If you don’t breastfeed your baby, they will need special infant formula in the first months of life, prepared from powder and water. You’ll be making fresh bottles several times a day. In this article, you’ll learn how to prepare a bottle correctly and why thorough hygiene is so important.
The right baby food
With the wide variety of powders available for preparing baby food, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. You may be wondering which type is right and which brand to choose—after all, you only want the best for your child. In general, all milk powders available in Germany are subject to strict controls, so you can usually use any type without concern.
Because your child’s needs change as they grow, the right type of formula depends on their age. In some cases (for example, with allergies or premature birth), your little explorer may need a specialized formula. In that case, it’s best to consult your pediatrician to determine which powder is the best choice for your baby.
No matter which baby food you choose, always prepare it fresh and exactly according to the instructions. Since your child’s digestive and immune systems are still developing after birth, proper preparation and hygiene are especially important in the first few months. We’ve summarized what you need to keep in mind in the following section.
Preparation
1. Prepare water
Your baby’s daily fluid intake can vary from day to day, depending on their 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 filling the bottle with water first, you prevent the powder from clumping at the bottom. The ideal water temperature for mixing is about 50°C. Higher temperatures can destroy important vitamins and minerals in the milk powder, and the starch it contains may clump. For this reason, let freshly boiled water cool a little before preparing the bottle for your baby. You can tell the temperature is right when the water no longer steams as you pour it in and you can hold the bottle comfortably in your hand.
Many parents wonder whether they can safely use tap water to prepare bottles or whether 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 check 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 for your baby, especially during the first six months. Your landlord or property management can provide information about the condition of the pipes.
Let stale tap water run for a moment 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 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 included in the package. To measure the powder accurately, level off the scoop and don’t heap or pack the powder into it. Using too much powder makes the milk too concentrated, and your baby may not get enough fluids in the long run. Conversely, if the milk is underdosed, it won’t contain enough nutrients for your baby’s healthy development.
Always store an opened milk powder package in a dark, dry place. Don’t store it in the refrigerator, as the powder can become damp and bacteria can spread there.
3. Mix powder and water
Now close the bottle tightly and shake it until the powder is completely dissolved. To prevent spills, simply cover the drinking holes in the nipple while shaking. Try to avoid creating too many bubbles, as swallowed 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. The ideal drinking temperature is 37 degrees Celsius. Put a few drops of 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, bottle-feeding can become a special moment for both of you in a calm, secure environment. Hold your baby in your arms or on your lap and offer plenty of physical contact. Feel free to try different feeding positions to find what feels most comfortable for both of you.
At the beginning of the feeding, gently touch your baby’s lower lip with the nipple—this triggers the sucking reflex, just like breastfeeding, and your baby will try to grasp the nipple with their mouth. While feeding, hold the bottle so the nipple is always completely filled with milk. This helps prevent your child from swallowing too much air, 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 of your little explorer, when their digestive and immune systems are still very sensitive, you should additionally the bottle. boil for at least three minutes after each feeding – even if you clean it in the dishwasher.
For boiling, you can also use an electric steamer instead of a pot, which allows you to 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 on, it is enough to clean the bottle thoroughly after every meal with dish soap and hot water or to put it in the dishwasher. Even if boiling or sterilizing is no longer necessary after every milk feeding, you should still regularly sterilize bottles and teats and ensure they are stored dry and clean. To keep cleaning from interfering with the next milk feeding, it’s a good idea to 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 your baby’s food in your home kitchen with all the usual accessories. Still, 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, a milk bottle is an ideal breeding ground for germs and bacteria. To make sure your baby is well cared for even when you can’t boil water while out and about, it’s practical to keep a thermos of boiled water with you. Alternatively, you can pour the hot water directly into the bottle and keep it warm with an insulated cover. To prevent leaks, most bottles can be sealed with an intermediate lid. If you portion the milk powder correctly into a clean container, you’ll also have it ready on the go and can mix the formula fresh for your baby easily and conveniently.
It’s also helpful at night to have everything ready for preparing 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, store it at home in a clean thermos, and use it as needed.
At first, bottle preparation may still feel like a science, and you might prefer to use a thermometer and a precise scale every time. ;) But don’t worry: you’ll soon develop your own routine, and after preparing countless bottles, you’ll find you can do it almost in your sleep!
