As soon as your baby completes 6 months, it is time to introduce him to formula feeds. Infant milk formula should be fed to your baby in a bottle. This phase of preparing a bottle feed can be initially be quite nervous for you. However, with these points in mind, you can master the art:
- Safety & Hygiene
- Preparation & Measurements
- Feeding & Storage
Let’s know more about these points below:
Safety & hygiene
Before you prepare a bottle feed for your baby, you have to remember the following points:
- Ensure that you sterilize the bottle, cap, nipple and the ring well before you use it for the first time.
- Wash your hands well with soap and water before you start the process of preparing the bottle feed.
- Boil one litre of water that you have freshly drawn from the tap and allow it to cool down for 30 minutes at least before you use it for formula feeds. This will ensure that the water is hot enough to remove the bacteria that may be found in the formula feeds and cold enough to ensure that the nutrients of the formula aren’t affected.
- After the first use, you don’t have to sterilise the bottles; it is enough if you wash them well with soap water and allow them to dry completely.
Preparation & Measurements
- You have to check for the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to know the exact measurement of formula and water that needs to be used per feed.
- Pour the boiled water (that has been cooled down) to the exact level as per the marking in the bottle. For measuring the formula, you need to use the scoop that is provided along with the package.
- Mix the formula into the water in the bottle and shake the bottle vigorously for about 10 seconds until the contents are mixed well.
- Ensure that you use the exact measurement of water and formula for mixing. Taking too little of formula may not give your baby his daily recommended nutrients level, whereas taking too much of formula can result in indigestion issues, vomiting and diarrhoea in him.
- Show the closed bottle under cold running water, so that the formula is not too hot for the baby. You can also squeeze a few drops of the feed into your palm to check the temperature before you feed your baby.
Feeding & Storage
- Ensure that you feed the formula to your baby immediately upon preparation. If there is leftover formula in the bottle within 2 hours of preparation, you have to throw it away without fail.
- You should always prepare fresh bottle feeds for your baby and it is not recommended for you to store pre-prepared feeds in the refrigerator.
- However, if you have to prepare your baby’s formula feeds in advance, ensure that you use clean bottles for the same and store the feeds in the refrigerator at a temperature of at least 5 degrees Celsius. You can store these feeds only for 24 hours.
In a nutshell, it is very important to use clean bottles, use the right measurement of formula & water and follow the rules related to storage perfectly, to prepare the best bottle feeds for your baby.
