Bottle Feeding Benefits and Myths

When it comes to bottle feeding, every mother should first look to her physician for information. Pediatricians recommend breastfeeding because it provides the child with antibodies that fight off infection, and because breast milk adapts to the changing needs of newborns as they grow.

For some women, however, breastfeeding is impractical or impossible. In these cases, it is possible to raise a healthy child by bottle feeding.

Bottle Feeding Newborns
When making the choice between bottle feeding and breastfeeding, keep in mind that your child should be breastfed for 12 months to get the maximum benefit. If you need to return to work sooner than that, bottle feeding may be your best option, because you can leave formula for caregivers.

Bottle feeding may also be the best choice if the child cannot latch onto the breast or if the mother is taking medications that could be transferred to the child through breast milk. Consumption of caffeine and alcohol must also be avoided by nursing mothers.

How to Bottle Feed
Babies should be fed on cue, not according to schedule. Your baby will let you know when he is hungry. It's helpful to have a firm-backed chair that provides support for you. Hold your baby gently in your arms and position the bottle upright so that air is not getting into the nipple. Allowing air to get into baby's tummy will cause bloating and, sometimes, painful gas.

Tips to remember when feeding baby:

• Do not let your baby drink while lying down. This can lead to choking and ear infections.
• Don't put cereal in a baby bottle. This can cause gas. Babies six months or older, who require additional food, should be spoon fed.
• Feed your baby for about 20 minutes. Some babies will be finished sooner, but all babies require sucking time. As long as there's no air in the bottle, let your baby suck for as long as possible.
• Switch feedings from side to side, both for comfort and for your baby's development.
• Stroke the nipple downward, across top and bottom lips gently, and let baby become interested. Do not force the nipple into your baby's mouth. Feeding should be a pleasant experience.
• Do not force your baby to drink more than she wants. If your baby falls asleep before the bottle is empty, then she's had enough to eat.

Bottle Feeding Benefits

• Bottle fed babies may sleep for longer periods of time. Because formula is denser than breast milk, it takes longer to digest. Baby may sleep longer, giving both baby and mom the opportunity to get enough rest.
• If you've had a c-section, bottle feeding may be much more comfortable than breast feeding, since you won't need to rest your baby on the incision.
• Bottle feeding gives dad an opportunity to bond with the father.
• In public places, bottle feeding eliminates the anxiety that can be associated with breastfeeding.
• Bottle feeding is more convenient for working parents.
• Women who bottle feed don't need to worry about their diet, or about passing on diseases or medications to their newborns.

Bottle Feeding Myths

• Bottle feeding is the same as breast feeding. While bottle feeding provides nutrition to your child, it doesn't provide the same antibodies as breast milk. For this reason, bottle feeding is recommended only when medically necessary.
• Bottle fed babies sleep better. Because it takes longer for formula to digest, a bottle fed baby may feed less frequently than a breastfed baby. This has little effect on overall sleep patterns, however.
• Bottle feeding makes it harder to bond with a baby. Babies have an instinctive desire to bond with their parents. Spending time together is what encourages bonding.
• Formula X can make my baby smarter. There is no research that suggests formula provides any advantages over breast milk in improving intelligence.
• Low-iron formula reduces constipation. Your baby needs iron to build red blood cells, so low-iron formula should be avoided unless prescribed by a doctor. It's the added digestion time for formula that causes gas and constipation.
• Mothers who bottle feed are inadequate. There are a host of reasons why a mother may need to bottle feed. Some babies simply cannot take breast milk, and some mothers simply cannot provide milk for physical or medical reasons. In these cases, bottle feeding is the best choice.

Bottle Feeding Safety
Make sure all bottles and nipples are sterilized before you put formula or breast milk into them. While it may take some time to get used to the routine of sterilizing bottles, once your family gets the hang of it, even Dad can help. You'll also need sterile water, either boiled or packaged, to mix the formula. Don't use straight tap water, as this contains microorganisms that can cause illness to your baby.

Recent research has found that over time plastic bottles-including baby bottles-leach a chemical known as BPA (Bisphenol A) into the contents of the bottle. The long-term effects of exposure and the concentrations that actually get transferred are still debated. If BPA concerns you, use glass baby bottles.

Baby formula eventually expires. Check lot numbers and make sure the formula you're feeding your baby has not expired or been recalled.