Basics of Bottle Feeding

23 Oct, 2022

Basics of Bottle Feeding

The bottle allows you to monitor how much your baby is consuming, which is the most noticeable distinction between bottle feeding and nursing. Depending on the type of parent you are, knowing what your child is receiving may make you feel better or it may give you something new to worry about. 


Whenever you read bottle-feeding instructions, keep in mind that every baby is unique. Larger infants require more food. Your baby may experience a development spurt during which she may appear to be constantly hungry, followed by a phase during which she may eat less for a while. In general, infants are aware of their nutritional needs. Your infant will communicate how much food she wants if you pay attention to her hunger cues.


Selection Of A Bottle

Selecting a bottle can be as difficult as selecting a formula. Manufacturers make a variety of claims, such as that their bottles can stop gas production or that their nipples function more like a human breast. I haven't seen any credible scientific research to back up these claims, therefore I can't suggest one brand over another.


Amount in Ounces

Similar to breastfed infants, neonates who are bottle-fed may start out slowly for two to three days, frequently ingesting only one to two ounces (30–60 mL) at a time. She will likely start ingesting 2 to 3 ounces (60-90 mL) every 3 to 4 hours after the first 2 to 3 days of life. Your baby may occasionally go 4 to 5 hours without a bottle, but she will require a lot of food during her first month or two, so if she hasn't woken up to eat after that time, it's a good idea to wake her up. If you want her to sleep a bit longer at night, you can even think about waking her up after three or four hours during the day.


Your baby will probably drink from the bottle every four hours or so after the first month of life, on average. By the time she is six months old, she will drink 6 to 8 ounces (180-240 mL) four or five times a day as her intake gradually increases. Your infant will typically consume around 212 ounces (75 mL) of liquid per day for every pound of body weight, which is another way to think about average intake. However, because every infant is unique, her doctor will weigh and measure her at each wellness check to see whether her development is appropriate for her age.


Hungry Signs

Your baby will give the same cues to let you know when she's hungry and full whether you're breastfeeding her or giving her a bottle. When she is starving, she will begin to move, scoot, sucking on her hand, and smacking her lips. When she's filled, she'll let out a sigh, turn away, and frequently nod off. She might stop dozing off as she gets older and instead smile and glance up at you. At this moment, you can be quite certain that the feeding is finished, especially if she is letting the formula dribble on your pants.

FAQs on feeding

Regardless of the source, the three most frequent inquiries I receive concerning feeding are:

  1. Does she receive enough?
  2. Is she abusing herself too much?
  3. When will she stop needing to be fed at night?
The first query has already been addressed. Regarding excessive amounts, it's uncommon for a baby to require more than 7 to 8 ounces per feeding or more than 36 ounces per day. She can be sucking for consolation instead of hunger. Regarding the final query, most infants will be able to go without feeding for the night between the ages of 2 and 4 months or when they reach a weight of more than 12 pounds. That strangely energizing sensation you'll experience? It's referred to as a full night's sleep.

Steps You Can Take
How you place your baby when she eats is more crucial than the kind of bottle or nipple you use. She should be supported with her head resting in the crook of your arm, slightly upright. Your baby won't be swallowing air if you hold the bottle such that the milk completely covers the nipple. Try to avoid giving your infant a bottle when she is on her back. Lying down makes her more likely to choke and lets milk get into her eustachian tubes, which could lead to middle ear infections. To trigger the rooting response in the infant's first few weeks of life, you might need to softly touch her nipple to her cheek.

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