Welcome to the world of parenting, where every choice you make for your little one is filled with love, care, and sometimes, a bit of confusion! Whether you’re an expectant mother, a new dad, or a caregiver navigating the vast ocean of baby care tips, one topic that often pops up is bottle feeding. Whether with formula or expressed breast milk, choosing to bottle feed your baby is a personal decision and comes with its own set of considerations.
In this post, we’ll dive into ten enlightening facts about bottle feeding that will help demystify common misconceptions, provide practical tips, and ensure you feel more prepared and confident in your feeding journey. From understanding the right formula to mastering the bottle-holding technique that suits your baby best, we’re here to support you with science-backed information and heartfelt advice. So grab your bottle (and maybe a coffee for yourself), and let’s explore the essentials of bottle-feeding babies together while also looking at some cute animals being bottle-fed for the smiles…
Baby Rhino Being Bottle Fed
FACT: Tears often mean she’s been hungry for a while. It’s better to feed a baby before the waterworks start, so look for hunger cues. These include flailing arms and legs, or making an expression that looks like rooting — she’ll open her mouth as if she’s searching for something.
Squirrel Being Bottle Fed
FACT: Since a baby gets all his nutrients from milk, mealtime is vitally important. And a light-on-the-noise feeding makes it easier for baby to concentrate on eating. Of course, that’s not to say you can’t give him a bottle at the mall or in a crowded waiting room. But at home, turn off the TV and don’t answer the phone.
Baby Macaw Gets Bottle Fed
FACT: If she’s spitting up, it’s usually not an allergic reaction but because she’s swallowed too much air. Each time she’s drunk about 2 ounces, help her get the air out — this should keep her from spitting up. (It can also cut down on the gas that comes out the other end.) Positions to try while patting her back: over-the-shoulder, tummy down, or sitting on your lap.
Cat Being Bottle Fed
FACT: Your child knows when he’s had enough. If your baby stops feeding, don’t force him to eat more. “Pulling away from the bottle is a red flag that he’s done or needs to burp,” says Sarah Kreiger, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.
Polar Bear Being Bottle Fed
FACT: Mixing the wrong ratio of formula and water can have very big nutrition and weight consequences. Follow the directions on the label exactly, and use fluoride-free water when possible (too much of the minerals can discolour teeth). Also, prepare what you need only when you need it — a mixed formula that sits around, even in the fridge, can be unsanitary. If baby wakes you up to eat, try this tip from New York City mom Michele Bender: “I’d measure the formula and keep the powder, water, and bottle on my night table. I could mix it right there rather than having to go to the kitchen.”
Otter Being Bottle Fed
FACT: Even if her teeth haven’t started growing in, putting the baby to bed with formula or juice can lead to dental decay and more potential problems that go on and on. Preventing this is easy. Just make feeding the first part of baby’s bedtime routine. If your child needs help falling asleep, give her a pacifier or lovely.
Alpaca Being Bottle Fed
FACT: If you give a baby a cold or room-temp bottle from the get-go, she may prefer that. But if you know she likes warm bottles, you can run one under warm tap water for a few minutes, place a bottle in a pan of hot water (but first remove the pot from the stove), or try a bottle warmer. Don’t use the microwave; it might create hot spots that can burn baby’s mouth.
Bats Being Bottle Fed
FACT: Sharing feedings give both of you the chance to bond with the baby and also to have some alone time. Katie Neitz, of Emmaus, Pennsylvania, adds: “I have so much more freedom since I’m not the only food source. Sam’s dad can feed him, and when other friends and relatives are over, they can feed him too.”
Fish Being Bottle Fed
FACT: With all the factors in favour of breastfeeding, you’d think it would be the easiest thing in the world. Wrong! For some mothers, breastfeeding really is a breeze but for others, it’s hard work.
Dik-dik Antelope Being Bottle Fed
FACT: Always support your baby’s back, shoulders and neck. He should be able to tilt his head back easily, and he shouldn’t have to ‘reach out’ to feed.