How to Feed Your Baby in the Right Way: Tips You Need to Know
Movies show that bottle feeding is a very simple procedure and doesn’t require knowledge from caregivers. However, inexperienced parents often see their babies choking and regurgitating pretty often.
Breastfeeding is often done subconsciously, even though many mothers need help from lactation experts. If a caregiver cannot breastfeed, first, one should find the best formula for supplementing breast milk. Second, one should know how to feed babies safely and what formulas to choose.
Rule 1. Buy Certified Equipment
Feeding bottles, bottle brushes, and nipples must be made of safe components to guarantee toxic-free feeding. Moreover, the whole of the teat must be of the proper size. If a hole is too small, a baby will spend too much effort trying to get the food, wasting energy on that instead of eating. If it’s too big, a baby will choke being unable to swallow it timely.
Rule 2. Make the Feeding Tools Sterile
Breastfeeding is safer because a mother needs just to keep her breasts clean to guarantee feeding safety. If you bottle feed, you need to sterilize the equipment appropriately. You can either use boiling water, a microwave, or a steam sterilizer.
Some parents buy single-use bottles and nipples when they have to travel or go somewhere and have no chance to sterilize feeding tools. They should also wash their hands with soap or use sanitizers to provide the best sterility.
Rule 3. Ensure the Temperature of the Baby Formula is as Needed
The best method to prepare baby formula is to follow instructions on a brand’s package. One should mix the needed amount of dry formula with warm boiled water. If a baby falls asleep, a parent can store the prepared formula in a fridge for several hours. Afterward, it is necessary to warm it up in a heater, a steamer, or hot water. It’s recommended to put a bottle in there and wait till it gets warm. One should use a wrist area to test the temperature of the liquid – it mustn’t be hot or cold.
Rule 4. A Baby’s Feeding Position
A baby shouldn’t lie horizontally when being fed. It mustn’t sit literally but its position must be like that. Parents should see the face of a baby and hold it close to get the required eye contact. The position must be semi-upright and a caregiver’s hand must carefully hold a baby’s head to promise comfortable swallowing and breathing. If a baby refuses to open its mouth, it’s necessary to irritate its lips with a nipple. A baby will open its mouth subconsciously if it’s hungry.
Rule 5. Time is Required
Parents should not hurry a baby to finish a meal. Babies eat slowly and can freeze for a moment to explore the surrounding world. One should hold a bottle horizontally to let a baby eat formula safely and without much effort. A baby closes its mouth and turns its head off a bottle when it’s full. In this case, one should stop feeding a baby. Afterward, it is necessary to hold it straight to let a baby burp. It helps a baby avoid bloating and regurgitation.
Rule 6. Choose the Best Baby Formula
Formula selection is essential. One should choose the best-quality organic baby formula to supply babies with the needed nutrients from their first day till it’s 12 months. For example, HiPP has different formulas for newborns, and cow milk formula from Holle works as a safe supplier of nutrients. Other reputable baby food brands are Kedamil, Löwenzahn Organics, BebeM, and NannyCare. Note!If a baby cannot finish the portion, caregivers should throw the remnants away because they cannot be reused. They should never leave their baby alone with a bottle in its hands to prevent choking.
