Post by Jana on Sept 29, 2004 15:43:27 GMT -5
Formula Feeding Tips
What should I do with a half finished bottle of formula?
If your baby doesn't finish a bottle of formula, discard whatever is left. When your baby feeds, some of the bacteria normally in her mouth may get into the formula. If you keep the bottle for a while, the bacteria will have a chance to multiply and may cause the milk to spoil. Refrigeration or reheating the formula will not prevent this from happening.
How long can I safely keep an opened can of powdered infant formula?
If kept covered and in a cool, dry place it can be safely kept for one month.
Do extremely high or low temperatures spoil unopened cans of formula?
Yes. The liquid formulas should be kept between 32 and 95 degrees farenheit. Higher or lower temperatures may destroy some of the nutrients.
Is it safe to heat formula in a microwave oven?
It's not recommended for a number of reasons. First, the bottle or bottle liner may melt or explode. Second, the bottle may feel cool, but the formula could still be hot enough to burn your baby's mouth or throat. Actually, there is no need to heat formula. Most babies are content to take it at room temperature, or even chilled.
How much formula do I feed my baby, and how often?
As you develop a bottle-feeding routine for you and your baby, the two of you will work out which formula is best, how much, and how often. This routine may change as your baby grows. As a general guide:
Between birth and six months of age your baby will need an average of 2 to 2.5 ounces of formula per pound per day. So, if your baby weighs ten pounds, she will need 20 to 25 ounces per day.
Newborns may take only an ounce or two at each feeding
One to two months: 3 to 4 ounces per feeding
Two to six months: 4 to 6 ounces per feeding
Six months to a year: as much as 8 ounces at a feeding
Small, more frequent feedings will work better than larger ones spaced farther apart. Your baby's tummy is about the size of his fist. Take a full bottle and place it next to your baby's fist and you'll see why tiny tummies often spit the milk back up when they're given too much at one time.
IS BABY GETTING TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH FORMULA?
Signs that your baby may be getting too little formula are:
slower-than-normal weight gain
diminished urine output
a loose, wrinkly appearance to baby's skin
persistent crying
Signs that your baby is being fed too much at each feeding are:
a lot of spitting up or profuse vomiting immediately after the feeding
colicky abdominal pain (baby draws his legs up onto a tense abdomen) immediately after feeding
excessive weight gain
If these signs of overfeeding occur, offer smaller-volume feedings more frequently, burp baby once or twice during the feeding, and occasionally offer a bottle of water instead of formula.
SAFE FORMULA FEEDING TIPS
Use before the expiration date on the label
Use refrigerated, opened, ready-to-feed and prepared formula within 48 hours.
Don't leave bottles of formula out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
Throw away the formula left in the bottle after a feeding, since germs from baby's saliva will multiply in the warm formula.
Refrigerate any formula saved from one day to the next.
Avoid bottle propping, and don't let a baby fall asleep holding his own bottle. He could choke or aspirate the formula into his lungs. Falling asleep with a bottle allows the sugary formula to pool in the mouth, in contact with teeth, causing dental caries. When bottle-feeding in the lying-down position, formula may travel from the back of the baby's throat up through the eustachian tube into the middle ear, causing ear infections. Remember, bottle-feeding, like breastfeeding, is a social interaction, in addition to a method of delivering nutrition. There should always be a person at both ends of the bottle, and babies should go to sleep attached to a person, not a bottle
STERILIZING
A dishwasher with a water temperature of at least 180?F (82?C) will adequately sterilize bottles and accessories. If not using a dishwasher, try the following sterilization process. (Sterilize six bottles, or a daily supply, at one time.)
After a feeding, thoroughly rinse the bottle and nipple under warm water and leave them on a clean towel by the sink, ready for your next sterilizing session.
Wash all the equipment in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly in hot water, and remove the milk scum with a bottle brush.
Pad the bottom of a large pan with a towel or dishcloth. Immerse open bottles, nipples, and other equipment in the pan (place bottles on their side to be sure that they are filled with the sterilizing water) and boil for ten minutes with the pan covered. Allow to cool to room temperature while still covered. Remove the bottles and nipples with tongs or a spoon and place the bottles upside down on a clean towel with the nipples and caps alongside. Let the equipment dry.
