Making up a bottle and feeding your baby

Making it up, step by step

1 ‘Choose a time when you won’t be interrupted and wash hands thoroughly,’ says Jackie.

2 Fill the kettle, boil and leave to cool. Always use boiled, cooled tap water. The boiling sterilises the water, making it safe for babies whose immune systems are not fully developed. Avoid bottled waters, which may be too high in minerals such as sodium.

3 Make sure everything (bottles, teats, discs and caps) has been sterilised.

4 Fill bottles with cooled boiled water to the precise level specified on the formula box.

5 Measure the exact number of scoops (use the edge of a knife to level off the scoop) and add to the bottle.

6 Place the disc, teat and cap on the bottle. ‘Always put on the cap,’ reminds Jackie. ‘Otherwise it won’t stay sterile.’

7 Shake vigorously to mix.

8 If making the milk for the day ahead, put it in the fridge. ‘I do the whole day’s bottles first thing in the morning,’ says Helen. ‘That way, when Ryan wants it, it’s ready.’

Feeding your baby

· ‘Warm the milk, shake the bottle to even up the temperature, then test a drop on the inside of your wrist,’ says Jackie.

· Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit.

· Hold your baby – leaning back but not lying flat – in the crook of your arm. Gently brush the teat on your baby’s cheek. He will turn towards the teat and open his mouth. Place the teat inside and he should start sucking. Tip the bottle so the teat stays full of milk, otherwise your baby will take in air, which can cause painful wind. Very noisy slurping can be a sign that too much air is being swallowed.

· If he’s finished but won’t let go of the bottle, gently ease your little fingertip into the corner of his mouth to break the suction. Then pull the teat out.

· It’s important to follow your baby’s signs. If he pulls away don’t force him. He may need winding or simply not be hungry. Help him bring up the wind, then offer the bottle again. If he still refuses, wait a while, but don’t keep the milk after it’s been out of the fridge for an hour.

· If the teat flattens out, pull gently on the bottle to release the vacuum.

· Cuddle up close – this is bonding time.

Burning questions

Q) Why does my baby bring up his milk?

Most babies bring up a little milk during or after a feed. It’s called possetting and is nothing to worry about. He may have taken too much milk or it may just be coming up with the wind. If your baby brings up a lot of milk frequently or violently speak to your GP.

Q) What’s the best way to wind him?

There are three tried and trusted methods:

1) Hold him upright over your shoulder and rub his back.

2) Sit him on your lap, cup his chin with you thumb and forefinger to lengthen the windpipe, and rub his back.

3) Lie him on his tummy across your lap and massage his back.

Q) Why does he splutter when feeding?

The milk may be flowing too fast for him. Check which teat you’re using. Some new babies are guzzlers who are happy with slow or medium flow teats. Others need newborn teats, otherwise the milk overwhelms them.

For older babies

‘Getting older babies off the bottle can be tough as they associate sucking with comfort,’ says Jackie. ‘Start trying early. Give a beaker of water from four months so your baby gets used to it – and give lots of praise if he takes a suck.’

‘I have every beaker ever made in my cupboard,’ laughs Sarah. ‘Tom wouldn’t take one at first, but recently he’s accepted a beaker of water at mealtime.

Weaning off the breast and onto the bottle may take time so plan ahead if you’re returning to work. ‘Try first with expressed breastmilk,’ says Jackie. Then move on to formula. Get someone else to give the bottle. If he can smell breastmilk he may refuse the formula. ‘Introducing a bottle was hard,’ says Helen. ‘Next time I’ll give one regularly from early on.’

As your baby’s appetite increases, don’t worry that he’s having too much. The guidelines on formula boxes are just that – a guide. ‘I thought Oliver was having too much,’ says Sally. ‘At five months he was taking six 9oz bottles a day but, as my health visitor said, “Babies can’t read what’s on the box!”.’

And don’t worry if he’s taking less than you expected either. Babies have different appetites and gain weight at different rates. Some weeks he’ll gain less, some weeks more. Have your baby weighed regularly. ‘If he’s following his centile line and developing well, don’t worry,’ says Jackie.

Don’t change formula or equipment unnecesarily. If a baby’s unsettled, mums may look for a reason connected to bottlefeeding,’ says Jackie. Let your health visitor check your baby over before changing anything.