Before you bottle feed, you need to invest in a few things: Bottles, teats or nipples, a bottle brush, formula and possibly a bottle warmer. You may also want to buy smaller amounts of formula at first, as not all babies have the same reaction to the same formula and some respond better to a particular brand.
Once you’ve got your equipment, you will need to sterilise your bottles and equipment. Do this by boiling them in hot water for five minutes. You can wash bottles in hot soapy water after the initial sterilising, or you can opt to sterilise them each time. There are microwave sterilising units out there that make this a lot easier.
Once you’ve got your equipment, you will need to sterilise your bottles and equipment. Do this by boiling them in hot water for five minutes. You can wash bottles in hot soapy water after the initial sterilising, or you can opt to sterilise them each time. There are microwave sterilising units out there that make this a lot easier.
Preparing formula is a matter of following the package instructions, using the correct amounts of formula and water. Be sure to follow the directions exactly though, as formula that’s too weak or too strong can be dangerous for your child.
Prepare a few bottles at a time and keep them in the refrigerator. When you need to feed your child, you can take a ready made bottle from the fridge and heat it in hot water or a bottle warmer (some children even get used to milk being served cold, straight from the fridge.) Once the bottle is ready, hold your child on your lap with his or her head elevated. Tilt the bottle, to allow the nipple to fill completely and avoid having your child swallow air and feed your child.
