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Learning About How to Bottle-Feed

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Many people bottle-feed their babies. It may be for personal or medical reasons. Some people both breast- and bottle-feed. You can bottle-feed using breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Each provides the nutrition your baby needs in the first 6 months. If you plan to use formula, ask your doctor which one to use.

How to bottle-feed your baby

1. Warm the formula or breast milk to room temperature in a bowl of heated water. Shake the bottle. Check the temperature by putting 2 or 3 drops on the inside of your wrist.

2. Place a bib or cloth under your baby's chin to help keep clothes clean. Have a second cloth handy to use when burping your baby.

3. Keep your baby's head higher than their chest. This reduces your baby's chance of choking or getting ear infections.

4. Stroke your baby's lower lip or cheek to encourage the mouth to open wider. Hold the bottle so its neck and nipple stay full of milk. This helps reduce the amount of air your baby sucks in.

5. Do not prop the bottle in your baby's mouth or let them hold it alone until they are about 6 months old. Propping can lead to tooth decay.

6. Burp your baby during and after feeding. This helps get rid of swallowed air and reduces spitting up.

7. You will know that your baby is full when they stop sucking. Your baby may spit out the nipple, turn their head away, or fall asleep when full.

8. To reduce spitting up, try holding your baby upright for about 30 minutes after they eat.

Where can you learn more?

Go to http://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

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The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.