Bottle-feeding
Is bottle-feeding with formula the right choice for your baby?
If you are having a hard time breastfeeding and are trying to decide whether to switch to using formula, remember the first few weeks of breastfeeding are the most challenging. Talk to your baby’s doctor and a lactation consultant to help you make your choice. Some moms choose to both breastfeed and bottle-feed their babies.
You may not be able to breastfeed for different health reasons. While breast milk is the ideal food for babies, your baby can still get good nutrition from formula.
Formulas are designed to meet the basic nutritional needs of babies until they are 6 months old. After 6 months, babies may continue to take formula, but also need to eat solid foods (just like breastfed babies do). Babies born early or with health problems may stay exclusively on formula even longer
When is it okay to start giving your baby whole milk?
When your baby is 12 months old, he or she can start to drink whole-fat cow’s milk. Other kinds of milk, such as almond milk, soy milk, fat-free milk, 1% or 2% milk don’t have as many nutrients as whole-fat milk. It is best not to give your baby these types of milk if you can give whole-fat milk instead.
Pumping and storage
Many moms return to work or school or otherwise spend time away from their baby while they are still breast feeding. To continue providing breast milk during this time, you can use a breast pump to remove milk when apart from your baby.
Preparing to pump:
- Wash your hands. Set up breast pump equipment per manufacturer instructions.
- If using a double collection kit, pump about 15 minutes or until you see the last drop of milk, then 2 minutes longer. If using a single collection kit, pump 15 minutes on each side.
- Put breast milk in a proper storage container — glass, hard plastic, or a soft breast-milk storage bag.
- Record the date and time breast milk was collected on the container.
- Wash equipment with warm soapy water. Sterilize per manufacturer instructions.
How to reach us
Need to make an appointment with your care provider? Feeling something unusual or like you’re going into labor? Want advice about breastfeeding? We’re here for your call.
