Bottle feeding

Feeding a baby can be a very special time. It is an opportunity to build on your relationship with the baby and spend some one-on-one time. As a caregiver, this may not always be possible, as you have other children to care for. You will need to learn the skill of nursing the baby while communicating with the other children at the same time.

Have a look at the procedure for bottle feeding below.

Before you begin feeding you need to make sure that both you and the baby are clean and ready to relax while feeding.

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.

Make sure that the front of your clothing where the baby’s head will be resting is clean. You could use a clean apron if you needed to cover your clothes. Make sure that the baby is clean and comfortable. It is best for them to have a clean nappy if needed.

Wash the baby’s hands and face before you begin. This helps to build a routine of good hygiene. Changing the baby’s nappy and cleaning their face and hands also means that the baby is prepared for bed if they happen to nod off to sleep during feeding.

Before you give the baby their bottle, shake the bottle to make sure that all the milk is at a constant heat. Test the temperature of the milk to make sure it is not too hot or cold by squirting some milk onto your wrist.

Keep the bottle at an appropriate angle during feeding so that the teat of the bottle is always full of milk, to prevent the baby drinking in air bubbles. Have breaks during feeding if the baby needs it. Halfway through feeding, change the side that you are feeding on.

Only feed a baby until they have had enough. Never force feed the baby. They have small stomachs and will only eat until they are full.