Feeding a newborn is primarily of two types: bottle-feeding or breastfeeding. When a baby is fed formula, it is called bottle feeding. New parents who are doing this for the first time can face some serious difficulties during the entire process. If you want to avoid making some common mistakes, it is best to educate yourself about them. This article will mainly talk about some of the most common misgivings a parent is likely to subject their child to unintentionally. Read on to see what you should not do while bottle feeding.
Not Understanding Frequency
Many parents do not take into account the frequency of feeding while using formula. This causes problems in children who are not able to satisfy their hunger with frequent feedings. The problem arises from the fact that parents think frequent feedings will lead to weight gain and cause the child to be overweight.
Feeding formula frequently is important because the child will more likely get hungry in quicker intervals than you will anticipate. Parents need to be flexible to the needs of the child for better adjustment to feeding schedules. Choose a formula you are comfortable with, like hipp baby formula.
Crying Means Hungry
Just because the baby is crying does not mean that the source of their problem is hunger. You cannot begin bottle-feeding the baby as soon as you hear their cries. Try to reduce the reason before arriving at the first conclusion that comes to mind. If you will immediately start feeding them the moment they cry, you will end up overfeeding them.
Not Cleaning Bottles
It is okay for the parents to buy multiple bottles and clean them after each feeding. A common mistake happens when parents continuously feed from the same bottle, thinking that they will do the cleanup later. Clean all the parts of the bottle after each feeding session and factor in sterilization time and again. This will help get rid of the bacteria that can accumulate in different parts of the bottle.
Not Changing Positions
New parents with no prior experience sometimes undervalue the importance of switching positions while feeding their children. The typical way of feeding the child involves switching the child from one site to another in the lap. The mother does this while breastfeeding so that the child has equal access to both breasts.
Parents who are feeding formula through a bottle often disregard this important step. Changing sides will help the baby adjust to different positions and become more comfortable with feeding times. It is also important to keep the head elevated for better ingestion of the formula.
Not Helping Your Child
It is normal for a one month old baby to get a grip on their bottle. Some newborns might not be able to do it immediately. As a parent, you need to be understanding of the fact that your child is reliant on you in more than one way. Help your child breastfeeding by getting a good grip on the bottle and letting them have their fill. Make sure that you are not thrusting the nipple too tightly. It will cause the baby to not be able to move their head, and they will more likely overfeed.
Skipping Burping
A child is entirely dependent on its parents for common necessities like burping. Never skip burping after feeding your baby. If your child does not burp after formula, they will experience discomfort, which can cause them to be colicky. Hold the child to your shoulder and gently pat their back to facilitate burping. Continue this after each time you feed the baby.
Mixing Breastmilk
While supplementing is a real thing, you cannot just go ahead and mix milk with formula and expect your child to react well to it. If you mix milk with formula, you can cause your baby some serious discomfort through digestion problems. You sure can try to incorporate milk and formula in alternative feedings as per your pediatrician’s recommendations. But never make both of them together as it will have the opposite effect of what you are expecting.
Forgoing the Six Month Mark
The six-month marker is an important part of your baby’s life and will significantly impact growth. After six months, you will have to switch to solid foods and wean off formula. But do not, in any case, start introducing solid food like cereals or mashed vegetables before you pass the six-month marker. Solid foods are healthy for your baby, but if you do not time them properly, they can cause more problems than benefits.
Introducing Solid Foods Late
One of the most common mistakes parents tend to make is being too comfortable with formula. This does not mean that you have to distrust the formula you are feeding your baby. Essentially, you should understand when to stop. Weaning your child away from calls should begin sometime after six months when you start introducing solid food to the diet.
As the child grows more comfortable with solid foods, the formula should not be fed. Some parents become too comfortable with the idea of following the set routine of formula. Just because your child is satisfied with the formula does not mean that you will not introduce solid food when it is time. As the baby grows, their nutritional needs change and evolve, so the food should be able to match it.
The Takeaway
Your newborn is entirely reliant upon you for their welfare. You have to be vigilant and responsible enough to understand the duty which resides on your shoulders. In case you feel any confusion regarding feeding or any other habit, do not be afraid to talk to an expert. At first glance, all of these aspects might seem like a lot to take in, but once you start practicing, you will get used to it. Be open to understanding different approaches and how to best feed your child as per their needs and nutrient requirements.
