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Bottle Feeding/Formula Feeding help needed!
Hello,
My due date is fast approaching and I'm starting to have a wee panic about baby's arrival as I am complete NOVICE when it comes to baby care!
Anyway, I am planning to bottle feed (formula) and have a few questions if any mummies can help me....
1) What do you think is the best way to prepare bottles - I have heard that you make them up as you go, but some people have told me that they keep streilised water already in the bottles (keep in the fridge or cupboard) and then add the formula as baby needs???? I am v confused as I know that formula can't be left for more than 24 hours and a feed cannot be re-used etc etc.
2) Are there any set requirements as to how much feed baby should take, or does it depend on the baby?
3) I have Avent bottles, but also have 2 Dr Brown small bottles. will it confuse baby by using two different makes of bottles?
4) You know if you go out with baby and have the pre-prepared formula in cartons then do you just make sure you take an empty setrilised bottle out with you and just pour in the formula, or do you put the formula in the bottle before leaving the house?
I know I sound really stupid but I haven't a clue and have no mum or sister nearby to help me
If you have any other tips or advise on formula feeding I would really appreciate it,
Thanks xx
My due date is fast approaching and I'm starting to have a wee panic about baby's arrival as I am complete NOVICE when it comes to baby care!
Anyway, I am planning to bottle feed (formula) and have a few questions if any mummies can help me....
1) What do you think is the best way to prepare bottles - I have heard that you make them up as you go, but some people have told me that they keep streilised water already in the bottles (keep in the fridge or cupboard) and then add the formula as baby needs???? I am v confused as I know that formula can't be left for more than 24 hours and a feed cannot be re-used etc etc.
2) Are there any set requirements as to how much feed baby should take, or does it depend on the baby?
3) I have Avent bottles, but also have 2 Dr Brown small bottles. will it confuse baby by using two different makes of bottles?
4) You know if you go out with baby and have the pre-prepared formula in cartons then do you just make sure you take an empty setrilised bottle out with you and just pour in the formula, or do you put the formula in the bottle before leaving the house?
I know I sound really stupid but I haven't a clue and have no mum or sister nearby to help me
If you have any other tips or advise on formula feeding I would really appreciate it,
Thanks xx
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Replies
i find that keeping steralised bottles in fridge and making up as you go along is best . there are giudelines on the formula boxes to how much a baby should have babies are all different but not too much, mine started on 3-4 ounces and is now three months and onto 6-7 bottles when she started finishing bottles fro a day or 2 i uped the feeds. it depends on your baby if she/he will get confused with two teets, i'd try keep to one kind just to limit any stresses for you and baby. i just take bottles of steralised water out with me and tip the formula in when i';m out. If i know i can be somewhere with a microwave i leave water cold in a thermo bag, otherwise i take it out really warm and then its about the right temp when i am out. It only takes about 15sec in the micromave to heat up water. if i think of anything else usefull i'll post it or if you think of any other questions just post it . happy 2b of help
claire
I keep boiled water in a sterilised bottle at room temp, when my lo is ready for a feed I just add the amount of formula required. How much your baby will take each feed varies greatly, but as Claire said, your lo will probably start on 3-4 ounces, if your lo drains the bottle completely every feed and gets hungry again quickly then it's probably time to go up an ounce.
When I am out and about I take my bottles of water with me and a feed dipenser, which stores a measured amount of formula for a feed, I also have a flask that's made by Fisher Price that has a lid big enough to warm a bottle in, and you can get the boiling water out of the flask with one hand.
You can also make formula up in advance, but that must be stored in the fridge below 4 degrees, or bacteria will grow.
If your Dr Browns and Advent bottles are both wide necked them the safe teats may fit between the two, and that should help you lo not get confused. Cow and Gate are really good at giving advice, and you can chat to them on the phone, I think the number is on the website.
Hope that has helped, and if you think of anymore questions then just ask.x
I'll probs look on Cow & Gate website or give them a call. I'm sure it all becomes second nature after a few weeks and I will become an expert!
How do you know if the boiled water is 50 degrees or below? I was thinking that I am gonna make up all bottles in the morning (formula and water), keep in fridge, and then use as needed. I'm confused now about how long I should leave the boiled water before adding the formula!
Sorry to be a pain, more and more questions keep popping into my head x