Bottle-feeding of infants

Sometimes a baby cannot suckle, so you will decide to express your milk and bottle-feed the baby. Some babies are fed formula, because for some reason you cannot breastfeed, or lactation is stopped prematurely, or you have chosen artificial feeding for your baby.

• Ensure that the milk flow out of the bottle is appropriate for the baby.          
• To check the milk flow, turn the filled bottle upside down.
• The milk should drip in quick drops, rather than flow out in a jet. If you have to shake the bottle hard for the milk to start flowing, it means that the flow is too slow.
• A child can fall asleep before he/she finishes his/her meal.
• It is normal for a small amount of milk to leak from the corners of the baby's mouth; it will stop when the child is older.
• If you can't find the ideal nipple, choose a faster one rather than a slower one; it is normal to try a few nipples until you find one that suits you and your baby.

How to bottle-feed the baby

• Make yourself comfortable and hold the baby close to you, gently but firmly. It is better for the baby to be in a more upright position, similar to the breastfeeding position.
• Position the nipple between the baby's lips; he/she will open his/her mouth and start sucking.
• Hold the bottle at an angle so that the nipple and bottle neck are constantly filled with milk; this will prevent the baby from swallowing air.
• When the baby stops sucking hard or has drunk half the milk from the bottle, gently withdraw the bottle and check if he/she wants to burp; when you have tried burping, let the baby continue the meal.
• Change the baby's position during feeding, or at least for each feeding; this will equally stimulate the baby's senses on both sides of the body and prevent positional deformity of the head.

How much milk does a baby need?                                                                                                                     

• The number of meals and the amount of milk are determined by the baby! Different babies need different amounts of breastmilk or formula. Meals are not always evenly spaced, sometimes they are more frequent during the day, followed by a longer break.                        
• If you feed your baby formula, consult the table on each box. Of course, the recommended meal size for a given age will only serve as a guideline and will not necessarily suit your child.                                                                     
• When the child starts getting other foods, as the amount of solid food increases, the child's need for milk will decrease. 
• The amount of formula that the child drinks will decrease when he/she switches from the bottle to the cup.
• At the age of 12 months, when he/she can switch to cow's milk, the child usually gets 500-600 ml of breast milk or formula daily.

Some children never drink the amount of milk recommended for their age and size. For some, this "prescribed" amount is insufficient. At least six wet diapers during the day, constant but not excessive weight gain, thriving and active baby mean that everything is fine. If you are concerned that your baby is not getting enough of your milk or formula, consult a doctor.

Responsive bottle feeding, according to the baby's needs                                                                                   

• Feed the baby when he/she shows that he/she is hungry, and not according to the schedule, follow the baby's signals.
• Do not feed the child if he/she is not hungry, merely because the formula meal is already prepared - it can result in overfeeding the child.
• When a child is bottle-fed, there is no difference between foremilk and hindmilk, which affects the feeling of fullness of a breastfed child. 
• The child is often positioned in such a way that milk simply flows into the mouth, instead of active sucking; the child drinks too much milk too quickly.
• During feeding, observe the child to notice signs of satiety - turning away from the bottle, lazy sucking - and stop the meal on time.
• During feeding, hold your baby close to you, cuddle and talk to him/her; this stimulates growth and development and a stronger bond between you and your baby.
• The baby did not drink everything from the bottle or fell asleep during the meal.
• Don’t worry if the baby doesn't finish the bottle; let him/her determine how much formula or breastmilk he/she needs. 
• If the baby falls asleep during a meal, put him/her on your shoulder, rub or pat him/her on the back and legs; changing diapers is also an effective way to wake up the baby.
• Wait for the baby to wake up before giving him/her the rest of the milk.                                                                  

Always throw away the rest of the milk from the bottle if more than an hour has passed!

Night-time feeding

• Every baby is different. Some will be weaned off night-time feeding at four months, and some at two years of age. From 6th month of life, well thriving babies no longer need a night-time meal. Now it's just a habit, which can be more and more difficult to change, the older the child gets.
• If a child is bottle-fed, this is the latest age for phasing out night-time meals! Do not substitute them with juices or other sweetened drinks, to protect the baby's teeth from caries.
• If your baby drinks 60 ml of milk or less during the night, you can abruptly stop night-time feeding and calm the baby with your tried and tested techniques, and then put him/her back in the crib to fall asleep on his/her own.
• If your baby drinks more than 60 ml every night, gradually reduce the amount of milk for 5 to 7 nights and calm the baby as you usually do.

Risks of bottle-feeding in bed              

• If your baby gets used to falling asleep with a bottle in bed, it will be harder for him/her to learn to calm down or fall asleep on his/her own.  
• If a child falls asleep with a bottle in his/her mouth, there is a risk of choking on milk and suffocating. Babies wake up harder if something interferes with their breathing than older children and adults.                                                                                
• The formula remaining in the mouth during sleep leads to dental caries.          
• When a child drinks from a bottle lying down position, the risk of ear infection increases.