Baby Care

Chubby babies can be cute, but fat cells, once produced, can’t be removed, and a fat baby may grow into a fat adult, with all the attendant dangers to health. Unfortunately, it is easy to overfeed a bottlefed baby. The reasons for this are twofold; first, it is tempting to put extra formula into the bottle, but you should always follow the instructions precisely; otherwise, you’ll be giving the baby unwanted calories. Second, in your anxiety to feed him “properly” you may want to see your baby finish every last drop of his bottle, but you should always let him decide when he’s finished. Introducing solids too early and giving sweet, syrupy drinks also cause overfeeding.

At first your baby won’t be able to sleep for more than two or four hours at a time without waking with hunger. Once he reaches a weight about 11 pounds (5 kilograms), try to stretch the time between feedings until you are getting about six hours of undisturbed sleep at night. Although your baby will have his own routine, it’s sensible to try to time his last feeding to coincide with your own bedtime, which should be as late as possible. You may find that your baby will still wake up and demand the early morning feeding, no matter how hard you try. If this happens you’ll just have to be patient and look forward to when he drops it.

Your baby will need feeding at least once during the night, and this break in your sleep on top of all the other things that you have to do to take care of him may make you extremely tired and tense. The problem isn’t so much the number of hours of sleep that you lose, but more the way in which your sleep patterns are broken over long periods. For this reason it is important that you get adequate rest, day and night, and since you are doing most of the feeding, try to get your partner to take on some of the other jobs.

Bottlefeeding is straightforward, but you will need to make sure that your baby can swallow properly, and that he is not taking in air with the milk.

• Never leave your baby with the bottle propped up on a pillow or cushion; it can be dangerous. He could become very uncomfortable if he swallows a lot of air with the formula, and he could choke. Moreover, he will miss the cuddling and affection that he should enjoy while he eats
• Tilt your baby on your arm. It is very difficult for baby to swallow when he is lying flat, so don’t feed him in this position; he may gag or even vomit
• If your baby has a stuffed nose he can’t swallow and breathe at the same time. Your doctor can give you nose drops to be used before each feeding
• Don’t change your formula without first consulting your pediatrician, even if you think your baby does not like the one you’re using. It is very unusual for a brand of formula to be responsible for a baby’s not feeding well; very rarely cows’ milk formula causes allergies in babies, and your doctor may advise you to use a soy-based formula
• Your baby knows when he’s had enough, so don’t try to force him to finish the bottle after he has stopped sucking

Bottlefed babies tend to be fed less frequently than breastfed ones. This is because formula takes longer to digest and contains slightly more protein, and therefore delays hunger longer. A four-hourly regimen of six feedings a day seems to suit most bottlefed babies after the first two or three days, whereas breastfed babies will probably take seven feedings a day. A newborn baby will probably not take much over 2 fluid ounces (60 milliliters) at each feeding, but as he grows he will take fewer and larger feedings.

Never feed your baby according to the clock; let him determine when he is to be fed. He will let you know quite clearly with cries when he is hungry. Your baby’s appetite will vary, so if he seems satisfied, allow him to leave what he does not want. Don’t feel that your baby has to finish the bottle at each feeding. He will only get overfull and spit it up; or worse, become overfed and fat. On the other hand, if your baby is still hungry, give him some extra from another bottle. If this happens regularly, start to make more formula for every bottle.

Some mothers like to warm the bottle, though it will be perfectly all right if it has simply been brought to room temperature. Many babies like their bottles cold. Don’t warm the bottle in a microwave; that may create “hot spots” in the milk that could scald your baby’s mouth.

Warming the formula Place the bottle in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. You could also run it under the hot tap, shaking it all the time.

Testing formula temperature Try a few drops on your wrist: it should be neither hot nor cold to the touch.

Giving the bottle Gently stroke your baby’s nearest cheek to elicit her sucking reflex. Insert the nipple carefully into her mouth. If you push the nipple too far back she may gag on it.

Feeding Make feeding times as pleasant as possible by talking to your baby and smiling at her. Let her pause midfeeding if she likes. Burp her and change her onto the other arm at this stage to give her a new view, and your arm a rest.

Removing the bottle If you want your baby to release the bottle, gently slide your little finger into the corner of her mouth. This will break the suction on the nipple.

Make yourself comfortable and support your arms well. Hold your baby half-sitting with her head in the crook of your elbow and her back along your forearm; this will allow her to swallow safely and easily. Keep your face close to hers and talk to her frequently.

If you prefer, there are other positions that are suitable for feeding. You could try lying down with your baby tucked under your arm, for example – this position is especially comfortable for night feedings. Try different positions until you decide which one suits you best.

Before you begin, test the temperature of the milk; you should already have tested the flow. Slightly loosen the cap of the bottle so that air can get in. If your baby has difficulty getting the milk, gently remove the bottle from her mouth so that air can enter the bottle, then continue as before. Hold the bottle at an angle so that your baby doesn’t swallow air with the milk.

Most parents sterilize bottles by boiling. It is a good idea to be aware of other methods.

• Steam sterilizing units quickly and effectively destroy bacteria on your equipment
• You can sterilize your equipment in the microwave using a specially designed steam unit, as long as the feeding equipment is suitable for microwave use
• Wash all of the equipment and boil it for a least 25 minutes in a large, covered pot
• You can wash the bottles, cup, and knife on the normal cycle of the dishwasher. The nipples should be placed in a covered pan and boiled separately
• Cold-water tablets, popular in Europe, may be available in your area. These sterilize bottles and equipment without the use of heat.

Cleaning the bottles Use a bottle brush and warm soapy water to remove all traces of milk from the bottles. Rinse them.

Cleaning the nipples Rinse the nipples thoroughly. Remove all traces of milk by rubbing them with salt.

Soaking the equipment Half – fill the sterilizing unit with cold water, and dissolve a sterilizing tablet in the water. Put the bottles, nipples, measuring cup, and spoon into the unit, then add enough cold water to fill it. Submerge all the equipment and leave for the required time. When you are ready to use the equipment, rinse and drain it.