Bottle Feeding

Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby, nutrition will never be more important than during the first year of life. Don't be confused by ads on TV that say you should change what you are feeding your baby. If you think you need to make a feeding change, talk to your baby's doctor first.

Formulas come in different forms:

• Ready to Feed - Never add water
• Concentrate - Add water
• Powder - Add water

**You need to read the formula label carefully.

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Preparing Formula

• Wash everything needed to prepare formula with soap and water.
• Mix formula exactly as the formula directions tell you. Never use more or less water.
• Prepared formula needs to be covered and refrigerated.
• Refrigerated formula should be thrown out after 48 hours.
• Opened cans of powder can be kept in a cool, dry place for up to one month.

Learning to Bottle Feed

Temperature of the formula: Babies may like formula warm, at room temperature, or even cold. To warm formula, place the bottle in hot (not boiling) water or run hot tap water over the bottle. To check the temperature of the heated formula, shake the bottle gently, then shake a few drops of formula from the heated bottle on the inside of your wrist. The formula should feel warm, NOT HOT. Never microwave bottles. Hot spots from heating in a microwave could burn the baby's mouth.

Position of the baby: ALWAYS HOLD BABY FOR FEEDING. Hold the baby's head higher than her stomach. Keep bottle tilted so while feeding the nipple stays full of milk. Never prop bottles. Never put baby to bed with a bottle. Propping a bottle or putting a baby to bed with a bottle can lead to choking and ear infections.

Amounts to feed: Day of Birth: Begin by offering baby 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce every 3-4 hours. As baby grows offer more formula. Add an extra 1/2 to 1 ounce at a time. Never force a baby to finish a bottle. By the time you go home from the hospital and during the first week, baby with be drinking 1-3 ounces of formula every 3-4 hours.

Hunger Cues: Learn your baby's early hunger cues: stirring in sleep, eye movements, hand to mouth sucking motion. The best time to feed your baby is when he feels these cues.

Leftover formula: Bottles are good for one hour after being removed from the refrigerator. Any formula not finished at feeding needs to be thrown out.

Schedule: A baby may not have a regular feeding schedule. The baby's stomach is very small and he can hold only a little milk at a time. Most babies will eat every 2 to 4 hours.

The WIC Program provides help with food and formula. Call your County Health Department if you need help buying food or formula for your baby. Go to Resources for Help for telephone numbers.