Making up a bottle
If you’re bottlefeeding, be sure to carefully follow the instructions when it comes to preparing your baby’s bottle, especially if you’re using liquid concentrate or powdered formula milk, as you need to get the proportions right.
Always thoroughly wash your hands before preparing your baby’s feed. If you’re using liquid concentrate formula, shake the can and clean the lid before opening it. With liquid concentrate and powdered formula, you need to follow the mixing instructions to the letter – otherwise your baby’s feed may be too concentrated and difficult for her to digest, or too weak to adequately nourish her.
Use a separate measuring cup or jug to measure out the water for the feed (check with your pediatrician over whether you need to use boiled water and if so makes sure it’s freshly boiled). Always put the water in the feeding bottle before the formula if you’re using powdered milk.
You can prepare feeds in advance – 24 hours ahead for powdered formula and 48 hours ahead for liquid concentrate. Refrigerate the prepared feeds straightaway and discard any you’ve stored for any longer than these guidelines.
When it comes to reheating a feed it’s safer to do so by standing your baby’s bottle in a pan of hot water – microwaves can heat unevenly and there’s a risk your baby’s mouth could be burnt by a hotspot in the milk. Always shake the bottle before feeding, to thoroughly blend the contents. Discard any leftover milk once your baby has had enough.
See choosing formula milk for further advice, or watch our video, making up a bottle, to see a step-by-step guide.
Don't forget that if you have any further queries about making up a bottle, you can ask them on the feeding and food area of our chat or answers page. Remember to upload your favorite photo of your baby into of our galleries!
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
Related Articles
Last Modified: 18/06/2007
Related Chat
You'll need to be logged in to post new Comments and Answers or to Chat.
Login or
Register