Do You Know The Bottle - Feeding Basics?
Experts believe that, new-borns should be breastfed for the first 6 months, to provide nutrition to the baby’s body. However, breastfeeding can sometimes become a challenge for you, the new mum, especially if she wants to go back to work or are unable to learn the right technique, and wants to the baby to be introduced to bottle-feeding.
But do you even know the basics of bottle-feeding?
Read on to find out:
When to introduce bottle to your new-born?
Lactation experts recommend waiting until breastfeeding is completely established and the baby has learned to latch on to the bottle before introducing it. The bottle can be introduced to your baby after breastfeeding has been established or depending on the baby's need for additional nourishment. It doesn’t take more than two weeks for the baby to be habituated to bottle-feeding.
How to select a bottle for your little one?
It is absolutely essential to choose the right bottle for your baby.
- Start with a slow-flow bottle if your baby is very young: Once the baby gets used to it, it’s time to introduce him to the normal flow.
- However, the best feeding bottles are those which are Bisphenol – A and EA (Oestrogen Activity) – free
How many times should you bottle-feed your baby?
Your baby’s feeding habits might differ from the other. Here’s what you can do:
- Give your little one the bottle after every two to three hours in the first few weeks.
- You can alternately, offer the baby the bottle when she or he’s hungry.
- If he or she sleeps longer than four or five hours, wake him or her up to feed her.
- Remember he or she will take one and a half to 2 ounces of feed in the first few days. However, the ounces are going to increase after this week.
- By 6 months, your little one is likely to take 6 to 8 ounces a day.
- You can even combine breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, thus ensuring the baby gets the best of both. Additionally, it is a good idea to mix breastmilk and formula in the same bottle.
To Conclude
The doctor will monitor the growth of the baby, indicating she or he’s getting the right amount of feed.
Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops contents on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, benefit of cord blood banking, stem cell banking, umbilical cord lining and more.