CHILD DISCIPLINE
Bottle Feeding Your Newborn
Posted on February 8th, 2010 in Motherhood
Although she will miss out on the abundance of antibodies and protein in your colostrum and breast milk, if you’ve opted to bottle feed your newborn from the very start, all baby formula has been manufactured to suit an infant’s needs. The milk used will have been extremely processed in order to become more easily digestible by your infant, as well as infused with the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Whether it be for medical reasons or financial reasons, many women can’t breastfeed their baby, and some feel guilty about missing out on the closeness involved in the practice. However, there are plenty of other ways to establish and nurture this great bond, even with bottle feeding.
Aside from medical and financial fears, there are some other view points to be had by bottle-loving mothers. Whatever the concern, every viewpoint deserves some respect, as they are real mental hurdles for each woman to conquer. Sometimes, with some compassionate words and a small amount of support, many of these women may very well reconsider their decision. But for many women, there is no other option.
If breast feeding baby is not for you, talk to your pediatrician about selecting the best formula for bottle feeding your baby. Once you have made your choice, be sure to follow the directions on the box EXACTLY. Some mother’s assume that using less water will produce a stronger, better formula for their baby. This is not the case. A newborn’s kidneys are not fully developed, and thus cannot bear the burden of too much salts and proteins. That being said, do not use more water than instructed either. Doing so could cause your baby to become full before getting the necessary amount of nutrients needed. Trust the experts and follow the instructions on the box.
If you’re concerned about what water to use, and you don’t trust your local water supply, you have two options:
1- Buy sterilized water from your local market|the store.
2- Boil your tap water (as long as contains no known contaminants) for about five minutes. Let it cool before mixing it with formula so you don’t destroy the nutrients found therein.
If you need to reheat your child’s formula, put the bottle in a bowl of hot water or a pan of water and heat it on the stove. Don’t allow it to boil, and don’t ever use the microwave. Too much heat will destroy the important nutrients needed for your child’s proper growth and development. Test the temperature of the formula on the inside of your hand before feeding it to your baby. Make sure it is at a warm and comfortable temperature, and not at all hot.
As for your baby’s feeding gear|items, there is no real need to boil them (bottles, nipples etc), so long as you wash them in hot and soapy water, and rinse them well.
For vital info about the topic of how to be a good parent – please make sure to study this page. The times have come when proper information is truly only one click away, use this opportunity.
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