Newborn Feeding
Bottle Feeding
- Feed your baby ONLY infant formula and breast milk for their first 4 to 6 months.
- Feed your baby at least every 3 hours, day and night.
- Before each feeding, warm the breast milk or formula to room temperature by placing the bottle in warm water; do not leave cold bottles on the counter to warm up.
- Never heat breast milk or formula in a microwave oven.
- Throw away any remaining breast milk or formula after each feeding.
- When traveling, keep the breast milk or formula cold in a cooler.
Formula Preparation
Infant formulas are available in 3 ways:
- Ready to Feed
- Do not add water.
- Liquid Concentrate
- Add sterile water.
- Powder
- Add sterile water.
To make Sterile Water:
- Boil water for 2 minutes.
- Cover the pot.
- Let water cool to room temperature.
Formula Storage and Use
- Store prepared formula in a refrigerator.
- Use formula in 24 to 48 hours.
Bottle Cleaning
- Clean bottles and nipples by washing with hot, soapy water or on top rack of dishwasher.
- Allow bottles and nipples to air dry.
Breastfeeding Your Baby
Breastfed babies have:
- Fewer ear infections.
- Lower chance of asthma, food allergies, and dental cavities.
- Protection against diarrhea, stomach, and lung infections.
- Better nervous system development and higher IQ levels.
- Lower risk of some childhood cancers.
- Lower chance of becoming over weight.
Mothers who breastfeed have:
- Lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.
- Lower chance of osteoporosis later in life.
- Quicker return to pre-pregnancy weight.
- Food source for their babies even during emergencies.
- Lower chance of becoming pregnant before menstruation returns.
Gastrostomy Tube (G Tube or Button)
Giving medicines and feeding if your baby has a gastrostomy tube
- Clear the G tube or button as your health care provider showed you.
- Check for placement of the G tube or button.
- Slowly push in liquid medicine or feeding with a syringe.
- If the pharmacist says it is ok, pills and capsules may be dissolved in 10 to 20 cc of warm tap water.
- All medicines and feedings should be flushed in with 5 to 10 cc of warm tap water.
- Ask your baby’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist how to measure the tap water.
It is important to use the specific tube adapter made by the manufacturer of your button.
- In fluid restricted babies flush medicines with ONLY 1 to 5 cc of warm tap water.
- Vent the tube after feeding to remove excess air or fluid and reduce leaking.
Protecting the G Tube or Button
- Snap t-shirts and onsies work best to prevent babies from pulling on the tube or button.
- You may also use a sticky wrap or stretchy dressing.
