When introducing bottle feeding into a child’s daily routine, parents can be overwhelmed by this new change while still keeping on top of everything else going on.
It is easy to make small mistakes, especially when doing something new, but they can have adverse effects on the wellbeing of your child.
The all-new Nutricia FAQ content hub helps new parents and caregivers understand and navigate these changes, providing helpful tips and resources they can use in their journey as new parents.
Here are 3 common mistakes parents have with bottle feeding and what can be done to prevent them, ensuring your baby is as happy and healthy as they can be.
Disclaimer: Breastfeeding is best for babies and provides many benefits.
It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, you eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Combined breast and bottle feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of your own breast milk, and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult.
The social and financial implications of using infant formula should be considered. Improper use of an infant formula or inappropriate foods or feeding methods may present a health hazard.
If you use infant formula, you should follow manufacturers’ instructions for correct bottle preparation – failure to follow the instructions may make your baby ill.
Always consult your doctor, midwife or health care professional for advice about feeding your baby.
1. Reheating Formula
One of the biggest mistakes new parents make is reheating their infant formula. Any excess infant formula should not be used and the safest thing to do is toss it away.
Why you should not reheat formula
When the milk is initially heated and then left without consumption it creates a conducive environment for bacteria to grow.
This bacteria can not only lose the nutrients in the formula but more importantly cause your baby to be really sick with stomach and intestine issues.
To ensure the question of ‘Should I reheat this?’ does not come up, make sure you prepare the correct amount of infant formula.
When you prepare the correct amount, there is no product wastage or money wastage.
When the formula is made, it is recommended your baby consumes it within an hour. Do not give them the same formula hours later in a different sitting.
2. Not Mixing the Formula Properly
It is important to follow the formula instructions carefully to avoid improper mixing.
You need to give your baby the correct amount of formula so they receive the correct amount of nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.
Improper mixing can lead to your baby not receiving the correct amount of nutrients they need, possibly leading to other health issues that would be easily preventable.
The most common mistakes when mixing formula are:
- Using too much water and having diluted formula
- Using too little water and having over concentrated formula
- Using the wrong amount of formula
To mix the formula properly, ensure the correct amounts of both formula and water are being used.
“If you dilute the formula with more water, it will contain fewer calories per ounce and not provide enough calories for your baby to thrive,” says Dyan Hes, MD (source: WebMD).
Read the label carefully as it differs between products, do not assume one ratio of water to formula is the same ratio to use with other formula products.
Use the scoop given to you in the formula tub as that size is the correct size for the formula.
When scooping the formula, make sure it is levelled and not overflowing.
If you do overfill the scoop with powder, scrape off any excess powder so the correct amount is there.
You do not want to give your baby too little or too much formula. Like Goldilocks and her porridge, it needs to be just right.
3. Bottles
Baby feeding bottles are as important as the formula.
It is recommended to avoid using glass bottles because of their susceptibility to chip or break.
Plastic bottles are recommended because they are softer than glass and more durable, however they do need to be BPA free and non-toxic.
If you buy a plastic baby bottle, read the label because some plastic baby bottles do contain materials that have chemicals in them that are unsafe.
Stainless steel bottles are useful for regulating the temperature of the milk, however they do need to be used properly to avoid bacteria growth due to the conduit environment.
Clear bottles are recommended so you can see the formula clearly and how much is left in the bottle.
Newborns do not need large bottles so make sure the bottles you buy are size appropriate for their age. The older your child gets, the bigger the bottle needs to be.
Which makes sense, because as they grow they require more formula for their increased growth.
Remember, when using baby bottles it is important to always wash them thoroughly with warm soapy water after each use and sterilize them before using again.
You must do this after every use, do not use the same bottle twice in a row without washing and sterilizing.
This video provides a demonstration of how to sterilize feeding bottles with boiling water.
Sterilization helps prevent bacteria from growing in the bottle, especially as we know from common mistake number one that bacteria can grow easily in the warm environment of the heated formula.
When you are not using the bottles, they should be kept in a clean environment away from dust and other items that might not be sterile.