Should I choose to bottle-feed?

Ultimately it’s your choice to choose breast or bottle for your baby and as long as you’ve weighed up the pros and cons of each method, you’re entitled to make your own informed decision.

If you choose to bottlefeed or are advised to for medical reasons, rest assured that formula milk is the very best alternative to breast milk and supplies the best possible combination of vitamins and nutrients that it can. See choosing formula milk for advice on what formula might best suit your baby.

If you do decide to bottlefeed, it's important that you get all the right equipment in advance of your baby’s birth. There are many different types of nipple and bottle available, and you can also opt to buy a starter kit that will see you through the first few months. Get clued up, as your baby’s needs will adjust as she gets bigger and hungrier!

You also need to know how to bottlefeed correctly, as your technique can help avoid your baby suffering too much from wind. Hygiene is a vital consideration too – bottlefed babies are more at risk of gastrointestinal upsets, so your baby’s nipples and bottles should be thoroughly washed in the dishwasher and you can also sterilize them as an added precaution.

If you have any questions about bottlefeeding, you can talk with other moms in the feeding and food area of our chat forum. Don't forget, you can upload your favorite photo of your baby into one of our galleries, which include I love my baby and monsters!