Infant formulas are fine too! Most babies tolerate a formula based on cow’s milk. These are iron-containing formulas. The iron is important and does not cause constipation. If your baby has an allergy, this will become clear over the first couple of weeks, and we may suggest a formula based on soy or an even more elemental formula.
Suggestions for bottle feeding:
- Babies who are breastfed usually prefer bottles with a wide-based nipple. We recommend trying any of the following bottles and nipples – Medela, Avent, Dr. Brown, Comotomo, and Tommee Tippee. Every baby is different with regard to which type of bottle he or she may like the best. We suggest starting with one and only switching to another if he or she will not feed from the bottle type you have.
- If you have city water, you do not have to boil the water first. If you have well water, please boil it to sterilize for three months. If you use bottled water, make sure it has added fluoride.
- Clean the nipple and bottle with hot, soapy water after each feed. Boiling is not necessary, but you need to clean the nipples by hand to get in all the crevices.
- When preparing powdered formula, always add the exact amount of water as per the instructions.
- Never dilute formula!!
- Most babies drink two to three ounces every three hours initially.
- Never prop your baby’s bottle, and keep him or her upright while feeding. Do not put your baby in bed with a bottle of formula or juice. This often becomes a bad habit, which can lead to tooth decay.
- We do not recommend cereal until at least four months of age, and we do not suggest adding cereal to a bottle.