The process of preparing a bottle is very simple, however, it is important to follow a few guidelines to ensure that the baby is fed properly.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusively breastfeeding babies up to six months of age. However, this is not always the case, and there are many factors that can prevent this from being fulfilled. Therefore, it is essential that you know how to prepare a bottle. Even if your option is breastfeeding during the recommended time, it is more than likely that at some point in the child’s life you will have to give one. Do you want to discover how to prepare a bottle correctly?
The process of preparing a bottle is very simple, however, it is important to follow some guidelines to ensure that the baby is properly fed, whether it is a bottle of breast milk or artificial infant milk.
Sterilization is fundamental
Hygiene is especially important when preparing a bottle. In addition to your hands, the bottle and teat must be very clean. To do this, after each take, wash the lid, the thread, the teat and the bottle with soap and water. Then, sterilize it, either boiling all the components of the bottle in boiling water for a few minutes or using a bottle sterilizer. This way you will have everything ready for the next shot.
Use boiled or mineral water
This advice is valid only in the case of bottles with formula milk, logically. To do this, use milk or boiled or mineral in the amount that the baby will mark you. As for the temperature, if it is winter, temper the water in the microwave and if it is summer, it’s recommended that it be in room temperature. You can also heat the bottle in a bain-marie or in a bottle warmer. What is easier for you.
In the case that your option is breastfeeding, you can also prepare bottles with your own milk. In this case, it will be enough to warm the milk.
Follow the ratio 1 case per 30 ml of water
Possibly, this is the most important part of the entire preparation process. When preparing a bottle with formula milk, it is necessary to follow some stipulated measures and that is summarized in taking a scoop of powder for every 30 ml of water. It is important that the spoon is always at the top and that this ratio is followed because if we go through the powder, we can cause digestive problems and even kidney problems. And if on the contrary, we take less dust than necessary, the baby would not receive all the food that it should. Therefore, be very careful in this phase.
Mix and taste
Once the corresponding scoops have been poured, the time has come to mix everything. To do this, place the teat, the thread and close it to be able to shake it energetically. So milk dissolves and heat is distributed equally. Remember that the optimum temperature of the liquid should be between 35 and 37ºC. To control the temperature, it is best to pour some milk on your wrist to check that it does not burn.
You and the baby have to be comfortable
For the success of the shot, it is essential that both you and the baby are comfortable and adopt a position that allows you to enjoy. Him, the food and you to feed him.
The best way to feed an infant is sitting in an armchair with the back to the back as straight as possible. Place the child in your lap and rest his head on your arm. Make sure the baby is not completely lying down to avoid possible choking.
Teat suitable for your age
For proper nutrition, it is essential that the teat you use is appropriate for the age of the baby. Thus, newborns use nipples with a single hole, which makes it possible for the milk to come out in a very controlled and slow manner. As the child grows you will have to use nipples with two and three holes so that the flow of liquid is greater and faster.
Whatever the teat is, you have to make sure that the bottle is tilted while you take the teat so that the teat is always full of milk. Otherwise, the only thing the child would absorb would be air and not milk.
And to finish… burp!
Once placed, and with the bottle placed correctly, the little one sucks until drinking all the milk. This process will last approximately 15 minutes, with many variables that must be taken into account: age of the child, amount of milk, hunger… etc. Once you have finished, it is time to expel the gases that you could catch during the shot. To do this, incorporate him and support him on your shoulder; Or, feel it and lean your body forward holding the head by the chin. Cheers!
In the case that the milk has not been finished, do not use it again for the next feeding for reasons of food safety. The best thing is that you throw it away and go back to cleaning and sterilizing the bottle for the next meal.