CHOOSING NIPPLES
These rubber and silicone subs come in a variety of contours all claiming to imitate the natural action and shape of mother's breast. None do! Orthodontic- type nipples insert farther back into baby's mouth, allowing a more natural milking action of the tongue, but inconveniently require a "which way to turn the nipple" decision. Be sure baby sucks on the widened base of this nipple, not just the tip. The expandable nubbin-type nipples are designed to elongate during sucking but only if baby opens his mouth wide enough and sucks hard enough to draw the nipple farther in. Most, however, only suck on the protruded part. This nipple should be avoided for the breastfeeding baby, who may learn lazy latch-on habits from it. The easiest is the standard bulb-type with a wide base that best allows baby to form a tighter seal.
For the full-time bottlefeeding baby, simply experiment with various types of nipples to see which one works best for your baby. If baby is both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, use a nipple with a wide base.
To lessen the rubbery taste of an artificial nipple and to sterilize them, boil for five minutes before first use. To avoid baby's choking on a nipple, carefully follow the manufacturer's caution advice on the package. If the nipple becomes cracked or torn, discard it. Some nipples come with a variety of hole sizes to fit the type of liquid and the age of the baby. The nipple hole should be large enough for the formula to drip at one drop per second when you hold a full, unshaken bottle upside down. Larger nipples and nipple holes are available for older babies.
SWITCHING TO MILK
I've been feeding my baby iron-fortified formula. When is it okay to switch to whole cow's milk? Research comparing cow's milk and formula-fed infants during the first year of life has shown that cow's milk is irritating to the intestines of a tiny infant, causing infants to lose a tiny bit of blood in their stools, contributing to iron deficiency anemia. There is very little iron in cow's milk anyway, and the iron that is there is poorly absorbed. Concern about iron-deficiency anemia has led the American Academy of Pediatrics, backed by solid research, to discourage the use of cow's milk in children under one year of age. One of America's top pediatric hematologists (blood specialist), the late Dr. Frank Oski , Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkin University (and co-author of a book entitled: Don't Drink Your Milk) advised parents to be cautious and not rush into the use of cow's milk, even during the second year of life. At present it would seem prudent to continue giving your baby iron-fortified formula during the second year of life and very gradually wean him to dairy products, beginning with yogurt. If your toddler generally has a balanced diet and routine hemoglobin tests show that he is not even close to being anemic, then switch from formula to whole milk sometime during the second year, but don't be in a hurry.
NUTRITIP
Dairy Dates
• no cow's milk before age one
• whole milk until two
• nonfat or low-fat milk after two
What should I do with a half finished bottle of formula?
If your baby doesn't finish a bottle of formula, discard whatever is left. When your baby feeds, some of the bacteria normally in her mouth may get into the formula. If you keep the bottle for a while, the bacteria will have a chance to multiply and may cause the milk to spoil. Refrigeration or reheating the formula will not prevent this from happening.
How long can I safely keep an opened can of powdered infant formula?
If kept covered and in a cool, dry place it can be safely kept for one month.
Do extremely high or low temperatures spoil unopened cans of formula?
Yes. The liquid formulas should be kept between 32 and 95 degrees farenheit. Higher or lower temperatures may destroy some of the nutrients.
Is it safe to heat formula in a microwave oven?
It's not recommended for a number of reasons. First, the bottle or bottle liner may melt or explode. Second, the bottle may feel cool, but the formula could still be hot enough to burn your baby's mouth or throat. Actually, there is no need to heat formula. Most babies are content to take it at room temperature, or even chilled.
How much formula do I feed my baby, and how often?
As you develop a bottle-feeding routine for you and your baby, the two of you will work out which formula is best, how much, and how often. This routine may change as your baby grows. As a general guide:
Between birth and six months of age your baby will need an average of 2 to 2.5 ounces of formula per pound per day. So, if your baby weighs ten pounds, she will need 20 to 25 ounces per day.
Newborns may take only an ounce or two at each feeding
One to two months: 3 to 4 ounces per feeding
Two to six months: 4 to 6 ounces per feeding
Six months to a year: as much as 8 ounces at a feeding
Small, more frequent feedings will work better than larger ones spaced farther apart. Your baby's tummy is about the size of his fist. Take a full bottle and place it next to your baby's fist and you'll see why tiny tummies often spit the milk back up when they're given too much at one time.
IS BABY GETTING TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH FORMULA?
Signs that your baby may be getting too little formula are:
slower-than-normal weight gain
diminished urine output
a loose, wrinkly appearance to baby's skin
persistent crying
Signs that your baby is being fed too much at each feeding are:
a lot of spitting up or profuse vomiting immediately after the feeding
colicky abdominal pain (baby draws his legs up onto a tense abdomen) immediately after feeding
excessive weight gain
If these signs of overfeeding occur, offer smaller-volume feedings more frequently, burp baby once or twice during the feeding, and occasionally offer a bottle of water instead of formula.
