Once you have decided to bottle-feed, you either use expressed breast milk or artificial milk also called formula. Most doctors recommend a Soya-based formulation. It is important to prepare formula milk exactly according to the instructions provided. It this milk is diluted the baby will not receive the required number of calories. If it is too thick it can lead to dehydration. The bottles and nipples or teats will have to be well sterilized as milk breed bacteria easily and your baby will easily fall ill. Not all babies need to be taught to bottle-feed, a number of them take to it without much fuss.
Even after you start bottle-feeding it is best to continue breast-feeding as well. This is known as mixed feeding. For the full-time bottle-feeding baby, simply experiment with various types of nipples to see which one works best for your baby. If baby is both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, use a nipple with a wide base. Like so much with babies, you'll need to listen and observe. If you hear a lot of noisy sucking sounds while she drinks, she may be taking in too much air. To help your baby swallow less air, hold her at a 45-degree angle. Also take care to tilt the bottle so that the nipple and neck are always filled with formula.
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