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Babies, Toddlers, Kids & Childrens
Bottle Feeding -
The Benefits for Mom and Baby
Deciding whether or not to bottle feed your
baby is not a decision that is made lightly. Society and
the media don't make the decision any easier as they
make bottle feeding appear to be a bad choice compared
to breastfeeding.
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Deciding whether or not to bottle feed
your baby is not a decision that is made lightly.
Society and the media don't make the decision any easier
as they make bottle feeding appear to be a bad choice
compared to breastfeeding. Many mothers that make the
decision not to breast feed or cannot breast feed for
some reason, do not need to feel guilty about choosing
to bottle feed.
While nothing can replace the
whole, natural benefits of mother's milk, using baby
formula also has several benefits for mother and baby.
Baby formulas of today are created to be as close to
mother's milk as possible. These baby formulas are just
as nutritious and many are fortified with iron, a key
ingredient in helping to prevent anemia in infants.
Another great benefit is portion control. With bottle
feeding, you know exactly how much you are feeding your
baby. You won't be left wondering if your child has
eaten enough or has been overfed.
Unfortunately,
mother's who breastfeed still have to deal with the
stares and sometimes comments they may receive when they
decide to breastfeed in public. With bottle feeding you
eliminate the frustration of dealing with ignorance. You
no longer have to stay indoors to avoid the
embarrassment of wanting to feed your child in public.
Many mothers may also worry about losing the bonding
that can come with breast feeding. Bottle feeding can
still bring the same type of mother and child bonding
that breast feeding does. You are still close to your
child and able to talk and spend quality time during a
feeding. Don't let the worry of bonding play in your
decision to bottle feed.
Another plus to bottle
feeding is that moms can get back to living a normal
life a lot sooner. Breastfeeding alters a mother's daily
life due to certain factors that must be considered,
primarily in the case of medication. Mother's who are
prescribed medication must remember to check with their
doctor before taking them. Medication can be passed
through to baby during breastfeeding. Bottle feeding
clears the way for things like medication as well as
oral contraceptives. Having the choice to take an oral
contraceptive is a concern for many mothers who do not
desire to have another child right away.
Bottle
feeding is also much more convenient. Baby formula can
be stored easily and makes traveling a lot easier as
well. Ready-made baby formula requires no mixing. You
can feed your baby its contents right away which is a
time saver. Bottle feeding also allows others to help
you out. You can have others feed your baby when you are
busy or because they want to share in the experience
such as dad helping out during a feeding or
grandparents. This can be a huge help when you are
burned out from the day's activities and need to catch a
nap or are not feeling well.
Mother's who choose
to bottle feed should never feel like they are making a
poor choice. Just like breastfeeding, bottle feeding
holds many benefits.
Baby Bottles
Finding the right brand of baby bottles can
make a world of difference in your experience as a new
parent. Some of the popular brands are: Playtex,
Evenflo, Gerber, Munchkin and Avent. There are several
factors to consider when looking for baby bottles for
your little one.
These items are available in
glass or plastic and some are disposable while others
are reusable. Whether you are going to feed your infant
exclusively with baby bottles or whether you will toggle
between breastfeeding and bottle feeding, you want to
make some considerations. The number of times you will
use baby bottles will change your criteria for which
product will work for you.
Reusable baby bottles
are typically made either of plastic or glass. These
items be placed in the dishwasher and require
sterilization for each feeding. With these types of baby
bottles you may want to consider investing in a
sterilizer. Sterilizers are very affordable but are an
extra step that you may find yourself putting off during
those late night feedings.
Disposable baby
bottles are basically like reusable types but they have
disposable pouches that you place inside the unit. These
are particularly convenient when you take baby out for
awhile and it eliminates the sterilization process. The
liners are refrigerator safe. The downside would be the
additional cost of the liners.
There is also the
occasional mistake of not securing the liner on properly
and having a very wet mess. This usually happens during
those dreaded night feedings of when you are in a hurry.
