Formula-feeding your baby
Some mums choose to bottle feed their babies with infant formula milk. This is processed, powdered cow’s milk which has been treated to make it suitable for babies. There are formula milk regulations in the UK to ensure that all of the formula milks readily available in this country have the basic ingredients your baby needs.
Which formula milk should I use?
Babies should only drink formula milk, not ordinary pasteurised cow’s milk, until they are one year old, although pasteurised, full-fat cow’s milk can be used in cooking from six months.
First-stage formula is whey based. It’s suitable for babies until they are a year old, then they can move on to full fat cow’s milk. Second-stage or follow-on formula are both casein-based and take longer for your baby to digest, which can lead to constipation. Evidence suggests that casein-based formula is not necessary for most babies. There is no need to switch to second-stage or follow-on formula. Whey-based infant formula is fine for your baby until she switches to cow’s milk.
Occasionally, a specialist formula based on other products can be prescribed on medical or dietetic advice. Never use soya infant formula for babies without advice from a paediatric dietician. Goat’s milk infant formula is not suitable for babies as it is deficient in some basic nutrients.
There are two main sorts of formula: powdered, which needs to be mixed with water, or ready made formula, which is already mixed.
Making up formula milk
When using powdered formula, it is extremely important that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the pack regarding the correct quantity of powder and water to be mixed. Never be tempted to add extra powder as this could make your baby ill. Adding too little powder means that she will not get the nutrients and nourishment she needs. You should always make up a fresh bottle of formula milk just before feeding. After the feed, throw away any left over milk.
What you need for bottle-feeding
Bottle-feeding requires more equipment than breastfeeding, and you need to make sure you sterilise your equipment to prevent your baby getting infections and stomach upsets.
You’ll need the following to get you started:
- 200 ml bottles with teats and bottle covers
- formula milk
- bottle brush, teat brush
- sterilising equipment (such as a cold-water steriliser, microwave or steam steriliser)
- boiled tap water, not bottled water.
Feeding your baby
First of all, make sure that you are sitting comfortably and that you are supporting your baby’s body and neck. She needs to be sitting slightly backwards in your arms, but not completely flat. Hold the bottle so that the teat is full, or almost full, of milk – if your baby takes in air rather than milk, this can give her a sore tummy or colic.
Always bottle feed your baby by holding her in your arms – never leave her to feed alone. Apart from being dangerous for your baby, holding her close and snuggling with her while she feeds is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen your emotional bond.
Try to bottle feed your baby yourself as much as possible rather than letting other people do it – it’s important to strengthen the emotional bond. Feeding your baby yourself also means you are best placed to notice if she’s not feeding properly, or to spot any potential health problems.
Winding your baby
Bottle-fed babies need to be winded during and at the end of their feed to avoid wind being trapped in their tummies. You can either do this by gently sitting your baby up, supporting her under her chin and rubbing her back until she burps – or by leaning her against your shoulder and either rubbing or patting her back. As well as a burp, she might also bring up a little milk – so make sure you have a clean, dry cloth handy.
