How to bottle feed a newborn and infant correctly - a compendium of knowledge
Proper bottle feeding is important regardless of whether parents feed their baby exclusively with formula milk, expressed breast milk (so-called KPI - breastfeeding differently), or use a bottle, for example, when expanding the toddler's diet. Knowing how to hold a baby for bottle feeding and how often to bottle feed a newborn allows parents to avoid unnecessary stress and reduce the likelihood of the so-called. tummy problems.
That is why in this article we have prepared a compendium of knowledge on the subject, how to properly bottle feed a newborn, and an infant. We present comfortable positions for bottle feeding, answer the question of how often to bottle feed a newborn, and how to bottle feed, so that the baby does not choke.
How to hold your baby for bottle feeding: 3 checked feeding positions
Without a doubt, feeding is one of the most important aspects of caring for a newborn. Many parents are not sure how to hold a baby for bottle feeding, However, it is worth knowing that there is no single, universal position for feeding a baby with a bottle: each caregiver and child may prefer a slightly different position.
Favorite bottle-feeding positions may also change as your baby grows.
Below we suggest 3 positions for feeding your baby a bottle that particularly support safe and comfortable sucking:
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The "bean" position
Sit on a chair, couch or comfortable armchair; place the baby along your forearm, slightly sideways to you, resting the head in the crook of your elbow. Try to keep the baby's head in line with his spine — frequent a mistake this positions for feeding a baby a bottle jest excessive tilting of the child's head backwards or turning the head to the side, which makes it harder for the baby to swallow: the head and back should be in a straight line.
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Kneeling position guardian
Sit on a couch or bed, bend your knees slightly and rest your feet in front of you. Place your baby facing you so that their head and back are well supported on your thighs; their bottom is slightly tucked in, resting on your belly. Place the bottle perpendicular to their mouth.
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"Biological" position
Sit comfortably and place your baby on your forearm so that the baby is facing you (as if breastfeeding) and the baby's tummy is touching your tummy; the baby's lower arm is hugging your body from behind.
How to hold your baby for bottle feeding - always take care closeness and eye contact, so that the child feels safe. Thanks to the appropriate positions for feeding the baby with a bottle, the baby can breathe freely and is not "flooded" with milk, which helps to avoid problems with choking or excessive swallowing of air.
If you are still not sure how to hold your baby for bottle feeding, try a few positions and observe the baby's reactions, if necessary seek advice from a midwife. It is important that the positions used for bottle feeding are comfortable for you as well - the comfort of the parent translates into the calmness of the baby.
How often to bottle feed a newborn - how often to feed baby with a bottle so that he or she is not hungry?
Now that you know how to hold your baby for a bottle, let's move on to the feeding schedule. Parents often ask how often to bottle-feed a newborn - how often to bottle-feed a newborn so as not to overfeed them while still providing the right amount of milk.
- As required – when we bottle-feed a baby with expressed breast milk (KPI), we are generally feeding the baby upon request. Some babies, especially at first, need to eat smaller, more frequent meals – so how often to bottle-feed a newborn is an individual matter.
Expert advises
When feeding your baby only formula milk, it is important to follow the instructions instructions on the product packaging both in terms of preparing a portion of milk (maintaining the appropriate proportions of water and formula) and the frequency of feedings (depending on the age of the child).
- Observing hunger signals – listening to the child and their needs is key. Sucking on fingers/blanket, searching for a pacifier/breast are signals that the baby is hungry. Crying is considered a late sign of hunger, Therefore, let us try to respond to the first signals that the child gives us.
- Stimulate the natural sucking reflex — Lightly touch the baby's upper lip with the pacifier and wait until the baby opens his mouth wide (never force the pacifier!).
NIGHT FEEDING:
The dilemma of how often to feed a newborn with a bottle at night is similar: some babies wake up only 1-2 times, while others wake up often and not always only because of hunger, but also because of the need for closeness.
