If you are planning to bottle feed your baby infant formula or expressed breast milk it is important you know which feeding equipment you will need and how to sterilise bottles to minimise the risks to your baby.
You'll need a number of bottles and teats, as well as sterilising equipment.
There's no evidence that one type of teat or bottle is better than any other.
Simple bottles that are easy to wash and sterilise are probably best.
It's important to sterilise all your baby's feeding equipment, including bottles and teats, until they are at least 12 months old.
This will protect your baby against infections, in particular diarrhoea and vomiting.
Before sterilising, you need to:
The advice above applies to all your baby's feeding equipment, and whether you are using expressed breast milk or formula milk.
There are several ways you can sterilise your baby’s feeding equipment. These include:
Make sure your bottles and teats are sterilised and wash your hands thoroughly.
If you're using infant formula, follow the instructions on the packaging carefully when you make up the feed.
Good hygiene is very important when making up a formula feed.
Your baby's immune system isn't as strong as an adult's. That's why bottles, teats and any other feeding equipment need to be washed and sterilised before each feed.
This will reduce the chance of your baby getting an infection, in particular diarrhoea and vomiting.
Even when tins and packets of powdered infant formula are sealed, they can sometimes contain bacteria.
Bacteria multiply very fast at room temperature. Even when a feed is kept in a fridge, bacteria can still survive and multiply, although more slowly.
To reduce the risk of infection, it's best to make up feeds one at a time, as your baby needs them.
Use freshly boiled drinking water from the tap to make up a feed. Don't use artificially softened water or water that has been boiled before.
Leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes. Then it will stay at a temperature of at least 70C. Water at this temperature will kill any harmful bacteria.
Remember to let the feed cool before you give it to your baby. Or you can run the bottle (with the lid on) under a cold tap.
Don't use bottled water to make up formula feeds
Bottled water is not recommended for making up feeds, as it's not sterile and may contain too much salt (sodium) or sulphate.
Bottle feeding is a chance to feel close to your baby and get to know them.
Make sure you're sitting comfortably. Enjoy holding your baby and looking into their eyes as you feed them.
Hold your baby fairly upright for bottle feeds. Support their head so they can breathe and swallow comfortably.
Brush the teat against your baby's lips and, when your they open their mouth wide, let them draw in the teat.
Always give your baby plenty of time to feed.
When bottle feeding, keep the teat full of milk, otherwise your baby will take in air.
If the teat goes flat while you're feeding, gently poke your little finger into the corner of your baby's mouth to release the suction.
If the teat gets blocked, replace it with another sterile teat.
Your baby may take short breaks during a feed and may need to burp sometimes.
When your baby has had enough milk, hold them upright and gently rub or pat their back to bring up any wind.
Throw away any unused formula or breast milk after you have finished bottle feeding your baby.
All babies are different. Some want to feed more often that others, and some want more milk.
Just follow your baby's lead.
Feed them when they seem hungry and don't worry if they don't finish the bottle.
Never leave your baby alone to feed with a propped-up bottle as they may choke on the milk.
Talk to your midwife, health visitor or other mothers who have bottle fed if you need help.
You'll find the phone number for your health visitor in your baby's red book.
If your baby swallows air while bottle feeding, they may feel uncomfortable and cry.
After a feed, hold your baby upright against your shoulder or propped forward on your lap. Gently rub their back so any trapped air can find its way out.
There's no need to overdo it – wind isn't as big a problem as many people think.
It's normal for babies to bring up a little milk during or just after a feed. This is called possetting, regurgitation or reflux.
Keep a muslin square handy just in case.
Check that the hole in your baby's teat is not too big. Drinking milk too quickly can make your baby sick.
Don't force them to take more milk than they want during a feed.
Sitting your baby upright on your lap after a feed may help.
If it happens a lot, or your baby is violently sick, seems to be in pain or you're worried for any other reason, talk to your health visitor or GP.
When using formula, always use the amount of powder recommended on the packaging.
Don't add extra formula powder. Using too much can make your baby constipated and may cause dehydration.
If your baby is under 8 weeks old and hasn't done a poo for 2 to 3 days, talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP, particularly if they are gaining weight slowly.
Your baby should be gaining weight and have plenty of wet and dirty nappies.
If you think your baby might be allergic to or intolerant of formula, talk to your GP. If necessary, they can prescribe a special formula feed.
Some formula is labelled as hypoallergenic, but this isn't suitable for babies with a diagnosed cows' milk allergy.
Soya formula should only be given to babies under medical supervision.
Always talk to your GP before using hypoallergenic or soya-based formula.
References nhs.uk
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