About Bottle Feeding

Whether to bottle-feed or breast-feed a newborn can be an emotional decision for a woman. There is a lot of pressure from society to breast-feed because of the bonding that takes place between the mother and the newborn as well as the nutrients and antibodies shared. However, breast-feeding is not right for every woman or every baby. For some women and babies, bottle-feeding is the best choice for everyone involved.

Benefits

Both parents can spend equal time feeding, snuggling and bonding with baby while bottle-feeding. Also, the parents can go on a date without worrying that the baby needs to eat in just a few hours; anyone can feed the baby. The mother can eat a variety of foods without worrying about the potential effects on the baby's digestive system.

Types

There are many types of bottles and formulas available to parents who choose to bottle-feed. Formulas are available with milk base or soy base or hypoallergenic ingredients. Formulas improve regularly as scientists learn more about the contents of breast milk and babies' needs. Bottles are available in glass, plastic and disposable varieties. Some have vents and bends, and others are made using only earth-friendly materials.

Prevention/Solution

In the past, parents sought to prevent illness in newborns by sterilizing bottles by placing them in boiling water or in a bottle sterilization appliance or by running them through a dishwasher after each use. Concerns over the leakage of Bisphenol A have changed the procedure to washing with hot soapy water. Well water should be tested or boiled before use. City water containing fluoride or other supplements should be avoided. Many parents choose to use water bottled especially for newborns.

Considerations

A serious health condition may warrant bottle-feeding an infant. When an infant is premature or fails to thrive, tracking the quantity the baby is consuming at each feeding is important. Women who are not willing to give up drinking alcohol in excess or using drugs should bottle-feed their infants to protect them from exposure. Many families who adopt infants are not able to induce lactation; they meet their babies' needs through bottle-feeding.

History

Elijah Pratt of New York invented the first rubber nipple; a patent was issued to him in 1845. However, the nipples were not sufficient to replace breast-feeding safely until the 1900s. Governments strictly regulate the ingredients of baby formulas, but the materials used to manufacture baby bottles and nipples are not regulated in most countries. However, in the United States the Food and Drug Administration does regulate the materials used in their manufacture.