Bottle feeding can be an experience that is just as rewarding as breast feeding and allows bonding time for both the mother and the father. Even when the baby is old enough to hold the bottle, continue to cuddle with your baby to deepen your bond and develop trust. The following are some helpful hints to assist you in successful bottle feeding.
Alternate the arm you use to hold your baby at each feeding, to stimulate both sides of his brain. Alternating your arms when holding him helps him acquire bilateral perception (the development of both eyes and ears equally) which is necessary for developing spatial relationships.
Consider using an orthodontic nipple, which is shaped more like the breast, and stimulates your baby to suck harder. This satisfies the baby’s need to suck and develops the facial muscles for optimal mouth and jaw development.
All bottle nipples (regardless of which shape you use) need to be sterilized after each feeding, by placing them in boiling water for ten minutes.
As you feed your baby, hold him in a semi-sitting position, so that gravity will help the milk flow into the baby’s stomach. Hold the bottle at an upright angle to keep the nipple completely covered by formula. This prevents the baby from swallowing air, which can cause painful gas. Burp the baby after every one to three ounces, to release the air in his stomach.
A steady stream of bubbles in the bottle will assure you the baby is sucking well. To adjust the flow of the formula, change the size of the nipple hole or the tightness of the bottle top screw ring.
Never prop the bottle on a pillow and leave your baby unattended. The nipple could lodge in the back of his throat and choke the baby. And, if he spits up, he could choke on the formula and inhale the thick liquid into his lungs.
Most newborns begin feeding with a formula derived from cow’s milk. Follow the directions on the can and mix the powdered or concentrated formula with sterile water (use distilled bottled water or boil tap water for ten minutes and cool it). If your baby frequently spits up, has painful gas, or irritable crying after most feedings, this may indicate an allergy to cow’s milk. You need to call your baby’s doctor to discuss a change to soy formula.
