Feeding from a bottle
Feeding a baby with a milk formula from a bottle is a safe alternative to breastfeeding if you follow the hygiene rules and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Once you have decided to feed the baby from the bottle, you will quickly set the procedure for cleaning and sterilizing equipment, preparing the mixture and feeding. It may seem that this is a large amount of work, but now all such actions will go much faster and easier than in the past. If you have not bought everything you need for feeding, cleaning and sterilization, ask for some tips on page.198. The market sells a lot of different milk formulas that meet the individual needs of parents and children. Regardless of what mix you use, always remember that babies fed from a bottle are more prone to infections than those who are breastfed, so pay careful attention to hygiene.
TYPES OF MILK MIXTURES
The Ministry of Health recommends that children who are not breastfed receive a milk formula under the age of one year. All infant formulas are produced under close supervision to provide the most approximate composition to human milk, the mixtures contain the right amount of fats, protein and vitamins necessary for the baby.
Children under one year of age should not be given ordinary cow's milk, as it contains a lot of protein and minerals that can overload the child's unformed kidneys and cause dehydration. In addition, cow's milk does not contain enough iron needed for the baby. For young children, goat and condensed milk are also unsuitable.
If you do not know which milk formula is best for your baby, consult a visiting nurse. Milk mixture can be bought in the form of powder, liquid concentrate and ready-made forms in most supermarkets and pharmacies.
powder milk powder is usually the cheapest, and ready-to-use forms are the most expensive, but they can be useful in the first few weeks, as long as you become accustomed to the feeding regime or lack time.
There are two main types of mixtures: based on modified cow milk and special formula, based on soy milk.
Modified cow milk
Most artificially-fed children receive a formula based on modified cow's milk, and if the child was fed with such a mixture in the hospital and there were no abnormalities, there is no reason to change the food when you return home. If you are concerned that the baby is not gaining sufficient weight or still seems
How to properly prepare the infant formula
Unlike breast milk, which is always clean, bacteria can get into the milk mixture, resulting in indigestion. To avoid this, thoroughly wash and sterilize all accessories before proceeding to the bottle.
STERILIZATION OF ACCESSORIES
Feeding accessories can be washed and sterilized in a dishwasher or as follows:
Cleaning of accessories Fill the sink with hot soapy water. Then, separately, wash the bottles, nipples, rings, discs, lids, removing the frozen remains of milk. For washing bottles, use special brushes, especially to remove dirt around the neck. Nipples turn out, walk on them with a nipple brush and rinse the hole with water so that it is not clogged. Finally, rinse thoroughly with warm running water.
Sterilizing accessories
When using a chemical sterilizer, pour chemicals into the device in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Then completely immerse the solution in the solution for the recommended time. If you do not immediately use them, they can stay in the sterilizer for up to 24 hours. Rinse with cool boiled water before use.
Alternatively, you can use a microwave oven, steam sterilizer or boil most of the accessories in a closed pan for 10 minutes, the nipple takes only three minutes.
PREPARATION OF MILK MIXTURE
Proper preparation of the mixture is vital for the health and well-being of the child. Start by collecting all the accessories together, then wash your hands.
Boil some water Boil some fresh or filtered water and boil for 1-2 minutes. Cool down. Avoid bottled, softened or re-boiled water, since such water contains many mineral salts. If the
tap water in your home has a high lead content, buy a water filter.
Add the mixture Pour the correct amount of chilled boiled water into each bottle, then add the required amount of spoons of the mixture, leveling it with a knife. Always use a measuring spoon and add only the recommended amount of the mixture to a certain amount of water. Install the discs and rings, stir vigorously.
Put on the nipples and store Remove the discs and rings, put the nipples down with a spout so that they do not touch the mixture. Install the discs and rings and close the bottles with covers, if you do not immediately use the mixture. Keep bottles in a vertical position in the refrigerator.
Dimensions Never pour a spoonful of mixture with a slide, do not condense it and do not add an extra spoon, be sure to check that the water is exactly the required amount. If the mixture is very concentrated, it can lead to dehydration of the baby, and if very diluted, then the baby will not get enough nutrients. To get an extra amount of milk formula, mix more water and powder in the right proportion.
is hungry, having eaten your portion, consider switching to a mixture of another manufacturer or another type of mixture. However, before this always consult with your health visitor, since the problem is not always related to the mixture. The reason may lie in the technique of feeding or in intolerance of a certain type of mixture, this may also be affected by the medical condition of the child, which will require further study.
Special infant formulas
For infant-born, artificially-fed children who do not tolerate lactose or cow's milk protein, and those who have other medical problems or problems with feeding, special formula is recommended. If necessary, such mixtures are prescribed by the doctor. These include hypoallergenic mixtures and soy milk as a mixture of for providing children with all the necessary nutrients.
FEEDING
IN For the first few weeks, you may need to practice your pre-mix preparation. Cook the prepared mixture in the refrigerator for a day, but keep the bottles on the shelf of the main chamber, and not on the door, since it's somewhat cooler. You can feed the child as soon as he gets hungry, so that he does not wait and cry, and then refused to eat. Avoid also that at first the child is fed by different people, give him the opportunity to get used to the father and mother. Feeding time should become a moment of relaxation and joy, and you can help the child by holding him closer to him and looking into his eyes. By three months you will see that the baby will be excited at the sight of the bottle.
Milk temperature
Although it is customary to warm the bottle to body temperature, most children "do not mind" if the mixture is somewhat cooler, but not below room temperature. You can use an electric heater for bottles or put a bottle in a pan with hot, but not boiling water for several minutes. To heat the mixture, do not use the microwave, as the bottle can cool, and the mixture that remains hot after the oven will remain hot and burn the child's mouth. Before giving the child a mixture, always check the temperature by dripping a couple of drops on the inside of the wrist. Once you have warmed the bottle, immediately feed the baby. Do not leave the mixture warmed for more than an hour and always discard unused. In a warm mixture, the bacteria multiply very quickly, which can lead to a stomach upset in the child. If you leave the house, place the bottles with the prepared mixture in a cool box and warm them up when the child wants to eat.
Asphyxiation Even when your child grows up, do not leave it to eat one of the bottles raised - there is always a risk that it can choke. Each time you clean the nipple, check for wear and damage. Getting a piece of nipples into the child's mouth is dangerous.
Feeding from a bottle
Before you start feeding, sit back and pay attention to the child. Put it on your knees so that the head lies on the bend of your elbow, and the back is on your forearm. Stimulate the reflex by touching the baby's lips with the nipple bottle. When the baby is ready to eat, insert the nipple into your mouth. Try not to jump out, as this can interfere with normal sucking. During feeding, keep the bottle at an angle of approximately 45 degrees so that the top of the bottle is closed with a mixture, not air. If the nipple is flattened, gently pull it out of the child's mouth and let it inflate.
To help the child relax, press him close to him, talk or sing a song. Keep an eye on the child and respond to his wishes. Some children like to interrupt food in order to breathe or regurgitate, others prefer to eat until the mixture is over.