Finding the Right Position
DO – Make yourself as comfortable as possible; you could be there for a while.
DON'T – Leave your baby unattended, even when they are able to hold the bottle themselves.
DO – Hold you baby at a 45 degree angle so their bottom rests on your lap. This can reduce the amount of air baby consumes while feeding.
DON’T – Hold the bottle too flat. Tilt the bottle so the teat is filled with milk to avoid baby ingesting too much air.
DO – Bond with your baby. Enjoy this experience while it lasts; talk, or even sing, to baby while making eye contact.
Making a Bottle Feed and Bottle Care
DO – Buy new bottles for each new baby.
DON’T – Use bottles that are badly worn or scuffed or scratched.
DO – Make up bottles one at a time. It may be easier to store the cooled, boiled water sealed in the bottles and then add the formula at feeding time.
DON’T – Put boiling water straight from the kettle into your bottles. Allow it to cool for approximately 30 minutes.
DO – Check the temperature of the milk in your baby's bottle before feeding. Squirt a few drops on the top of your hand - it should be body temperature
DON’T – Heat bottles in a microwave. This can lead to hot spots and destroy nutrients in your formula milk.
DO – Wash the bottles you have used in warm soapy water before sterilising using your Bottle and Teat Brush (there is no need to sterilise the brush itself), then rinse.
DON’T – Use the door compartments when storing bottles in the refrigerator as the temperature changes every time you open the door.
DO – Inspect bottles and teats before and after each feed for signs of wear and tear.
DON’T – Thaw breast milk in a microwave. Allow it to defrost at room temperature.
DO – Discard any unused milk after baby has had his feed.