Feeding your Baby

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Feeding your baby - helpful tips

Feeding your new baby is an enjoyable and important part of the bonding process between mother and child. Most mothers will require a few necessary aids for feeding to help with leaking milk, sore nipples, or engorgement (breast fullness) - all of which are common to early breastfeeding. Support products such as breast pads for leaking, healing nipple creams and nipple shields for sore and cracked nipples, and breast pumps to relieve engorgement can provide more comfort during your breast feeding time.

Choosing a Breast Pump.

When choosing a breast pump, consider your long-term requirements. In the early months of breast feeding they are very helpful at assisting full breasts while your milk production adjusts,  if you find that hand  massaging does not provide enough relief. A manual breast pump is ideal for this purpose. In the long-term consider whether you wish to feed your baby breast milk from a bottle, such as if you will be leaving your child in daycare, with a baby sitter, or weaning. For more regular expressing an electric breast pump is more suitable. If you need to use a breast pump to help with increasing your milk production, a good electric breast pump is required.

Storing Breastmilk.

When expressing breast milk for your baby, there are an abundance of storage options available. The type you choose will often depend on the brand of breast pump you have selected. Avent breast pumps can be used with Avent Via Storage containers, or Avent milk storage bottles, both of which fit the Avent breastpumps for expressing directly into them. These can then be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, and later baby can be fed directly from both vessels too. The Nuk electric breast pump can be used with all Nuk and Nuk First Choice bottles, which also screw directly on to the pump for expressing into. Nuk and Avent both supply BPA-free milk storage bottles. Nuk BPA-free bottles are made from Polypropylene, which is the safest plastic for storing breast milk. Check for the "BPA-free" label when purchasing .

Cleaning Bottles and Breast Pumps

Using breast pumps and bottles requires strict hygiene standards, as babies are more vulnerable to bacteria and germs that can grow in leftover milk residue causing sore tummies, thrush and gastro-enteritis. Bottles and breast pump parts should be cleaned thoroughly - a good bottle brush that can reach well inside the teats and bottles is essential. Wash in hot soapy water and rinse well. Rub the teats with a bit of salt inside and out, to remove any unseen residue. Bottles, teats and breast pump parts will need to be sterilised before use at least until baby reaches 1 year old. This is critical as sterilising reaches temperatures that kill pathogenic germs, which cleaning by hand will not achieve. Dishwashers are not suitable for sterilising as they do not reach high enough temperatures and the detergents can be harsh on bottles long-term. Sterilise the feeding equipment by bringing a pot of water to the boil on the stove top and submerge all items fully, simmering for 3 minutes. Alternatively, the Avent or Nuk range of microwave and electric sterilisers are convenient and easy to use, and will kill all pathogenic germs during their cycles. These sterilisers use steam sterilisation based on the hospital method.

Heating Milk Safely.

When heating breast milk to feed your baby, place the bottle in a container of hot water to warm the contents evenly. Alternatively, the Avent or Nuk bottle warmer can be used - these will also heat baby food jars safely. Test the temperature of the milk before feeding your baby by tipping the bottle upside down and letting a few drops fall on the inside of your wrist. The milk should not feel hot, room or body temperature is about right. The inside of your wrist is recommended for testing the temperature, rather than your hand, as the skin on your hand is less sensitive and can withstand heat better.

Avoid using a microwave when possible, microwaves can cause hotspots and uneven heating of the milk. This can be overcome by giving the contents a shake before feeding your baby. However, microwaving breastmilk can kill off some of the essential nutrients found in the milk.

What milk is best?

Breast feeding is recommended for the first 12 months of your baby's life as it provides essential nutrients to help your baby grow, and provides immunity against illness. Sometimes it is not always an option for a mother to fully breast feed because of  medical reasons such as a low milk supply or inverted nipples, or the need to return to work. While there are products available that many have found helpful in breast feeding their baby, if you do need to use an alternative then a suitable age appropriate milk formula is recommended over cows milk. Baby and toddler formula has been especially formulated, while cows milk is low in iron, vitamins and other minerals essential to baby's good growth and well-being.

If you would like more assistance in your breast feeding or bottle feeding requirements, please contact info@miraclebaby.co.nz for experienced advice.