SAFE FORMULA FEEDING TIPS
Use before the expiration date on the label
Use refrigerated, opened, ready-to-feed and prepared formula within 48 hours.
Don't leave bottles of formula out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
Throw away the formula left in the bottle after a feeding, since germs from baby's saliva will multiply in the warm formula.
Refrigerate any formula saved from one day to the next.
Avoid bottle propping, and don't let a baby fall asleep holding his own bottle. He could choke or aspirate the formula into his lungs. Falling asleep with a bottle allows the sugary formula to pool in the mouth, in contact with teeth, causing dental caries. When bottle-feeding in the lying-down position, formula may travel from the back of the baby's throat up through the eustachian tube into the middle ear, causing ear infections. Remember, bottle-feeding, like breastfeeding, is a social interaction, in addition to a method of delivering nutrition. There should always be a person at both ends of the bottle, and babies should go to sleep attached to a person, not a bottle
STERILIZING
A dishwasher with a water temperature of at least 180?F (82?C) will adequately sterilize bottles and accessories. If not using a dishwasher, try the following sterilization process. (Sterilize six bottles, or a daily supply, at one time.)
After a feeding, thoroughly rinse the bottle and nipple under warm water and leave them on a clean towel by the sink, ready for your next sterilizing session.
Wash all the equipment in hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly in hot water, and remove the milk scum with a bottle brush.
Pad the bottom of a large pan with a towel or dishcloth. Immerse open bottles, nipples, and other equipment in the pan (place bottles on their side to be sure that they are filled with the sterilizing water) and boil for ten minutes with the pan covered. Allow to cool to room temperature while still covered. Remove the bottles and nipples with tongs or a spoon and place the bottles upside down on a clean towel with the nipples and caps alongside. Let the equipment dry.
CHOOSING NIPPLES
These rubber and silicone subs come in a variety of contours all claiming to imitate the natural action and shape of mother's breast. None do! Orthodontic- type nipples insert farther back into baby's mouth, allowing a more natural milking action of the tongue, but inconveniently require a "which way to turn the nipple" decision. Be sure baby sucks on the widened base of this nipple, not just the tip. The expandable nubbin-type nipples are designed to elongate during sucking but only if baby opens his mouth wide enough and sucks hard enough to draw the nipple farther in. Most, however, only suck on the protruded part. This nipple should be avoided for the breastfeeding baby, who may learn lazy latch-on habits from it. The easiest is the standard bulb-type with a wide base that best allows baby to form a tighter seal.
For the full-time bottlefeeding baby, simply experiment with various types of nipples to see which one works best for your baby. If baby is both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding, use a nipple with a wide base.
To lessen the rubbery taste of an artificial nipple and to sterilize them, boil for five minutes before first use. To avoid baby's choking on a nipple, carefully follow the manufacturer's caution advice on the package. If the nipple becomes cracked or torn, discard it. Some nipples come with a variety of hole sizes to fit the type of liquid and the age of the baby. The nipple hole should be large enough for the formula to drip at one drop per second when you hold a full, unshaken bottle upside down. Larger nipples and nipple holes are available for older babies.
SWITCHING TO MILK
I've been feeding my baby iron-fortified formula. When is it okay to switch to whole cow's milk? Research comparing cow's milk and formula-fed infants during the first year of life has shown that cow's milk is irritating to the intestines of a tiny infant, causing infants to lose a tiny bit of blood in their stools, contributing to iron deficiency anemia. There is very little iron in cow's milk anyway, and the iron that is there is poorly absorbed. Concern about iron-deficiency anemia has led the American Academy of Pediatrics, backed by solid research, to discourage the use of cow's milk in children under one year of age. One of America's top pediatric hematologists (blood specialist), the late Dr. Frank Oski , Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkin University (and co-author of a book entitled: Don't Drink Your Milk) advised parents to be cautious and not rush into the use of cow's milk, even during the second year of life. At present it would seem prudent to continue giving your baby iron-fortified formula during the second year of life and very gradually wean him to dairy products, beginning with yogurt. If your toddler generally has a balanced diet and routine hemoglobin tests show that he is not even close to being anemic, then switch from formula to whole milk sometime during the second year, but don't be in a hurry.
NUTRITIP
Dairy Dates
• no cow's milk before age one
• whole milk until two
• nonfat or low-fat milk after two
