Preparing Baby's Bottle Correctly
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If you do not breastfeed your baby, it requires special infant formula in the first months of life, which is prepared from powder and water. You prepare the bottle for your baby fresh several times a day. In this article, you will learn how to properly prepare a bottle and why it is so important to maintain thorough hygiene.
The right baby food
With the wide variety of powders available for preparing baby food, confusion can quickly arise. You might be wondering which nutrition is the right one and which brand to choose – after all, you only want the best for your child. Generally, all milk powders available in Germany are subject to strict controls, so you can generally use all types without concern.
Since the needs of your child change throughout their development, the appropriate type of formula depends on their age. In some cases (for example, with allergies or a premature birth), your little explorer may require a specialized formula. In this case, it is best to consult with your pediatrician to determine which powder is the best choice for your baby.
No matter which baby food you choose: you should always prepare it fresh and exactly according to the instructions. Since your child's digestive and immune systems are still developing after birth, it is especially important in the first few months to pay attention to proper preparation and hygiene. We have summarized what exactly needs to be considered in the following paragraph.
Preparation
1. Prepare water
The daily amount of fluid intake can vary from day to day, depending on your baby's appetite. As long as your little explorer is only receiving infant formula and no complementary foods yet, a guideline of about 150 milliliters of liquid per kilogram of body weight per day applies, divided into several feedings. The amount of water you need for a bottle depends on your child's age and appetite. By initially filling the bottle with water, you prevent the powder from clumping at the bottom of the bottle. The ideal water temperature for mixing is about 50°C. Hotter temperatures destroy important vitamins and minerals in the milk powder, and the starch contained can clump. Therefore, you should let freshly boiled water cool down a bit before preparing the bottle for your baby. You can tell the correct temperature by the fact that the water no longer steams when poured in and you can hold the bottle comfortably in your hand.
Many parents wonder whether they can safely use tap water for preparing bottles or if still mineral water is the better choice. Tap water in Germany is strictly regulated and is generally suitable for preparing infant formula without any issues. If you still have doubts about the water quality, you can inquire with your local waterworks or health department. If your pipes or faucets are contaminated, possibly containing lead or a lot of limescale, you should definitely boil the water additionally for your baby, especially during the first six months. Your landlord or property management can provide information about the condition of the pipes.
Allow stale tap water to run before preparing the bottle. Also, do not filter the water before preparation, as germs can multiply particularly quickly in water filters. If you prefer to use mineral water, check the label on the bottles for the note "suitable for the preparation of infant formula".
2. Add milk powder
Next, add the powdered milk according to the dosing instructions on the packaging. Usually, a suitable measuring scoop is already included in the package. To ensure the powder is measured exactly, make sure to level off the scoop and do not heap or pack the powder into the scoop. Using too much powder would make the milk too rich, and your baby might not get enough fluids in the long run. Conversely, if the milk is underdosed, it won't contain enough nutrients that your baby needs for proper development.
Always store the opened milk powder package in a dark and dry place. You should not store it in the refrigerator, as the powder can become moist and bacteria can spread there.
3. Mix powder and water
Now tightly close the bottle and shake it until the powder is completely dissolved. To prevent spills, simply cover the drinking holes in the nipple during this process. Try to avoid creating too many bubbles while shaking, as the air can cause stomach pain and bloating in your baby. If you let the bottle sit for a short moment before feeding, most of the air bubbles will disappear on their own.
4. Check milk temperature
Check the temperature of the milk again before giving it to your baby to drink. The ideal drinking temperature is 37 degrees Celsius. Put a few drops of the milk on your wrist: if it feels comfortable there, it usually has the perfect temperature for your baby. If the milk is still too hot, you can cool the bottle slightly under cold running water.
5. Give the bottle
Whether your child is fed with formula from the beginning or you gradually switch from breastfeeding: in a calm, secure environment, the bottle feeding becomes a special moment for both of you. in your arm or on your lap and provide plenty of physical contact. Feel free to try different feeding positions to find out which one makes both of you feel most comfortable.
At the beginning of the meal, gently touch your baby's lower lip with the nipple – this will trigger the sucking reflex, just like when breastfeeding, and your baby will try to grasp the nipple with their mouth. While feeding, make sure to hold the bottle in such a way that the nipple is always completely filled with milk. This will prevent your child from swallowing too much air while drinking, which can cause stomach pain and bloating.
Hygiene
Just as important as proper bottle preparation is hygiene. Bottles, teats, and sealing rings should be thoroughly cleaned after each meal. Pour out any remaining milk, rinse the bottle with cold water, and then place it in the dishwasher at 65°C. If you wash the bottle by hand, use a dedicated bottle brush that is used exclusively for the bottle. In the first six months of life Your little explorer, when his digestive and immune system are still very sensitive, you should additionally
For boiling, you can also use an electric steamer instead of a pot, in which you can sterilize several bottles at the same time using hot steam within 10 to 15 minutes. The nipple of the bottle should also be sterilized or boiled before first use and occasionally afterward.
From the sixth month then is the bottle enough after every meal thoroughly with dish soap and hot water to clean or to put in the dishwasher. Even if boiling or sterilizing is no longer necessary after every milk feeding, you should still continue to clean bottles and teats regularly sterilize and ensure dry and clean storage. To prevent cleaning the bottle from interfering with the next milk feeding, it is advisable to always have several bottles ready at home.
Do not put your baby's bottle nipple in your mouth to clean it in between, as you could transfer cavity bacteria to your child this way.
Prepare the bottle on the go
You won't always be able to prepare the food for your baby in your home kitchen with all the accessories. Nevertheless, you should always prepare the bottle fresh when you're on the go and never store leftover milk for longer than two hours or reuse it after reheating: unfortunately, the milk bottle is an ideal breeding ground for germs and bacteria. To ensure your baby is well cared for even when you can't boil water fresh while out and about, it's practical to always have a thermos with boiled water on hand. Alternatively, you can fill the hot water directly into the bottle and keep it warm using an insulated cover. To prevent leaks, most bottles can be sealed with an intermediate lid. When properly dosed into a clean container, you also always have the milk powder ready on the go and can easily and conveniently mix the milk formula fresh for your baby.
It's also practical at night to have everything ready for preparing the bottles, so it’s quick and you avoid a nightly milk powder battle. ;) Another time-saving tip: boil a larger amount of water once a day, which you can store at home in a clean thermos and use as needed.
At first, bottle preparation may still seem like a science in itself, and you might prefer to use a thermometer and a fine scale every time. ;) But don't worry: you'll soon develop your own routine and realize that with numerous bottle preparations, making it almost happens in your sleep!