When should you start bottle feeding a baby?

No matter what you do, whether you decide to bottle feed your baby exclusively, choose to complement it with nursing, or use the best bottles for breastfed babies to serve pumped milk, you are bound to have questions regarding bottle-feeding. niñio is a one-stop solution for all of your bottle-feeding requirements, so read on to know more.

The good news is that bottle-feeding a new-born isn’t rocket science. To most kids, the act of suckling on a nipple comes naturally. So, the process will be breezy for you. Initially, they will drink only a little, but the amount will increase as they grow:

When is the right time to start?

Let’s get straight to it, if you have decided that bottle-feeding your new-born exclusively is what you want to go for, you should start right after birth. Worry not, niñio baby feeding bottles are EA free and 100% safe for your baby.

However, if you have chosen to breastfeed, you should ideally wait for a couple of weeks before switching to the best bottles for breastfed babies to make the process easier.

Signs that your baby is hungry

Be aware to spot the very first signs of hunger so your baby doesn’t get irritated and cranky. Your tiny tot can make its needs felt through the following signs –

• Nuzzling against your chest
• Short and low-pitched crying
• Sucking furiously on anything accessible, be it themselves or your hands or your clothes
• Showing rooting reflex or sucks on its lips or tongue
• Making lip-smacking sounds

FAQs

1. How to bottle-feed your baby?

While deciding the quantity, it is a good idea to follow your baby’s cues. If your baby doesn’t want to finish its bottle, don’t force it. On the other hand, if it keeps sucking on the baby feeding bottle furiously even after the milk is over, offer some more.

The best position to feed your baby would be in a semi-upright position with support for its head. Don’t feed your baby when it is lying down, as the milk can flow to the middle ear and cause an infection. You can tilt the bottle to prevent the baby from swallowing air while sucking. The wide-mouthed nipples of niñio baby feeding bottles have excellent anti-colic properties. Here are some ideas for positions that you can try –

● Cradle your baby

Place the head of the baby in the crook of your arm and place the other arm either over the baby or under it. Now, slowly lift the arm with the baby’s head on it so that the child is in a semi-upright position.

● Sit the baby on your lap

If your baby has acid or gas reflux, you can sit it up and let its head rest on your chest or the crook of your arm.

● Use your lap

One good thing about this position is that it gives room for plenty of eye contact. You can place the head of the baby on your knees and its feet on your stomach when you are lying down or sitting with your legs propped up.

2. When to stop bottle-feeding a new-born?

Kids often grow up to be very attached to their bottles. They are not just a source of nourishment but also offer a feeling of security. Ideally, you should start weaning the baby off the baby feeding bottle by the end of its first year. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will get for you. If a child uses a bottle for a longer duration than required, it can lead to cavities or overfeeding.

It can be challenging to switch from baby feeding bottles to sippy cups, but with niñio by your side, you have nothing to fear. niñio Sippy Cups are 100% EA free. We understand that babies are just learning to grasp things by this age. Thus, the sippy cups come with grooves to aid the process. Moreover, they can be multi-purposed. The baby can use its favourite cup for everything, right from water to soup, juice and more.

Most doctors recommend switching to a sippy cup when the baby is over six months old. By this time, likely, most of the milk will either end up on you or the floor. However, by age one, the baby will get accustomed to it, and the process will be smoother for you.

3. What are the steps for bottle-feeding a new-born?

Step 1:
Ensure that the baby feeding bottle, utensils and other equipment are clean and sterilized before use.

Step 2:
Read the manufacturer’s guide carefully for the formula that you are using. If you use too much water, your baby will be undernourished. If you use too little of it, it will lead to dehydration.

Step 3:
Add boiled water to the formula and then immediately refrigerate it. If the formula stays out of the fridge for more than an hour or you don’t end up using the refrigerated formula for more than 24 hours, throw it in the bin.

Step 4:
You don’t necessarily need to warm up the refrigerated formula for bottle-feeding a new-born. Yet, most babies prefer it that way. Ensure that you don’t microwave it as it will overheat the milk in the centre of the container. Shake a few drops of the formula on the inside of your wrist before feeding it to your baby to ensure that it is at the ideal temperature.

Step 5:
As discussed earlier, ensure that you are seated in an apt position. Tilt the bottle while feeding the baby to prevent it from sucking on air.

Step 6:
Follow its cues while bottle-feeding a new-born. It is fine if your baby feeds on two to four ounces during the initial weeks. It may feed on lesser than that during the first week. Keep a tab on the quantity.

Step 7:
Burp your baby after feeding two to four ounces of formula milk. You can either drape it on your shoulder or your lap with its stomach facing down and firmly rub or pat its back.

The bottom line

We wish you luck and joy in the journey of parenthood. Before you start using baby feeding bottles, ensure that you discuss the same with your pediatrician. niñio believes that moms know the best when it comes to their babies. If you have any further queries, feel free to reach out to us.