How to Keep a Baby Safe While Bottle Feeding

Bottle feeding is a wonderful way to bond with a baby while supplying him with the nutrition he needs to grow and thrive. Follow these steps to ensure that your bottle-fed baby is kept free from germs, and that he stays safe and content while you're feeding him.

Instructions

1. Wash your hands with water and soap before beginning the preparation of your baby's bottle and before beginning to feed him.

2. Ensure that all bottles, nipples, rings and any utensils you use are clean. Sterilize all bottle-feeding equipment before using them for the first time to keep your baby safe from exposure to germs.

3. Boil the water you're using to mix a bottle of formula for approximately one minute if you're concerned about the safety of your tap water, or if your water supply comes from a well.

4. Warm the bottle in a pan of hot water on the stove, and never in a microwave oven, which overheats the milk in the center of the bottle. A microwaved bottle may feel deceptively warm to the touch, but the milk in the center of the bottle can scald your baby's mouth.

5. Test the temperature of the milk by squirting a little on the inside of your forearm. If it feels too hot, allow the bottle to cool before giving it to your baby.

6. Store any formula you make in advance of your baby's feeding in the refrigerator to prevent bacteria from growing in it. If you don't use the refrigerated formula within 24 hours, throw it away.

7. Look at the size of the hole in the nipple of the bottle. If the hole is too small for your baby, he may suck so hard on it that he swallows too much air. However, if the hole is too big, your baby may choke. It may take you awhile to find the correct nipple for your baby's bottle.

8. Give your baby his bottle while his body is semi-upright, and with his head in the crook of your arm. Never feed him when his body is totally flat, as this increases the likelihood of choking. In addition, the formula or breast milk can flow into the middle ear, causing it to become infected.

9. Tilt the bottle upward once you've placed the nipple of the bottle into her mouth. Make certain that the neck and nipple of the bottle are always filled with formula or breast milk so your baby doesn't swallow air.

Tips & Warnings

• Never warm your baby's bottle in the microwave because it can not only cause hot-spots in the milk, but the bottle can also explode if heated in a microwave oven for too long.

• Avoid using breakable glass bottles once your baby is old enough to hold the bottle himself during feedings.

• Do not give your baby a bottle of breast milk, formula or juice to suck on in his crib during the night. Liquid that is left in your baby's mouth while he sleeps can collect behind his teeth and cause tooth decay.

• Never add cereal to a bottle. This old-fashioned practice is not safe because the thickness of the fluid may cause your baby to choke.