If the newborn does not wake up for feeding at night, it is worth waking him up and offering him a bottle. after approx. 4 hours from the last feedingOnce your baby is 4 weeks old, is gaining weight properly and is sleeping through the night, there is no absolute need to wake him up to bottle feed.
For parents who are just getting to know their little one, the question is, how often to bottle feed a newborn, is particularly important, so if you have any doubts or problems with your child gaining weight, it is worth consulting a pediatrician or midwife.
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Midwife, Expert in issuing opinions on utility products at the Institute of Mother and Child
How to bottle feed a baby, so as not to overfeed him?
Some parents wonder, how often to bottle feed a newborn, so as not to allow overeating – observation of the child is crucial, but in the case of formula feeding the best the guideline is the manufacturer's suggested daily portion of milk and feeding frequency for a given age (on the product packaging).
ARE YOU SURE IT’S HUNGER?
If the baby has just eaten and burped, but is still restless, check his diaper and thermal comfort, and ensure your closeness (hugging, carrying). In such a situation it is also worth checking, whether the bottle teat has the right flow. The milk may be flowing out of the bottle too quickly, so the baby has not had time to feel full right after the meal.
As a last resort, offer a pacifier to a restless baby, but never use a pacifier as a way to postpone the next feeding.
If you still have doubts, how often to bottle feed a newborn, it is always worth seeking the opinion of an experienced pediatrician or midwife.
How to Bottle Feed Properly - choice of pacifier, eating technique
When we wonder, how to bottle feed a baby properly, choosing the right teat and bottle is really important.
Expert advises
We try to choose the right pacifier age and stage of development: slow-flow pacifiers are most often recommended for babies up to 3 months of age, but it is worth testing a few of them to find the model that works best for you. Choosing pacifiers is a good idea transparent (they will make it easier for parents to control the flow of food), wide base — how to bottle feed a baby correctly? The baby should grasp not only the tip of the teat, but also part of its base, curling the lower lip outwards. When sucking the bottle, we should hear a steady swallow, and the food should not leak out of the corner of the mouth.
If you observe your baby having difficulty eating and you have doubts, how to bottle feed a baby properly, and which pacifier to choose, consult your midwife, speech therapist or certified lactation consultant (CDL).
How to Bottle Feed Your Baby Without Choking - Basics rules
The fear of choking is a common concern among new parents, hence the frequent questions about it, how to bottle feed so that the baby does not choke, especially if the baby eats exceptionally greedily.
- Position and angle of inclination - remember that the bottle should be placed rather horizontally, and the baby was in a slightly raised position.
- Child's reactions – if your baby is restless and cries, he will swallow more air and choke while eating, so try to soothe him before you start feeding.
Don't wait until your baby is most hungry to give you a bottle, because that's when your baby eats the most greedily and swallows more air. – this is one of the basic tips if we don’t know how to bottle-feed so that the baby doesn’t choke.
- Give your child time - how do you want to bottle feed your baby correctly, don't rush eating, let your little one take breaks. Try the so-called paused bottle feeding (paced bottle feeding): lower the bottle every now and then and let the nipple "rest" on the baby's lower lip. This gives the baby a moment to breathe and understand whether he wants to continue eating.
- Safety - remember to never leave a child "alone" with a bottle, e.g. propped up on pillows or held by the child: in the event of choking on milk, the immediate reaction of the caregiver is crucial (it is worth completing a first aid course for infants and children).
Expert advises
The question of how to bottle feed a child so that he or she does not choke takes on particular significance when the baby is just learning to suck and swallow food (newborn) or, for example, has low muscle tone. Sometimes, in the case of problems with very frequent choking of the child and difficulties with sucking, the help of a speech therapist will be necessary.
If you still feel uncertain and unsure, how to bottle feed a baby properly remember that you can count on the support of specialists, but don't forget that with each passing day you will get to know your child better, which will help you gain confidence and bottle feeding will become more intuitive.
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