The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Baby

• Working mothers also tend to opt for bottle feeding their baby because they are concerned about the breast pumping procedure at work; the fact that they need to pump every 3 hours or so, save the milk and remember to bring it home and also leaving their child with enough milk supply to last throughout the day. Never mind the possibility and embarrassment of leaking milk in the middle of a work day.

Fortunately there are more and more companies out there who are willing to offer new mother’s small, private areas to pump their breast milk. If this has not already been implemented at your work place, consider asking for one. As for leaking breasts, there are bras that are specifically designed to camouflage such leaks.

• There are some mothers who simply are not comfortable with the thought of breastfeeding. Some may have been bottle-fed as infants or are not comfortable with the idea of having to breastfeed in public. For others, breastfeeding may not mesh with the way they think about their physical bodies.

All of the above reasons and concerns deserve some respect, as they are real mental hurdles for each woman to overcome. Sometimes with some gentle words and a bit of support, many of these women may vary well reconsider their decision. But for some, there is no other option.

If breastfeeding is still not for you, talk to your pediatrician about selecting the best formula for bottle feeding your baby. Once you have made your decision, be sure to follow the directions on the box EXACTLY. Some mother’s believe that using less water will result in a stronger, better substance for their baby. This is not the case. An infant’s kidneys are not fully matured, and thus cannot bear the burden of too much salts and proteins. That being said, don’t use more water than instructed either. Doing so would cause your infant to fill up before getting the necessary amount of nutrients needed. Trust the experts and follow the instructions on the box.

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If you’re concerned about what water to use, and you don’t trust your local water supply, you have two options.

1. Buy sterilized water from your local market.
2. Boil your tap water (as long as it contains no known contaminants) for about five minutes. Let it cool before mixing it with formula so as not to destory the nutrients found therein.

If you need to reheat your baby’s formula, put the bottle in a bowl of hot water or a pan of water and heat it on the stove. Don’t allow it to boil, and never use the microwave. Alternatively, you can make use of an electric baby bottle warmer. Just remember: Too much heat will destroy the important nutrients needed for your child’s proper growth and development. Test the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist before offering it to your baby. Make sure it is at a warm and comfortable temperature, and not at all hot.

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