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Perhaps
one of the biggest disappointments that can afflict a new mother is if she finds
that she is unable to breastfeed her baby. She may have been looking forward to
this all through pregnancy and, if, for one reason or another, it proves
impossible, the let-down can cause unhappiness and feelings of guilt and
frustration.
If this happens to you, console yourself with the thought that tests have shown
that bottle-fed babies develop as quickly as breastfed babies. If in addition
you hold your baby lovingly close as you give him his bottle this will be a good
substitute for breastfeeding.
Much work has been done, particularly over the last few years, to ensure that
artificial milks are as like human milk as possible. The protein content has
been reduced, and the carbohydrate, vitamin and mineral content made as similar
as possible. This page discusses about newborn feeding, specifically,
formula feeding baby.
In giving formula, consider the
day you get home from the hospital as the beginning of the first week.
Planning a formula preparation center
A place
for everything . . . and everything in its place. Never will these words be more
appropriate than when applied to preparing Baby's formula.
Before the baby arrives, set aside space in a kitchen cabinet exclusively for
the equipment and supplies you will need when preparing formula. A cabinet near
both the sink and stove is ideal. This will conserve both time and energy and
will eliminate many unnecessary steps.
Stock your formula preparation center with the following items:
Bottles, nipples, and caps.
Quart measuring pitcher.
Measuring spoons.
Long-handled mixing spoon, kitchen knife.
Can opener (punch type).
Funnel and tongs.
Bottle and nipple brushes.
Pint jar for storing extra nipples.
Sterilizer or deep kettle, saucepan.
Keep bottles and nipples free of germs
As soon
as Baby has taken a feeding, rinse the bottle and fill it with cold water until
you have time to scrub it with a brush in soapy water. One or two tablespoons of
vinegar in the water will dissolve the lime deposit on bottles boiled in hard
water when the aseptic method of sterilizing is used.
Immediately after each use, clean the nipple thoroughly, for the butterfat in
milk causes rubber to deteriorate. Wash with warm soapy water and a small brush.
Rinse thoroughly. A pinch of salt in the nipple cuts the butterfat, opens any
clogged holes. Shake salt down inside the wet nipple to form a paste. Then
squeeze and roll the nipple between your fingers to force the paste through the
feeding holes. Rinse thoroughly. Until you are ready to sterilize them, keep
used nipples in a jar separate from sterile nipples.
Nipple holes must be right
Amateur
parents often have difficulty making the right-size holes in nipples. Baby gets
nothing but air for his efforts if the hole is too small. Or he may get tired
before he gets enough milk and be uncomfortable from the air he's swallowed.
If the hole is too large, the milk will come out too fast and cause him to choke
or have indigestion. The milk should come out in large drops, one at a time, not
run out in a stream.
To enlarge a too-small hole do the following: Heat sharp point of a fine needle
over flame. Stick needle into nipple; quickly pull out. Repeat the procedure if
hole is still too small. The longer the hot needle is held against the nipple,
the larger the hole will be, so it's best to enlarge it gradually, trying the
nipple each time until the hole is just big enough, but not too big. Always
sterilize the nipple before using it. |