• Always hold your baby with her head elevated at about a 45 degree angle when you are feeding her.
• When feeding, hold the bottle so that formula or breast milk covers the entire opening of the nipple collar to decrease the amount of air swallowed by the baby.
• Newborns will usually be hungry about every three or four hours. Try not to watch a clock, but instead listen to your baby's cues. Most babies will develop a feeding schedule on their own, when allowed to do so. Many parents choose to wake their babies about every four hours or so during the day to help them develop the schedule. Unless told to do so for a reason, it is best not to wake your baby at night for a feeding.
• Hold your baby upright with feet on your lap, against your shoulder, or facedown across your lap to burp him. Firmly, but gently, rub or pat your baby's back for a minute or so. Some babies do not swallow as much air, so may not need to burp as often as others. The amount taken at a feeding before burping increases as the baby gets used to the milk and gets older.
• Even as the baby gets older, it is unsafe to prop a bottle.
• It is not wise for babies to go to sleep with a bottle of formula, breast milk, juice or anything sweet. This may cause cavities or an increase in ear infections.
• Only feed your baby the type of formula recommended by your doctor.
• Keep your baby on formula or breast milk until he or she is one year old.

Formula preparation
Three basic types of formula are available: powders, concentrates and ready-to-feed. Information on each type of shown below.

Powder

1. Least expensive.
2. Store in cool dry place.
3. Recommended for breast-feeding moms (for occasional use) over other types of formula to avoid waste.
4. Recommended for traveling, since powder can be carried without refrigeration. Once mixed with water, must use within one hour if not refrigerated.
5. Mix one scoop to 2 oz. tap water. If you use well or cistern water, it is recommended that the water be boiled for at least 10 minutes before using. If using tap water, turn the tap on and let COLD water run for a full minute before adding powder. Hot or warm water, or cold water that has been sitting in the pipes, draws lead out of the pipes. Infants exposed to high levels of lead are at risk for mental retardation.
6. May make up bottles one at a time or may make up to a 48 hour supply and store in bottles in refrigerator. Formula will last up to 48 hours in refrigerator.

Concentrate

1. Moderate price.
2. Wash lid before opening. Refrigerate when opened.
3. Mix 2 oz. concentrate with 2 oz. tap water. If you use well or cistern water, it is recommended that the water be boiled for at least 10 minutes before using. If using tap water, turn the tap on and let COLD water run for a full minute before adding concentrate. Hot or warm water, or cold water that has been sitting in the pipes, draws lead out of the pipes. Infants exposed to high levels of lead are at risk for mental retardation.
4. Lasts for 48 hours in refrigerator once opened. Keep covered with lid.
5. May make up one bottle at a time or may make up to a 48 hour supply and store in bottles in refrigerator.

Ready to feed

1. Most expensive.
2. Wash lid before opening. Refrigerate when opened.
3. No mixing necessary.
4. Contains no fluoride so let your baby's doctor know if you are using this.
5. Lasts 48 hours in refrigerator once opened. Keep covered with lid.

Cleaning bottles
Bottles do not have to be sterilized. Scrub bottles well with hot soapy water, rinse with hot water and drain. You may also use a dishwasher. Boil nipples the first time before they are used. Afterward, you may scrub them well or put them in the dishwasher basket. If you put them in the dishwasher, they will eventually get gummy and need to be replaced more frequently. It is a good idea to rinse bottles out after use so that milk doesn't sour in the bottle. Rinse the bottle with cool water and squeeze water through the nipple hole to keep it from clogging.

Warming formula
Formula should be at room temperature. You may warm the bottle under hot running water or by using a warmer. Microwaving is not recommended, because of potential hot spots that could burn the baby's mouth. Microwaving can also destroy important vitamins in formula and antibodies in breast milk. Use the inside of the wrists to check the milk's temperature.

After feeding, discard the unused portion of formula. Formula should also be discarded if not used within one hour of being mixed and out of the refrigerator.

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