Choosing how to feed your baby is not as easy as some would think.  It is a choice much pondered on by mothers for they are naturally concerned with their baby.  There are a lot of reasons why a mother would opt out of breastfeeding.

One reason is that the mother has tried breastfeeding and realized it is not working for her.  She might be feeling discomfort over being exposed, or she cannot tolerate the sensation of having baby suck milk from her breasts.  Some cannot breastfeed because of a present medical condition that is preventing her from giving her breast milk to her child.

A current drug therapy may also be preventing the mother from breastfeeding for some drugs are passed through breast milk and can harm the baby.  A common reason is also because the mother has to return to work, and thereby unable to be personally there to see to her baby’s feeding.  For whatever reason, still the choice is plainly up to the mother.  No one should cause her to think otherwise and she should be comfortable with her choice.

What to consider

Bottle feeding can be quite expensive, especially when a baby has allergic reactions to common brands.  There are several types of formula milk that can make a mother quite confused in choosing just what brand to buy.  Most brands, the common ones can be affordable.

Special formula milk like the ones made for babies with allergy (hypoallergenic) or suffering from diarrhea can be twice as expensive as the other brands.  Choose formula milk that is right for your baby’s age.  Written on the label is the recommended age for a milk formulation, and should be carefully followed.  Only use formula milk that is best for your baby and not cow’s milk that you buy in containers.

You may also need to stock up with several bottles for you to cope up with the day.  An average of 10-12 bottles can be a good amount to keep up with the frequency of feeding without having to wait for bottles to be ready.

Every three months, you may also need to change the size of the bottle, from 2 ounces, to 4, then 6, leading up to 9 or 12 ounces.  This is to make sure that your baby’s feedings grow in accordance to his age.  Nipples are also needed to be considered.  The nipples have various shapes, cuts, and sizes that are recommended for your baby’s age.

As your baby grows, his need for formula milk also grows with him.  This table is the average milk consumption of babies, although it may differ from one baby to another.

Age	Amount	Frequency (based on a 24-hour feeding)
0-3 months	2-4 oz	8-10
4-6 months	4-6 oz	4-7
6-12 months	8-10 oz	3-4

Do not force your baby to consume that very last ounce if he does not want to.  The best indicator to check if your baby is getting enough is through number of diaper changes in a day and body weight.

Your baby should change at least 10-12 times during the first few months, slowly and gradually changing to 6-8 diaper changes when he is taking in solid food.

Feed the baby the same way as you normally would during breast feeding.  Hold him close to you with one arm and prop him up so that his head is higher than his chest. This way, he would easily swallow the formula, and the risk of aspiration will be less.

It would also enable you to bond with your baby by allowing him to feel, smell, and see you.  Talk to your child as you normally would if you’re breast feeding.  The bottle should be kept upright as much as possible to prevent your baby from sucking in too much air while feeding.  Burp baby after each feeding to expel the air that he has ingested while he was feeding.

Tips

When changing milk formula, it is best that you consider your pediatrician’s advice.  In patronizing a brand, you also have to make sure that it is AA/DHA-enriched formulas.  This micronutrient ensures the optimum brain development of your baby.

Watch out for any digestive or allergic reactions. Diarrhea, constipation, and indigestion can be indicators for need to change milk formula.  If your baby develops rash all over the body, stop feeding and see the pediatrician immediately for remedy and to see if another brand or type of formula will eliminate the problem.

Never let a formula stay too long in room temperature.  Doing so will promote bacterial growth that can cause harm to your baby.  You may prepare formula in advance, but keep it in the fridge for no longer than 24 hours.  It is to be stored inside the shelf and not in the vegetable tray or fridge door.

Water is an option and not a necessity in formula feeding.  Generally, your baby is getting the water that he needs from formula milk.  If you are concerned, check first if he’s perspiring heavily before giving him an ounce of water.  Never give water before feeding for it would deprive him of the necessary nutrients that he can get from formula milk.

Medical experts advise against propping the bottle for baby or putting the baby to sleep with a bottle.  The risk for aspiration is high, as well as development of ear and tooth problems.