Bottle Feeding Preparation
FEEDING YOUR BABY: Breast milk is best for babies. Infant formula is made especially for babies who are not breast fed. Talk to your health professional
before choosing to feed your baby an infant formula. The introduction of infant formula may cause your supply of breast milk to decrease. Once breast feeding
is stopped it can be difficult to start again. The cost of infant formula is significantly more than breastfeeding.
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| Always wash hands before preparing formula
and ensure that the formula is prepared in a clean area. |
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Wash bottles, teats and caps, and knife. Sterilise by boiling for five minutes or
using an approved sterilising agent. (see 'how
to sterilise your feeding equipment' for details).
Note: We recommend
you wash and sterilise all feeding equipment until baby
is at least 12 months old. |
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Boil fresh water and allow to cool
until luke warm.
Note: Boil water
until baby is at least 12 months old if using town supply
water. Bore-water & tank water should be boiled before
use until baby is 18 months old. |
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Read the instructions and check the
amount of water and formula powder required on the feeding
table on the back of pack. |
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Pour the correct amount of previously
boiled water into a sterilised bottle (always add water
BEFORE the powder). |
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Fill the measuring scoop with formula powder and level off, using the back of a sterilised
knife. Take care to add the correct number of scoops to the water in the bottle.
If using a sachet, add water to bottle as above, then tear open sachet or cut with clean scissors and
pour powder into the bottle. |
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Place the teat and cap on the bottle and shake it until the powder dissolves.
We recommend that you prepare only one bottle at a time and
that you prepare it as close as possible to feeding time. |
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Test the temperature of the milk with a few drops on the inside of your wrist.
It should feel just warm, but cool is better than too hot.
Cool under a running cold tap if necessary.
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* You must wash and sterilise all feeding equipment
until baby is at least 12 months old. When baby is older, thorough
washing is sufficient.
Important
- Never add more or less powder to the water than
recommended. This could make your baby sick.
- Never use the scoop of another brand of formula
as the measures may differ.
- Never pack down the powder or use heaped scoops.
- Never use your finger to level the powder as
it may contaminate formula.
- Never add anything else to the formula feed (eg.
tea, sugar, baby cereal).
- Prepare only one bottle at a time.
- Always discard any milk left over at the end
of a feed.
- If you have to prepare a bottle in advance (eg.
for a babysitter), fill the bottle with sterilised water and measure
out the powder (or provide a sachet). Then simply add the powder
to the water when ready to feed.
- If you must make the bottle up, keep it in the
back of the fridge (4oC) for a maximum of 12 hours.
- Infants over the age of six months should be
offered foods in addition to formula.
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