Breastfeeding & Your BaBY

Bottle Feeding Expressed Breast Milk & Formula

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How do I feed my baby with a bottle?• Holdyourbaby–thisisatimeforyoutogiveloveandcuddles.

• Lookintoyourbaby’seyes–thisisimportantforyourbaby’sbrainandsocialdevelopment.

• Focusonyourbaby–yourbabyneedstimetofeel,hear,smellandseeyou.

• Holdthebottlesothattheteatisfullofmilk–thisreducestheairyourbabymayswallow.

Important tips for bottle feeding• Neverpropthebottleorputyourbabytobedwithabottle–thisincreasestheriskofchoking,earinfectionsandtoothdecay.

• Mostbabiesdonotneedaspecialbottleorteat.Youmayneedtotryafewout.

Tips for storage and handling of expressed breast milk See www.health.act.gov.au/breastfeeding

How do I know if my baby is having enough to eat?Itisnormalforyourbabyto:• Drinkdifferentamountsfromfeedtofeed.• Stopdrinking,orturntheirheadawaywhentheyhavehadenough.

• Haveatleast6to8soakedclothnappiesor4to5heavydisposablenappiesina24hourperiod.

• Havebrighteyes,amoistmouthandtongue.• Besettledbetweenmostfeeds.

Tips for making a bottle of formula• Alwayswashyourhandsfirst.• Makeupabottleasyouneedit.• Boiltapwaterandcool,thenaddformula–thisreducesvitaminlosstoformulaandtheriskofburnstoyouandyourbaby.

• Usethescoopfromthetinandfollowtheinstructionsontheformulacontainer.

• Donotoverfillorunderfillthescoop.• Onlyaddformulatothewater,unlessmedicallyadvised.Shakewelltomix.

• Throwawayanyleftoverformulawithinanhour.

How do I sterilise bottles, teats and feeding equipment? Feedingequipmentneedstobesterilisedforinfantslessthan12monthsofage.Boilingisthepreferredmethod.Ifyouuseelectrical,steamingorchemicalsterilisation,followthemanufacturer’sinstructions.The boiling methodSTep 1: Putthecleanedequipmentinasaucepan.STep 2: Coverwithcoldtapwater.STep 3:Bringtotheboilforatleast5minutes.STep 4:Coolinthepanandthentakeequipmentout.STep 5: Shakeoffwaterandstoreinaclean,dryplace.

Tips for heating a bottle• Donotusethemicrowave.

• Placethebottleinacontainerofhotwater–heatfornomorethan10minutes.

• Testthetemperatureonyourwristbeforegivingittoyourbaby–itshouldfeellukewarm.

Feeding is a special time for you and your baby. Some parents and carers bottle feed their baby with expressed breast milk, formula or a combination. If your baby is not drinking breast milk, infant formula is recommended for the first 12 months of life. Support is available before, during and after the birth.

©AustralianCapitalTerritory,Canberra,August 2013

Thisworkiscopyright.ApartfromanyuseaspermittedundertheCopyright Act 1968,nopartmaybereproducedbyanyprocesswithoutwrittenpermissionfromtheTerritoryRecordsOffice,CommunityandInfrastructureServices,TerritoryandMunicipalServices,ACTGovernment,GPOBox158,CanberraCityACT2601.

EnquiriesaboutthispublicationshouldbedirectedtoACTGovernmentHealthDirectorate,CommunicationsandMarketingUnit,GPOBox825CanberraCityACT2601oremail:HealthACT@act.gov.au

www.health.act.gov.au|www.act.gov.au

Enquiries:Canberra13ACT1or132281|PublicationNo13/0934a

referencesNationalHealth&MedicalResearchCouncil(2012)Infant Feeding Guidelines,Canberra:NationalHealth&MedicalResearchCouncil.

RaisingChildrenNetwork(2009).How to bottle feed. Retrieved20May,2013.http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/how_to_bottle-feed.html

RaisingChildrenNetwork(2013).Formula preparation. Retrieved27May,2013.http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/pip_formula_preparation.html

Wirihana,L.S.&Barnard,A.(2012)Women’sperceptionsoftheirhealthcareexperiencewhentheychoosenottobreastfeed.Women & Birth. 25,134–141.

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AccessibilityThe ACT Government is committed to making its information, services, events and venues as accessible as possible.

Here are 4 ways:1. PHONeMaternal and Child Health service by calling Community Health Intake (CHI) 6207 9977 healthdirect 1800 022 222

Australian Breastfeeding Association or 1800 Mum 2 Mum 1800 686 268

2. atteNd ‘early Days’ Group (infantsupto3monthsofage)forassessmentandongoingbreastfeedinginformationandsupport.Contact CHI for locations and times.

3. VIsItACTGovernmentHealthDirectoratewebsite:www.health.act.gov.au/breastfeeding

4. see yOUr GP

Where can I find out more information?