The many faces of Feeding bottles

After exclusively breastfeeding your child for a period of four to six months, it is important for you to start introducing your baby to other foods, which will ensure that he receives the adequate amount of nutrients that he needs.

The first food he can be introduced to is formula milk. There are two ways in which milk can be given to the baby-using feeding bottles or using a cup and a spoon.

Many parents find it easier to use feeding bottles as babies adopt faster since the bottles have teats that are shaped like the mother’s breasts. Furthermore, this is convenient for working mothers who do not need to worry that their absence will make their baby stay hungry. Anyone can feed the baby using the feeding bottles.

It also helps mothers who do not have adequate breast milk to meet the needs of their young ones.

Various feeding bottles are available in the market, classified according to their nipple shapes or sizes. Parents should purchase different feeding bottles: this will avoid mixing flavors of various beverages. Some of the most common types of baby bottles are:

STANDARD BOTTLES
These are usually tall and slim with narrow necks. They are marked with various volume measurements such as 250ml, 125ml and 60ml. The small neck makes it hard for cleaning to be done, although milk residue may settle in it due to it being narrow. These two factors make it difficult to maintain hygiene.

WIDE-NECKED BOTTLES
They are short and have a wide neck which makes it easy to clean and pour milk inside.

ANGLED BOTTLES
They are a bit slanted at an angle to enable feeding of the child in a lying position. This is helpful for babies who may have a hydrocephalic heads.

INSULATED BOTTLES
This type of bottle keeps the milk warm. The milk does not have to be reheated when the baby demands for it.

EASY-TO-GRASP BOTTLES
These usually have two handles on either side. They are effective when a mother wants her child to start feeding herself independently since the handles provide support to prevent spillage.

All feeding bottles have:

• A nipple -This is what the baby uses to suckle. To improve hygiene conditions and prevent illnesses, the nipple should be replaced after every two months of continuous use once it wears out.
• A ring -This is meant to attach the nipple to the bottle.
• A cap -This covers the bottles content
• A bottle – It is important that the bottle is marked. This way the mother will know the exact amount that satisfies the baby, avoiding wastage.

After use, bottle feeders should be cleaned and sterilized to avoid passing any infections on to the baby. All the parts should be separated before doing this.

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