Dos And Don’ts Of Preparing And Feeding Your Baby Formula
Here is a quick go through Do’s and Don’ts while bottle feeding:
DO’S
Do use formula before the expiration date on the label.
Do prepare formula exactly as stated on the label. Formula that is too weak or diluted can stunt growth or lead to nutritional deficiencies. Formula that is too strong can lead to dehydration or kidney problems.
Do wash your hands before handling baby bottles or feeding your baby.
Do sterilize the bottle and the equipments before every use.
Do use refrigerated ready-to-feed or prepared formula within 24 hours of opening.
Do throw away any formula left in a bottle after a feeding. Germs and bacteria from your baby's saliva will live and breed in the warm liquid.
Do refrigerate unused, but prepared, formula.
Do ask your pediatrician or healthcare provider about adding fluoride supplements to your baby's formula. Ready-to-use formula is fluoride-free, so unless your water supply has added fluoride, you'll need to use supplements.
Do rinse bottles and nipples with cool water immediately.
Do shake and wash the top of liquid formula cans before opening.
Do ask your baby’s doctor about the need to boil water to sterilize before using it to make formula from powder and concentrated liquid. (If you are using bottled water, check the label; many brands are not sterilized.
DON’TS
Do not add more or less water than directed when preparing formula from powder or concentrated liquid. Improper dilution may be harmful to your baby.
Do not add water when preparing bottles from ready-to-use formula.
Don’t heat formula in a microwave. The temperature of the liquid may be uneven, and could scald your baby even if the bottle feels cool to the touch.
Don’t leave bottles of formula out of the refrigerator for more than two hours.
Don’t put cereal in a bottle — it makes choking more likely.
Don’t let your baby fall asleep while bottle-feeding. The sugar in formula can collect on his teeth and cause tooth decay.
Don’t prop your baby's bottle — it increases his risk of choking. Also, drinking while lying down can force formula from your baby's throat through his Eustachian tube and into his middle ear, making an ear infection more likely.
