Artificiale or bottle feeding

Artificiale or bottle feeding

This is the process of feeding a baby with artificial milk, often through the feeding bottle. There are different brands of baby's milk or infant formula in the market. They are commonly made from cow-milk, it is best to breast-feed babies. However there are times it becomes necessary to bottle-feed babies.
For instance:
1. When mother is working full-time outside the home.
2. When there are multiple births for example twins or triplets. The mother's milk may not be sufficient for the babies.
3. When mother cannot produce enough milk.
4. When mother is sick and cannot breast feed.

Disadvantages of bottle-feeding:
- it is expensive.
- the milk can easily be contaminated by disease germs.
- constipation is common with bottle-fed babies.
- artificial milk is not as rich as breast milk. It does not contain antibodies.
- it requires elaborate preparation and sterilisation of feeding unit.
- it does not make for close contact between mother and child.

Guidelines for bottle-feeding
1. Boil all water used for preparation of baby's feed.

2. Sterilize baby's feeding unit after each meal.

3. Follow the manufacturer's instructions found on the back of the milk tin for preparation of baby's food.

4. Wash your hands before preparing baby's food.

5. The feed should be made up immediately it is required.

6. The tray of the feeding bottle must be suitable for the baby.