Despite recommendations for breastfeeding from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, many mothers cannot or choose not to nurse. Others combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding. The reasons for bottle feeding a baby range from...
Feeding a baby cereal in a bottle is a simple task that many parents must attempt. Cereal serves as an easy-to-use thickening agent in bottles for babies with acid reflux. Follow your doctor's instructions when introducing cereal in a bottle. You...
Semi-solids are foods which contain small particles that can be mashed with the gums, and are typically among children's first solid foods. However, children should never be given these foods in their bottles because they pose a choking hazard....
Bottle feeding a baby seems pretty straightforward until the first time you try it. From choosing the perfect bottle and preparing formula to finding the right feeding position and monitoring your baby's milk intake, new parents are usually full...
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Dietetics Association and World Health Organization all recommend breastfeeding as the healthiest way to feed a young infant. However, if you have difficulties producing...
Colicky babies can be challenging and stressful for parents. Colic typically begins at two weeks of age. Babies with colic often cry hard and consistently around the same time each day and can seem inconsolable. It is unclear why some babies...
With all of the advice and marketing out there, it is difficult to know where to begin when preparing for a baby. Take advice from friends and family members who have recently brought home a newborn and make a checklist. Avoid cluttering your home...
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical institutions encourage breastfeeding, pointing out its many health benefits for both you and your baby. If you are unable to breastfeed for medical reasons, bottle-feeding with formula is...
Your first years with your new baby are a magical time. Within roughly a year, your brand new baby will be walking; and within two or three, he will be able tell you what he wants. Motor skills and intellectual growth take place with breakneck...
When it's hot outside, well-meaning friends and family often recommend giving your baby a few sips of water to keep him comfortable. However, depending on the age of your baby, this could actually be dangerous advice. Your breast milk or...
If you are using bottles to feed your baby, whether with expressed milk or formula, you must ensure that every part of the bottle is sterile. Sterilization means thoroughly decontaminating every part of the bottle, including the nipple, nipple...
Babies, with their undeveloped immune systems, need to drink from clean bottles. At least for the first six months of a baby's life, most health care providers recommend sterilizing bottles by washing them in the dishwasher, the Ohio State...
If you've chosen to bottle-feed your infant, stocking up on the necessary bottles, nipples, brushes and other paraphernalia helps you prepare for the experience. When purchasing nipples, you'll notice that some brands offer several stages of...
Bottle feeding versus breastfeeding an infant is a very personal choice. Sometimes, complications from pregnancy or delivery may require the new mother to take prescription blood thinners, such as warfarin, to prevent blood clots. Although the...
Most mothers must face the decision of whether to breastfeed or bottle feed their baby. It is a personal choice and sometimes causes a great deal of anxiety and guilt. Bottle feeding offers a great deal of health benefits, flexibility and...
Poor muscle tone is a common problem in infants born prematurely and in children with disabilities like Down syndrome. Infants with poor muscle tone often have difficulty feeding by breast or bottle and may struggle to make it through an entire...
A baby's screams can test the new mother's patience--and in the first few months of your newborn's life, you can expect plenty of crying jags. The American Academy of Pediatrics indicates that it's typical for babies to cry between two and three...
Some babies may like to lie on their backs and drink from a bottle, but this is not a good idea. Many different positions are fine for feeding your baby, but it is not a good idea to feed her while she is lying flat on her back, as this could...
Your baby will triple her birth weight by her first birthday, according to Glade Curtis and Judith Schuler in "Your Baby's First Year." By the time she reaches six months, her weight gain will start to slow down and weight gain will become more...
If you bottle-feed your baby, your doctor may recommend that you sterilize the bottles. Always sterilize plastic or glass baby bottles when they are brand new. You may also need or want to sterilize your baby's bottles if the baby has an immune...
Many mothers choose to feed their babies expressed breast milk from a bottle at some point. Some reasons for bottle-feeding breast milk include a mother returning to work, the need or desire to leave the baby with an alternate caregiver and not...
When you bottle-feed your baby, it is imperative to use the best possible nipple to ease or prevent gas. A nipple that is the wrong style or fit will cause your baby to drink air along with the milk. Alternatively, it may also cause your newborn...
Preparing infant formula is an easy task, but it must be done correctly for the health of your baby. Many parents choose to bottle feed their infants, and formula is the next best thing to breast milk, according to the American Academy of...
If you choose to formula feed your baby or to express breast milk and feed it your baby from a bottle, Baby Center recommends choosing the safest baby bottles possible to protect the health of your little one. Many baby bottles are made from...
When your baby shows certain signs of lactose intolerance, it may be time to change your baby's formula from regular cow's milk-based to a soy-based formula. With your pediatrician's guidance, you can make the transition as smooth as possible for...
Newborn babies get nutrients through breast milk or formula, but by 4 to 6 months old, babies are ready to begin eating solids. Some signs your baby is ready for his first food include good head control, sitting well with support and a healthy...
Choosing to bottle feed with baby formula is a personal choice many parents of newborns feel comfortable with. While it is well documented that breast milk is highly nutritious and beneficial to the health and wellness of a baby, baby formula is...
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding until your child is 1 year old, but many mothers stop around six months. Weaning a breastfed baby from the breast to a bottle can be stressful for both the child and mother. That's not to...
Toddlers at this age may be very picky as they begin to learn to eat solid foods. Learn more about how to feed a one to two year old baby in this parenting video on child nutrition.
Newborn infants should always be breastfed if it is possible. Some babies may need to formula feed though and iron fortified formula is usually best. Learn more about newborn baby diets in this parenting video.
