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Previous:
Breastfeeding

Next:
The Transition to Solid Foods

Bottle Feeding

Before you can begin bottle feeding, you first need to choose what type of formula and bottle to use. Formula is an artificially produced substitute for breast milk.

Types of Baby Formula

All formulas on the market meet standards set by the federal government for nutrition, though there are differences in the amount of work you need to prepare them.

Ready-to-serve formulas: Can be put straight into a bottle and served but are the most expensive type
Concentrated liquid: Require some mixing with water; more expensive than powdered formula but less expensive than ready-to-serve formula
Powdered: The cheapest type; must be mixed completely with water

Most formula is made from cow’s milk. For the small percentage of babies who are allergic to cow’s milk, you may use soy-based formula instead. But use soy-based formula only if your baby is allergic to cow’s milk.

Consult your pediatrician before selecting a formula. After you’ve found a formula your baby likes and your pediatrician approves, use only that formula.

Types of Baby Bottles and Nipples

There are two basic types of bottles:

Traditional bottles: Hollow, hard plastic bottles are easy to fill but introduce air bubbles into formula, which means more gas, burping, and spit-up.
Collapsible insert bottles: Bottles with bladders that collapse as a baby sucks formula from them. They’re harder to fill but introduce less air into the formula.

Bottles can be capped with a variety of different nipples. None is necessarily better than another, but you may have to try a few before your baby finds one she likes.

Preparing Formula

Make sure all your tools are sterile: Wash your hands and all formula implements in the dishwasher. If you’re not using ready-to-serve formula and you’re unsure about the quality of your water supply, sterilize the water you mix with the formula by boiling it for one minute. Bottled water should also always be boiled.
Follow manufacturer’s directions: Be careful to follow instructions about formula storage, preparation, and expiration dates.

If you’re heating the formula, test it against your wrist before giving it to your baby. Never heat the cap or nipple of the bottle, and never microwave bottles or formula.

Bottle Feeding Your Baby

Position: Hold your baby so that his head is higher than the body. Tickle his lips gently with the nipple of the bottle to open them.
Put the bottle in your baby’s mouth: Tip the bottle up so that the neck of the bottle is constantly filled with formula. Never prop up the bottle or leave your baby alone with it.
Burping: Your baby may need burping every five minutes or so (see How to Burp Your Baby).
Follow your baby’s lead: Let your baby determine when feeding is finished—it’s okay if he stops before emptying the entire bottle.
After feeding: Continue snuggling your baby for a few minutes. Never reuse leftover formula.

Bottle Feeding Schedules and Amounts

Your baby will determine feeding schedules naturally by crying to signal when she is hungry.

For the first few days, babies usually want just a bit of formula. For the first month, they usually want to feed every 2–4 hours and consume 2–5 ounces of formula each time. After the first month, babies feed less often, consuming more at each feeding.

Acknowledgments & Disclaimer