If you cannot breastfeed, you can bottle-feed your baby with an infant formula made from modified cow’s milk. Ordinary cow’s milk, goat’s milk, evaporated or condensed milk are not suitable for babies under one year old.

Always follow the instructions when making a formula feed. Boil fresh tap water and, when it is cool, wash you hands, measure the water into a sterilised bottle and add the powder to the water.

Before starting to feed, shake the bottle, then test the temperature of the milk by shaking a few drops on to your wrist, it should feel warm.

If you plan to use the bottle later in the day, place the teat upside down in the bottle, cover the teat with a plastic disk, then cover it with a cap and place the bottle in the refrigerator. (Discard unused formula after 24 hours).

Your baby needs about 2.5oz of formula per 1lb of body weight a day. He may need feeding on demand or every 2 or 3 hours in the early weeks, and 3 to 5 times a day at six months of age. Never keep or reuse leftover milk.

Warm milk breed’s bacteria, so bottles and teats must be kept scrupulously clean. Hand wash them before sterilizing, which can be done by boiling for 10 minutes or by steaming, using a microwave steam sterilizer or an electric steamer, or by immersion in a special chemical solution.

If your baby suffers from wind, check that the hole in the teat is neither too small nor too large to ensure that he is not sucking in extra air. It is common for a baby to posset, or brings up, a small amount of milk after feeding. If he is gaining weight, there is usually no cause for concern; it will improve when he is sitting and eating solids after six months.

Bottle-feeding Your Baby
Cuddle your baby on your lap, with his head and back supported by your arm. Tilt the bottle so that the teat is full of milk, not air.

Types Of Milk
Cow’s milk-based formula is used for most bottle-fed babies. In European Community countries, this must comply with a directive on its composition and contain certain levels of protein, carbohydrate, fats, vitamins and minerals. Formula milks (first milks) may be whey dominant and have protein similar to breast milk. Casein-dominant milks (second milks), based on whole cow’s milk protein, tend to be used for hungry babies. The calorie content of both types of milk is the same.

Soya based formula may be used if the baby cannot digest lactose or is allergic to cow’s milk. It should be used only on the advice of a health professional. Specialized formulas are manufactured for babies with certain disorders or diseases.

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