Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

How to get organised for bottle feeding??

10 replies

carbooty · 02/05/2009 09:35

Hi everyone,

I know most of you post re: BF but hope someone can give me some advice on bottle feeding.

I am due in July with baby #2 and as I solely bf first time round how no idea about bottle feeding. I have a few questions if any of you can help answer?

What equipment will I need? how many bottles do I need etc....?

How much and often does a newborn need feeds? Is it the same as bf, on demand?

Any recommendations of what bottles to use? I want to use Bisphenol A (BPA) free bottles.

Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
nannynz · 02/05/2009 10:43

The MAM bottles are BPA free, easy to clean and use. The MAM silk is the one to get as the MAM ultivent has lots of parts and is not convenient. I would recomend to get 6 of the 270ml bottle and 2 of the smaller version.

The AVENT steam steriliser fits the MAMs and is easy to use.

Also might be a good idea to get a kettle just for boiling water for baby.

The babies I look after are usually demand fed which makes it sometimes tricky when making the bottles to time it right. Ready made formula may be easier.

Oh and you'll need a bottle brush.

titmouse · 02/05/2009 11:15

our little girl is nearly 5 weeks and feeds 6 times a day, we started FF nearly 2 wks ago and I think 6 times is usual of a newborn.

we've got an advent microwave steriliser, to add to what nannynz has said I would also suggest a feed dispenser, you can pre-measure 3 feeds into it so at the right time you can just tip it in without fiddling with scoops etc, handy if you have a hungry baby getting impatient :-)

we also have a washing up bowl solely for bottles and dummies etc, we put the used stuff in it and then wash and sterilise everything all at once each morning.

cartons of formula can be handy for the night feeds when you are half asleep and also for being out and about cos I don't think you're meant to keep made-up formula for too long.

I am new to this but these are things we've discovered plus some top tips from friends.

wastingmyeducation · 02/05/2009 21:05

I hope you don't mind my asking, but as you exclusively bf first time, why are you planning to ff this time?

carbooty · 02/05/2009 21:28

Thanks for your replies Ladies.

I had a preventative mastectomy last year as we have a family history of breast cancer. Although I know I will be sad not to BF, it is better for my family that I have reduced my risk.

CB
x

OP posts:
BeehiveBaby · 02/05/2009 21:31

I found glass bottles very easy to use and felt better about the sterilising etc with glass.

wastingmyeducation · 02/05/2009 22:02

Didn't mean to be intrusive, but so much bad information is around about bf, that many of us like to make sure people are making informed decisions. I hope you understand.
Good luck!

aendr · 02/05/2009 23:23

Newborn - best to feed on demand, later on they settle and are predictable enough. While feeding on demand and getting used to the baby's rhythms the ready made cartons are brilliant. Any of the carton not used can be put into a sterilised bottle and kept in the fridge for the next feed. I still use them for first thing while I am still half asleep so I can just take a clean bottle and carton up to bed and don't have to traipse downstairs (he drinks the lot), and I also use them out and about.

Pick a formula - quite a lot come in ready made cartons. It might be worth finding out what's available on your maternity wards - at my hospital there were three or four brands of 100ml (hospital only sized) ready made formula bottles/cartons. The midwives may not be allowed to tell you as it's "advertising" though. The 100ml sized bottles are great for the very first few feeds as they don't take a lot. Also, look to see what you can get from your local always-open shops. If your baby has reflux or bad colic, then the comfort/easy-digest versions usually don't come ready made though. Cartons tend to be a little more diuretic and powder more constipating (which is also why I give 1 carton a day.)

I had lots of the small size of bottle (I was expressing and formula feeding and so was using some of them to store EBM) and 10 of the big which is overkill but allows me to wash up in batches, or wash later one day than the next. 6 of the larger size is probably a good number as they settle to 5 feeds a day typically. I can't remember how many of the smaller would be worth it, it depends on how often you want to wash/sterilise; get a couple and you can always get some more later if you need, whereas the big ones will definitely be used later. I take 2 out with me in case I drop one on the floor mid feed and need a clean teat urgently (it happened to a friend when her baby was being fussy and whacked the bottle out of her hand), so having slightly more than needed helps there.

We use the Avent microwave steriliser as the electric ones just died on us (hard, hard water). Most sterilisers come with some free bottles (BPA ones though) and teats.

I second having a baby-only kettle, though my husband asked why. I also have a baby-only washing up bowl and an area in the kitchen for baby bottles.

A tip for making up powder - use a good set of scales. As you scoop, be weighing it, then if you lose count because someone wails or talks to you or counts backwards you can see how many scoops you've put in by the weight. We found putting the powder in first, zeroing the scales, then adding the water by weight (to get the correct amount of water, 100ml=100g) means the powder doesn't stick to the scoop due to condensation. We also have sterilised bottles in the fridge with cooled boiled water in - make up the milk with just under half hot water thus killing the bugs, shake to mix, then put it back on the scales and top up to the right amount with the cold water - and you've got formula at the right temperature much faster.

BeehiveBaby · 04/05/2009 09:25

Oh, and I forgot, some old school advice....don't do the lid up to tight. Should be so as it would leak if the baby wasn't sucking on it IYSWIM. Best anti-wind tip there is.

carbooty · 05/05/2009 08:57

thanks for your thorough post aendr.

I may have a problem with this baby being allergic to milk like my dd1 and myself, which I am trying to sort out. SO the cartons may be out at the moment. Thanks for the tips.

Wastingmyeducation, I haven't been using this website for long, but haven't seen anything negative about BF. I have however seen a few people posting who have chosen to bottle feed, and in every thread there is someone questioning their choice over BF. I am very pro BF, and as I said would be if I could, but also find it unhelpfull and unsupportive to question a mothers choice unless specifically asked to. Lord knows how difficult it is when you first have a new baby!
Please try and remember not everyone can or wants to BF.

OP posts:
wastingmyeducation · 05/05/2009 13:56

I do understand that, but there are plenty of women who think they can't who would be able to if they had the correct advice.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page