Newborn Care Guide
Bottle Feeding
Babies should not be laid flat on their backs while being fed. Hold your baby in your arms at about a 45-degree angle so that your face is visible. Propping the bottle or laying the baby flat can lead to choking or an increased chance of ear infection. A baby who awakens at night for feeding should be fed and returned to bed promptly. Don't encourage play at nighttime feedings. NEVER heat bottles in a microwave oven. Infant feeding classes are held in the Nutrition Clinic on the 4th Thursday of every month.
Formula
Formula comes in 3 forms. Starting with the most expensive, there is the ready-to-use formula, which can be poured directly from the can into the bottle. Once the can is opened, you can keep it in the refrigerator for 24 - 48 hours. The Concentrated liquid must be diluted before use. The amount of concentrated liquid formula and water is specified on the label, but usually equal parts of each are used. Powdered formula is the most economical and is particularly useful when a breastfeeding mother plans to give an occasional bottle. Usually one scoop of powder is added to each 2 ounces of warm water in a bottle. Some mothers put the powder in the bottle and keep it at the bedside for the middle of the night feeding. Then all they have to do is add the warm water from the facet.
Equipment
Many different types of bottles and nipples are available. Selection of type of bottles and nipples depends on personal preference.
Bottle Cleaning
It is not necessary to sterilize the bottles and nipples. You can wash them in hot, sudsy water; rinse and air dry or you may use the dishwasher. A word of caution... nipples will deteriorate quicker if you wash them in the dishwasher, but you may do it.
Burping
Try burping your baby after each 1I2 to 1 ounce at the beginning. Your baby will gradually be able to take more milk before burping is needed. This is an individual thing.
Frequency
Your baby should be fed every 3 - 4 hours. Take your cues from your baby and avoid rigid scheduling. A general rule is that babies will need somewhere between 2 1/2 to 3 ounces of formula per day for every pound they weigh. All babies will differ in exactly how much they eat. Here is a sample of typical daily amounts of formula.
| Baby's Age | Number of Feedings Daily | Amount of Formula |
|---|---|---|
| First Week | 6-10 feedings | 2-3 ounces per feeding |
| 2-4 weeks | 6-8 feedings | 3-4 ounces per feeding |
| 1-3 months | 5-6 feedings | 5-6 ounces per feeding |
| 3-7 months | 4-5 feedings | 6-7 ounces per feeding |
| 7-12 months | 3-4 feedings | 7-8 ounces per feeding |
Your baby will let you know how much to feed. Do not try to coax the infant to finish the bottle at each feeding once a good feeding pattern has developed. (The first few days, we may have to try to wake the baby up to finish at least 1 ounce because they are very sleepy and medications, which you received, can be making them extra sleepy.)
Formula should not be saved from one feeding to the next because of the danger of rapid growth of bacteria in warm milk. Any formula not used within one hour should be discarded. Formula should not be heated in a microwave because heating is uneven and may result in some part of the milk being very hot even when the outside of the bottle feels only warm. Place the bottle in a bowl of hot water to warm.
Do not prop bottles. This eliminates the holding and cuddling that babies need during feeding and increases the likelihood of choking and aspiration. Also, with older babies, milk may pool in the mouth promoting growth of bacteria and leading to cavities once the teeth are in. Ear infections are also more common in infants who sleep with a bottle.
Formula has plenty of water in it so additional water is not necessary. In a recent recommendation, the American Academy-of Pediatrics (AAP) warns that giving water to infants is not necessary and may, in fact, be dangerous. Infants in the first month of life are especially susceptible. New mothers should be informed of these recommendations concerning giving water to young infants by their caregivers. Also do not give fruit juices until your pediatrician or nurse practitioner instructs you to do so. Small baby's digestive systems are not mature enough to handle these.
Your pediatrician will also tell you when you should start solid foods. This is usually not until the baby is about 4 months old.
page last modified on: 5/7/2013