Bottlefeeding Basics

It's OK not to nurse. While most experts now agree a mother's natural milk is more nutritious than formula, there are many valid reasons why parents may choose to bottlefeed instead.

Premature babies are often born with a weak sucking reflex, and lack the strength to nurse. Some mothers are separated from their baby shortly after birth, while others must take medication that can be passed through breast milk. And in today's world, many moms must return to the workplace and are not available whenever the child is hungry. In such cases, formula offers an alternative that is both nutritious and convenient.

Powdered, Concentrate, or Ready-to-Feed

Today's formulas are all pretty similar, but they come in several different varieties. Ready-to-feed is definitely the easiest to use, but also the most expensive. It comes in small cans because they only last about a day in the refrigerator after opening. Powdered is cheaper, but a bit more cumbersome to prepare. It also has a fairly long shelf-life. Concentrated formula is diluted with water before serving. Many parents use more than one type, packing convenient single-serving cans of ready-to-feed for days out, while keeping a container of inexpensive powder at home.

Supplementing Breastfeeding with a Bottle

Many parents opt to supplement breastfeeding with an occasional bottle. This allows Dad to sometimes take over feeding duties, which can be a welcome relief to exhausted moms in the middle of the night. This also gives new fathers some valuable one-on-one time with their babies. However, it's a good idea to wait until the baby is at least three to four weeks old before introducing a bottle. Artificial nipples are much easier to suckle than human ones, and infants need time to learn how to nurse from a breast. Switch to a bottle too soon, and the baby may get used to the faster flow and be reluctant to go back to the mother's bosom. Don't wait too long to try a bottle, or the baby may refuse to try anything other than the real deal.

Bottlefeeding 101

Preparing a bottle isn't difficult, but there are a few things to remember. Most metropolitan water supplies are perfectly safe for babies, so there's no need to boil water before mixing it with formula powder or concentrate. Remember to sterilize all bottles and nipples before they are used for the first time, but a thorough cleaning in soapy water will be fine after that.

Although there's nothing wrong with serving formula cold or at room-temperature, many babies prefer warm formula, especially if they are already used to body-temperature breast milk. Bottles should be heated in a pan of warm water or under a hot tap. Never use a microwave because they often heat unevenly, and hot milk can burn a child. Test the temperature by dribbling a few drops on your forearm -- if that feels too hot for you, it's too hot for baby.

Most pediatricians recommend feeding babies on demand, and using a bottle makes it much easier to keep track of how much they are actually eating. Make sure to tip the bottle so there's formula coming out, not air.