before feeding your baby always check the right temperature of the bottle. It shouldn’t be too hot or too cold. It should be of room temperature and the nipple of the bottle should be lukewarm. Never microwave the milk as this lead to the formation of the bacteria on the inner surface of the bottle, when you keep it for longer time.
4. Hygiene Measures Of The Feeding Bottle:
One of the most important aspects of bottle feeding is checking the hygiene measures before feeding with it. Firstly, while buying always check the bottle and nipple carefully. If the seal is open of the stuff or nipple is crack, don’t buy. Sterilize the bottle and nipple daily without missing a day. Sometime your baby doesn’t finish the whole meal at a time, so instead of storing the left over for next use, throw it away and prepare a fresh one. Change the bottle and nipple in every four months.
5. Allow Burp Breaks:
As bottle feeding let babies intake a bit more air than breast-feeding so while feeding with bottle allow the infant to burp. So stop feeding after every 2 or 3 ounces of the liquid for burp breaks to reduce the uneasiness and chances of having stomach pain or gas. Even you can help them to burp at times if you feel they need it.
6. Make A Bond With The Baby:
Similar to breast-feeding, bottle feeding too can build a strong bond between you and your little one. Its all about creating atmosphere. Hold your baby close while feeding, the touch, warmth play an important role to develop a connection. Likewise, eye contact is too an important basic of building a bond. Sing, talk and enjoy with your darling.
