Bottle Feeding advice
If your baby isn’t being breastfed or receiving breastmilk, first infant formula is the only food your baby will need for the first 6 months. After that, you can introduce them to solid food alongside first milk. Follow on milk and comfort or hungry baby milks are not recommended. You can start giving your baby ordinary full-fat cow’s milk instead of first milk when they turn one. For independent, reliable information about formula milk please look at First Steps Nutrition.
It is very important that infant formula is made up correctly. You can find advice on this through the link above and on this online leaflet
Responsive feeding is recommended for all babies, whether they are breast are bottle fed. This means:
- feeding your baby when he or she shows feeding cues;
- holding your baby close and responding to them while feeding;
- feeding your baby slowly, allowing them to control the pace of the feed and finish when they have had enough;
- parents giving all feeds if possible, especially in the early days.
If you have any concerns about your baby’s feeding, please contact your midwife, health visitor or GP.
For information in languages other than English, click here.
It is very important that infant formula is made up correctly. You can find advice on this through the link above and on this online leaflet or by clicking on the link below:
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safely making a formula Feed step one
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fill the kettle with at least one liter
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of fresh tap water don't use water that
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has been boiled before step two boil the
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water then leave the water to cool for
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no more than 30 minutes so that it
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remains at a temperature of at least 70°
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C step three clean and disinfect the
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surface you are going to use step four
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wash your hands step five if you are
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using a cold water sterilizer shake off
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any excess solution from the bottle and
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the tee or rinse them with cold boiled
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water from the kettle not tap water step
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six stand the bottle on the cleaned
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disinfected surface step seven follow
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the manufacturer's instructions and pour
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the correct amount of water you need
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into the bottle double check that the
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water level is correct always put the
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water in the bottle first while it is
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still hot before adding the formula
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powder step eight Loosely fill the scoop
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that came with the tin with formula
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powder and level it off using either the
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flat edge of a clean dry knife or the
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leveler
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provided step nine holding the edge of
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the tee put it on the bottle then screw
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the retaining ring onto the bottle
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step 10 cover the tee with the cap and
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shake the bottle until the formula
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powder has fully dissolved Step 11 it's
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important to cool the formula so it's
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not too hot to drink do this by holding
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the bottle with the lid on under cold
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running water step 12 test the
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temperature of the formula on the inside
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of your wrist before giving it to your
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baby it should be body temperature which
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means it should feel warm but not hot if
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there is any madeup formula left after a
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feed throw it away remember not to put
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the scoop back into the tin as this may
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contaminate contents always sterilize
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Scoops before use
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