Of course, breastmilk is always going to be what’s best for your baby, a baby bottle is a paramount necessity for your child long term. Whether you are feeding your baby breast milk or formula, a bottle will always be required to properly feed your baby. In the beginning of child birth, of course it is necessary to breastfeed your baby but you must allow to baby to gradually adapt into using a bottle. Studies have shown that mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and other sicknesses while promoting brain growth, development and strengthening the immune system of the baby. Not getting the nutrients the baby needs can have many negative effects for both the parent and baby in the future.
It is important to choose the right bottle while deciding to bottle feed your child. First, you must make sure that there is a passage of air in the bottle nipples and that it has a very similar size and feel as the mothers nipples. It should also be easy to clean and maintain. You can also usually tell if the baby likes the bottle (colors, patterns, feel,) so it would be more beneficial to get those since the baby will be holding it for many periods of time. The bottle also should be lightweight, durable and strong. I don’t recommend using dishwashers to clean bottles or microwaving plastic baby bottles. Always make sure to bottle nipples for wear and tear. Common examples are discoloration of bottle nipples, swelling, stickiness, tears, cracks, mild pouring out in a stream or if the bottle nipple is thinning. It is important to replace bottles every few months.
In my experience as a nanny, I have found adjusting to bottles is paramount in a child’s development. It is important to keep these points in mind for your own child to have a healthy growth cycle.