Toggling between reusable and disposable baby bottles is
a possibility that may benefit you if you have occasions
when liners are inconvenient.
Baby bottles also
come in different shapes. Some are available in the
well-known straight container. Some have a narrow neck
while some are angled at the bottom. The basic reason
for the different shapes of baby bottles is gas.
Some designs are excellent for reducing amount of
air that the baby takes in during feeding. If the baby
takes in less air during the feeding, the less likely
they will have gas problems and hiccups. The wide baby
bottles are basically for the moms who toggle between
the breast and the bottle.
Choosing a baby
bottle ultimately becomes an individual choice. There
are different factors to consider for your individual
needs and I guarantee there are probably a number of
baby bottles out there to meet your needs.
Bottle – Which Is
Right For You
There are lots of decisions to make when there’s a
baby on the way. One of the most controversial is the
ever raging “breast or bottle” debate. There are many
people who have strong feelings on both sides of this
issue, and many of them will try like a televangelist to
get you on their side. I’m not going to do that. I’m
going to give you the facts, and share some personal
insight on the subject, which hopefully will leave you
feeling good, whatever your choice.
Scientifi...
Baby, Babies, Toddlers, Kids & Childrens, infant, parent, mother, child
There are lots of decisions to make when there’s a baby
on the way. One of the most controversial is the ever
raging “breast or bottle” debate. There are many people
who have strong feelings on both sides of this issue,
and many of them will try like a televangelist to get
you on their side. I’m not going to do that. I’m going
to give you the facts, and share some personal insight
on the subject, which hopefully will leave you feeling
good, whatever your choice.
Scientifically,
breast milk is best. There are nutrients in breast milk
that help your child’s brain develop, and try as they
might, formula makers cannot replicate these nutrients.
Breastfeeding protects your child from illnesses
because, as long as he or she is nursing, they are
protected by your immune system, which is much more
developed than theirs. Breast milk is very well
tolerated by Babies, Toddlers, Kids & Childrens, and hardly ever causes gastric
problems, and breastfed Babies, Toddlers, Kids &
Childrens are less likely to be
overweight.
But, realistically, the scientific
facts are not the only things to be considered. Women
who simply don’t want to breastfeed will probably not be
very successful. Even some women who want to breastfeed
will find it so difficult, that they are miserable
trying to make it work. Some women will have difficulty
making enough milk to satisfy their baby’s hunger, and
some women will suffer more pain with breastfeeding than
they can endure. If you fall into one of those
categories, don’t beat yourself up. Your baby can do
quite nicely on formula, too.
When my daughter
was born, I was anxious to breastfeed. I had two boys,
but one is my husband’s by a previous marriage, and the
other was adopted at ten months, so this was my only
chance to be pregnant and breastfeed. I read all the
books I could get my hands on, and like a fool, spent a
bunch of money on a breast pump.
Well, it turns
out that my nipples are not exactly a matched set, so my
daughter completely rejected one nipple. So, I nursed on
the side she would take until my nipples looked like
ground beef. Plus, she was an eight pound eating machine
at birth, and no matter how long I nursed her, I
couldn’t satisfy her appetite. Even with pumping from
the breast that she rejected, she was always hungry. I
made myself crazy from it, worked with two different
lactation consultants and tried every trick in the book,
but still every attempt at nursing ended in tears. After
two miserable weeks, I gave in and put her on formula.
We have never looked back. I was happier because I
wasn’t constantly frustrated, and she was happier
because her tummy was full and because her Mommy was
much more relaxed.
Now that I’ve told you that
story, I’ll tell you this. If I ever had another baby, I
would try breastfeeding again. Every baby is different,
and a Mother’s body is different with each pregnancy. I
would try again to give my child the best from a
nutritional standpoint. But, I understand now that
sometimes it just doesn’t work, or it isn’t right for
you, and that doesn’t mean that you’re not a good Mom.
Breast or bottle is a personal choice. Weigh the
facts and the preferences, and make the choice that is
right for you and your baby. Whatever you decide, you
don’t owe anyone an explanation.