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Start with clean hands. Then take the formula from the refrigerator, shake, and
warm the bottle to body temperature. Remove the nipple shield and turn the
nipple right side up. Avoid touching the end of the nipple or the bottle rim.
Test the temperature of the formula by sprinkling a few drops on the inside of
your wrist. It should feel warm, not hot. If the formula is too hot, let it cool
a little or hold it under cold running water if you're in a hurry. This is also
a test for the size of the hole in the nipple.
Always hold Baby in your arms while feeding him. He needs to feel the same
security and loving warmth he'd have if you were breast-feeding him.
Bottle propping deprives him of the affection and companionship that are such an
important part of his mealtime. Also, swallowing is difficult if a baby is flat
on his back. He may choke and aspirate the milk into his lungs. If he loses the
nipple, no one is there to help him—a frustrating experience.
The nipple should be firm to encourage strenuous sucking. If the holes in the
nipple are the proper size, it should take the baby about 20 minutes to finish a
bottle, providing he sucks continuously. If it takes him longer, the formula
probably isn't flowing smoothly through the nipple. Investigate.
First, check the cap—it may be screwed on too tightly. Loosen it, then retest to
see if the milk flows properly. Bubbles will rise in the formula when the baby
sucks if the cap is properly adjusted. If that doesn't do the trick, the nipple
holes should be enlarged slightly by using a hot needle.
Tip the bottle to keep both nipple and neck of the bottle constantly filled with
formula. Otherwise, the baby will suck air.
After a feeding, help Baby get up any swallowed air. He may need bubbling during
the feeding, but only at a real pause in sucking. Don't interrupt Baby just to
bubble.
When he is finished, place him on either his side or stomach. This will prevent
him from drawing the milk into his lungs should he spit up while lying in his
crib.
Do not reheat leftover formula. However, if the baby should awaken hungry within
a short time, let him finish the bottle.
BUBBLING THE BABY
Protect your clothing with a towel or diaper when you bubble
Baby, for when the air bubble comes up, some milk may come right along with the
bubble.
After Baby has nursed as much as he will, place him in one or a combination of
the positions pictured on next page and help him get rid of any air in his
stomach.
An air bubble may also cause your baby to stop nursing halfway through a
feeding. If he's eating vigorously, don't interrupt his feeding to bubble him.
Wait until he finishes or lets up a little.
Some babies need to be bubbled before a feeding as well as during or after. And
other infants don't need it all. If yours is one of these, try to bubble him for
a few minutes after each feeding, but don't worry if no air comes up.
After he's five or six months old, he'll be able to relieve himself without
help.
HICCUPS, SPITTING, AND VOMITING
If the baby swallows his food too fast, eats too
much, or gets too much air,
he may hiccup. Usually this lasts only a few minutes and may be disregarded
except to bubble him.
If it persists, however, give him a few teaspoons of lukewarm boiled water.
Spitting up, or regurgitation, is not the same as forceful, projectile vomiting.
When the baby spits up, formula just seems to roll from his mouth without force.
It's common and isn't significant as long as the weekly weight gain is made.
Spitting up may be caused by overfeeding, lack of bubbling, or incompatible
formulas.
In many infants, spontaneous improvement of spitting up usually occurs when the
baby is old enough to be placed on homogenized milk. This milk forms a curd
which is larger and more difficult to get out of the stomach. If Baby continues
to spit, try him on skim milk.
The condition usually stops when the baby spends more time in an upright
position.
Continuous forceful, or projectile, vomiting is serious in itself, because it
may lead to dehydration, but it's also an indication that something is wrong
with the baby and should be corrected.
If it occurs continuously after more than two or three feedings, or if it occurs
once or twice daily over several days, consult your doctor for his expert
advice. |