Ensuring your baby gets the nourishment they need while bonding with them can be a beautiful experience when you bottle-feed your newborn. Here are seven easy ways to make feeding time more pleasant for you and your little one.
1. Pick the Perfect Squeeze and Nipple
It is crucial to choose the right bottle and nipples. Nipples with a sluggish flow may be more appealing to some infants than those with a medium or quicker flow. You can experiment with different flow rates to find the one that works best for your baby if they are having trouble or look overwhelmed.
2. Keep Yourself in a Relaxed Position
The best way to ensure that your baby doesn’t choke or gulp air when nursing is to hold them in an upright, supported position. Use a cushion to prop up your aching back or arms for your own comfort. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be on your infant.
3. Always Be Near When You Bottle-Feed Your Newborn
You can strengthen your bond with your kid by skin-to-skin contact or just by holding them near to your chest. To make feeding time more comforting, you can stroke their hair or establish soft eye contact.
4. Be Aware of Signs of Hunger
Most babies will root (turn their head and open their lips), raise their hands to their mouth, or fuss when they’re hungry. Before they get too irritated and start sobbing, feed them. Being aware of these early signs allows for more relaxed feeding.
5. Feed at a Slow Pace
Follow your infant’s lead. Burping is easier for a newborn because their stomach is still small. To help your baby expel any trapped air, take a moment every few minutes or halfway through the bottle to gently burp them.
6. Remember to Burp
Burping isn’t only for when babies finish eating; some babies burp while they’re still eating. To relieve gas, tilt the animal forward on your lap or rest it gently against your breast. Then, rub or pat its back gently.
7. Ensure Proper Cleaning and Sterilization
Lastly, to prevent the spread of germs, clean and sanitize the bottles, nipples, and any other equipment used for feeding after each session. If you and your infant follow the correct sterilization methods, you may be confident that your feeding regimen will be safe and healthy.
“Want more insights? Don’t miss our detailed guide — A Full Guide to the Newborn Feeding Chart.“
FAQs
1: How does one go about bottle-feeding a newborn?
To avoid overfeeding or discomfort, it is important to pace the feed, keep the infant in a comfortable upright position, pay attention to their hunger cues, and choose the proper bottle and nipple flow.
2: How much milk should I give a baby who is just born in a bottle?
Babies typically need between 1.5 and 3 ounces (45 and 90 milliliters) of formula or expressed breast milk every two to three hours. Having said that, every infant is unique. To help you determine when you’re full, watch for behaviors like putting down the bottle or nodding off.
3: How does one go about bottle-feeding?
Make sure the milk flow is controllable for your infant, choose nipples that are appropriate for their age, keep yourself clean, and offer the bottle in a semi-upright position. Also, to stop the formation of bacteria, throw out any milk that is left over after feeding
4: Can I use a bottle in addition to breastfeeding?
Yes, this is commonly referred to as conjunction feeding. A lot of parents manage to strike a balance that suits their way of life. To avoid nipple confusion, it is best to establish breastfeeding before introducing bottles.
5: why is mixed feeding not advised?
If not handled correctly, mixed feeding might lower breastmilk supply and confuse some infants, making them less inclined to nurse. The correct strategy helps many families do both, but you should talk to your doctor or a lactation consultant to figure out what would work best for your family.
6: Is it OK to blend nighttime bottle feeding with daytime breastfeeding?
In some cases, a night bottle might help parents get more sleep, particularly if they have a helper who can feed the infant during the day. But remember that keeping tabs on your baby’s intake and talking to your pediatrician about any concerns is essential if you want to establish or sustain milk supply, which requires regular nursing in the beginning.
7. How can I tell if my baby is hungry?
Keep an eye out for other subtle cues like waking up, rooting, lip-smacking, or bringing hands to mouth. It could be more difficult to feed your baby if you wait until he or she is wailing.
8: How can I sterilize bottles?
The boiling water approach, a dishwasher with a sanitation cycle, or dedicated sterilization equipment are all viable options. To remove any milk residue, sterilize the bottles after washing them with hot, soapy water.
9: Any advice on how to best use a bottle for a baby?
Sit comfortably, prop up your baby’s head and neck, angle the bottle so milk is always reaching the nipple, and pay attention to when your baby wants to eat or rest. For optimal control, hold the bottle at an angle to avoid inhaling too much air.