The right way to bottle feed

What are the principles for proper bottle feeding?

• Start by putting your phone aside. I am aware this is easier said than done but no mother of ours was over the phone whilst feeding us.
• Sit comfortably, facing baby. That allows you to see the baby’s needs and calmly address them.
• Position the baby with head elevated and supported, so he can easily swallow and breathe. Do not feed the baby in supine position (this increases risk of ear infections, read here).
• Hold both the bottle and the baby firmly. Placing the baby or using a muslin or similar ‘tricks’ to lean the bottle on, put baby at risk.
• Start feeding by gently rubbing the bottle nipple on the baby’s lips.
• If the baby seems interested and opens his mouth, gently insert the nipple into his mouth. If he starts sucking, make sure to keep the bottle in a horizontal position (parallel to the floor), and only slightly elevated. This will help avoid milk pouring into the baby’s mouth rather than the baby controlling the pace of the flow by actively sucking.
• Note that the tip of the nipple (closest to the baby’s mouth) is full of milk.
• Alternate sides during feedings. Meaning, rotate the baby once to feed on your right arm and once on your left, to avoid preference to one side.
• Pay attention to signs that the baby needs to take a pause or break from feed. If it seems the baby needs one, gently remove the bottle from his mouth or tilt the bottle back so the milk flow stops. Offer the baby to continue with the feeds if interested.
• How long should a feed take? Usually, not less than 10 minutes and not more than 20 minutes. A Maximum time of 30 minutes is normally recommended, Babies become more efficient and they grow and get stronger.
• There should always be some milk left in the bottle, meaning the baby controlled how much he eats rather than the feeding ended because the milk ran out. If the baby consistently finishes the whole portion, start preparing a bigger portion.
• When the feeding ends, remove the bottle from the baby’s mouth. Do not leave bottle with milk or any sweetened drink in their mouth especially while sleeping (can cause suffocation and bottle cavity).
• What about burping? Is it a must? Absolutely not. When mealtime ends, hold the baby up vertically, with his back to you and gently pat his back so that he may exhale a little air. Often parents put their baby over their shoulder after a meal, which in my opinion may sometimes cause the baby throw up.