How to Keep a Baby Safe While Bottle Feeding
A bottle is specially designed for an infant or a young toddler and consists of the bottle, a nipple, a ring to seal the nipple to the bottle, a cap to protect the nipple and oftentimes a disposable liner. Bottles range in size from 150 to 270 ml and can come in various types with different accessories. Even if you choose to exclusively breastfeed, you may at some point need to bottle feed your baby.
- Clean your bottles after each use in hot soapy water and allow them to air dry. Bottle brushes can be used to clean the insides of the bottles and the nipples. If you wish, you can sterilize the bottles with a bottle microwave steam sterilizer or by boiling them in a pan of water for five minutes.
- Wash your hands before handling your breast milk or infant formula. This will help reduce the risk of bacterial contamination, which can make your baby sick.
- Warm up your bottles by running them under warm water. Never microwave anything for a baby, as this can create dangerous hotspots that you may unknowingly subject your baby to. Test the temperature of the milk by dripping some on the inside of your wrist.
- Hold onto your baby during the feeding. You should never prop the bottle up in her mouth, as this can cause choking and can lead to ear infections. If you are not present during the feeding, your baby can also fall asleep with her bottle, which can cause milk to pool in her mouth and decay her teeth.
- Use baby bottles for only breast milk, formula and water. Sweet liquids such as soda, Tang and Kool-Aid should never be given to a baby. If your baby is over six months of age, she can have juice, but only in a cup.
- Feed only as much as your baby’s stomach can hold. Newborns have very small stomachs and may only be able to drink 1-2 ounces at a time. This will help prevent upset stomachs and spitting up.
- Burp your baby after he has had half of his bottle. This will help prevent him from spitting up.