Even before you’ve had your baby, you’ve probably gotten a huge amount of advice from other parents.
It’s difficult to figure out what advice should be taken and what simply doesn’t work for your family. Especially when it comes to learning how to best feed your baby!
Formuland is here to give you our best Do’s and Don’ts about the best baby formula practices out there.
If you’ve been curious to find a great resource on baby formula and the best ways to feed your baby, make sure you take a look at the rest of our blog as well! We make sure that great tips, like this Do’s and Don’ts breakdown, are always there for you.
So what do you need to know about the best baby formula practices to feed your child? Keep reading to find out!
Our most important Do’s and Don’ts for best baby formula practices
Knowing what works best for your child means that you’ll want to start with the basics.
That’s why this list can help you get on the right track to the best baby formula and feeding for your child!
Keep reading to find out some of our top Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to feeding your baby and getting things done right.
Don’t settle for products on store shelves
Formuland’s biggest goal is to help parents figure out what formula brands are really good for your child.
Many of the formula brands that stores stock on their shelves are from big brand names, but they may not actually be as trustworthy as you think.
A lot of the baby formulas that you can buy from a store have hidden ingredients that you should avoid.
This includes soy (unless your baby is lactose intolerant), palm oil, any sweeteners, DHA/ARA, carrageenan, or preservatives.
If you want to make sure that you are doing a great job bottle feeding with the best baby formula brands, keep an eye on that label!
Do sterilize all of your bottle accessories
Many baby products come already packaged so that they can stay clean in the stores and throughout transit.
But you will want to make sure that you take the time to sterilize all of your bottle accessories to keep your baby safe from harmful bacteria or dirt.
To sterilize your baby’s items, you have a few great options!
One of the most popular methods to sterilize baby accessories is to boil them in water for up to 5 minutes. This will kill any bacteria that’s left on the item, like bottles or nipples.
You could also purchase an electronic steamer which lets you fill the machine with items to sterilize and let it work its magic. Similarly, you could also purchase microwavable steam bags to do the same job.
No matter which you pick, one of the best practices you could do is to keep things sterile.
Don’t use any products not labeled GMO-Free
The bottles and nipples you use to feed your baby are its lifeline. It’s where they get their food from as you two continue bonding throughout the day.
But, you will want to make sure that these accessories aren’t also feeding your baby harmful chemicals through their plastic.
We recommend using glass baby bottles or checking to see that they are labeled GMO-Free.
GMOS are genetically modified organisms and even though the medical community is torn about whether or not consuming GMOs is bad for you, they can cause reactions within your body.
These new organisms can cause new allergies or illnesses within your body and your baby could be susceptible to new problems if they are given products with GMOs.
Do use boiled water for your formula
Here’s a major Do: use boiled water for your formula.
If you simply fill the bottle with warmed water straight from the tap, you could be increasing your baby’s exposure to lead and harmful waterborne bacteria.
A 2014 report by the US Center for Disease Control found that viruses like the Norovirus, Salmonella, and even Hepatitis A were found in the public water system.
Because these types of bacteria are so dangerous and difficult to manage, giving your baby the cleanest water possible is always the best choice.
We recommend running your tap for around 30 seconds and then filling a pot with as much water as you’ll need for your feeding.
Let the water boil then cool to your desired temperature before mixing in the formula and feeding your baby!
Don’t keep mixed formula for too long
Using baby formula means that you can have a meal ready to go in just a few minutes.
But, you will want to make sure that you aren’t preparing too much at a time so that you can continue to give your baby the freshest supply.
This means that formula sitting out should be thrown away after around an hour. Make sure you extra formula that’s been refrigerated within 48 hours of mixing it together.
If formula stays out too long, it’s possible that bacteria from the room can flourish within the formula. Because baby’s mouths also have bacteria, throwing out unused formula can also prevent your baby from ingesting that.
Do work on a bottle-feeding schedule
One of the biggest hurdles that parents face is getting their child on a good feeding schedule.
You can begin working towards a schedule from the start.
Newborns should be fed whenever they are hungry, but you can soon begin to work towards feedings every 3-4 hours so keep them satisfied.
With a schedule, you’ll be able to know when to begin sanitizing and mixing– or how much formula to mix for the day so that you’ll be prepared.
Want more information?
Formuland is here to help you learn more about the best baby formula for your child, what products to avoid, and what are the best practices for your new baby.
We keep up a great blog and product pages to help you get only the best. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.