The Complete Guide To Bottle Feeding

Bottle feeding 101 by 1st Step

Your baby’s care is the most important thing in a new mother’s life. At 1st Step, we want to make sure we are there in every step with our wide range of products that are essential for your baby. A newborn has to be fed multiple times during the day and as a new mother, you must be wondering whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby.

Breastfeeding or bottle-feeding is a choice that the mother makes after giving birth. Every mother doesn't need to breastfeed; bottle feeding is considered to be acceptable right after birth as well. For moms who cannot breastfeed or who decide not to, the formula is a healthy alternative that essentially does provide the baby the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Weighing the pros and cons of each method can help you decide what is best for you and your baby.

The benefits of breastfeeding are long-lasting for the health of your baby. Breast milk is designed with the right amount of nutrients that are essential for your baby’s growth. Along with your baby, there are several reasons why breastfeeding is beneficial for mothers - it helps the mother lose weight, prevent further diseases and infections, and also to create a different bond with the baby. Further, in this blog we will answer some of your commonly asked questions about bottle feeding. So, continue reading to know more!

What are the advantages of bottle feeding?

There is a certain convenience that comes once your baby becomes comfortable with a bottle feed. When you have to head out for an important meeting or just take a break, anyone can feed the baby. Keeping a track of your baby’s intake also becomes easy. In case your breast milk supply becomes low, you can formula feed for the time being, if you’re a mother who for some health-related reasons cannot breastfeed, bottle feeding is a savior at the moment.

When should you introduce a bottle to your baby?

If you decide to breastfeed or bottle-feed, the baby takes time to get accustomed to both. In case you decide to breastfeed right after birth, only after the baby is comfortable enough, there can be an introduction to the bottle. 

Bottle-feeding earlier or rushing to start bottle feeding could most likely impede the successful establishment of breastfeeding, not because of nipple confusion but there is a possibility that your breasts may not be stimulated enough to pump up.

There is a very fine line between being early and late to introduce a bottle to your baby. It is advised to start after 3-4 weeks of breastfeeding. If you wait for a longer time, it is plausible that the baby may reject the bottle and be in favor of the breast because that's what she's gotten used to. Most newborns have little to no trouble figuring out or adapting to suck from a baby bottle nipple.

Which kind of a bottle is best for your baby? 

Choosing proper and safe baby care goods for your little one is very important, whether you want to switch to bottle-feeding completely or give a combination of breast and bottle. At 1st Step, we make sure you make the right selection for parents who need their newborn to take a bottle so that they can return to work, spend a night away, or simply relax and recharge for a few hours.

Choosing a BPA-free bottle is important for your baby’s safety. We believe in making your feeding experience safe, healthy, and comfortable. 1st Step’s feeding bottle gives your baby the most comfortable feeding experience with the right intake of feed and reduced air intake through its specially designed anti-colic nipple. 

Once you start using a BPA-free bottle, make sure you discard it in 6 months. Non- BPA free bottles should be disposed of in 3 months for the safety of your baby’s health.

1st Step’s bottles are available in 3 sizes with a rattle hood on the cap and in pink, blue and orange colors. 

How to bottle feed your baby?

Feeding your baby the right way is important for your baby’s health. Make sure you're sitting comfortably and your baby is close to you. Hold your baby in a semi-upright position and keep the bottle horizontal when feeding. The milk should be able to flow steadily and prevent taking in too much air. Support their heads to be able to breathe and swallow comfortably.

How to clean the feeding bottle and nipple?

Cleaning and sterilizing the 1st Step’s feeding bottles are simple. Wash the bottle and nipple with warm water. Before sterilization, ensure all milk or formula deposits are removed. Our bottles come with a nipple cleaning brush which ensures every nook and corner can be cleaned easily.

At 1st Step, we want to provide products that complement each other and help make your work easy and efficient. There are quite a few essential products that a mother needs to be able to feed their child in time along with maintaining safety and using clean & sterilized equipment.

Bottle Drying Rack is required to dry feeding bottles and their accessories. The rack is made from BPA-free material. It also comes with a detachable drip tray which makes the process hassle-free and not so messy. It can fit up to 8 disassembled bottles or sippers and if you need some more space, the holders can be detached for the same.

1st Step’s BPA-free bottle and nipple cleaning brush is another must-have for the most hygienic experience for your baby. Any formula or milk residue that has been left over after feeding can be cleaned using these brushes. Both the bottle and nipple have separate brushes which have a suction base that helps to keep the brush in place while cleaning. The bristles are made of nylon, also eliminating the residue from the areas that are difficult to reach.

When it comes to bottle-feeding, all babies have different yet similar ways of adapting to the bottle. Adaptation to new things is constant for a growing baby. The one thing that you should remember is not to hurry it up and give your cute (and growing!) little eaters time to get used to it — and pretty soon they will be able to enjoy food from the bottle. 

We hope this blog will be helpful to you! Check out our collection on 1st Step website today.