h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Bottle-Feeding - A3512369
Author: Emmily (ACE/Guru) Roses are red, Peas are green, My face is a laugh, But yours is a scream Edited Entries Quiz ~A3470410 - U190758

Submitted as Collaborative Entry, as requested.

Emmily

Thanks for being willing to collaborate on this one!

Here are some thoughts and comments.

In the introduction, this sentence -- "Nowadays new mothers' have the choice to bottle feed their babies with baby formula milk, that has been developed over the years to be near as equivalent in nutrition to breast milk."

Parts here are both grammatically a little confusing and misleading. Instead, I might say:

"Nowadays, new mothers have the choice to bottle feed their babies with infant formula, which has been developed over the years to be much closer to breast milk nutritionally than is cow's milk."

I might also add that the reason cow's milk isn't quite right for babies is that it has too much protein, especially casein.

Formula isn't milk, and a decent amount of formula isn't even milk-based, so I would just refer to it as "infant formula" and not as "formula milk".

The info with the equipment seems very outdated to me, I certainly have never needed to use quite all that to bottle feed.

I would have a section with the different options in bottles and formula --

There are many options for formula -- there is both the powdered kind and the premixed kind to begin with, and then there are soy-based formulas, hypo-allergenic formulas, formulas with extra amino acids, etc. Parents are sometimes misled to believe that a given type of formula has been 'scientifically proven' to have all sorts of health benefits, when the reality is much more fuzzy. For example, while some parents have found that switching to soy-based formulas relieves infant colic, a review of clinical trials studying this showed no significant difference between soy and regular formulas.

There are bottles with drop-in disposable liners, which means that the bottles themselves don't need nearly as much washing. You can pre-fill several of these with the powdered kind of formula at home, and then all you need to take with you is some bottled water to add in -- fill the water to the appropriate line, shake, and serve.

Most bottles are now dishwasher-safe, which makes washing and sterilizing bottles much easier than it would be otherwise.

Bottles are available with a variety of special features, including designs that reduce air inhalation, mimic breastfeeding, or are better for infants with specific conditions such as reflux or cleft palate.

The safest way to heat baby bottles is to run the filled bottle under hot tap water for a little while, and then towel off the outside of the bottle before feeding. Despite misperceptions, infants (especially those 3 months or older) are generally quite fine with drinking bottles that are room temperature rather than actually heated.

There are many documented risks to allowing an infant to go to bed (either at night or for naptime) with a bottle in the crib. The term "baby bottle rot" refers to the common type of tooth decay seen in infants who nurse a bottle in bed, and can lead to considerable problems. Even though an infant's teeth are not permanent, early tooth decay can cause significant pain and interfere with a baby's learning to eat regular food. There is also evidence that infants and toddlers who take a bottle to bed are more likely to have problems with wheezing and ear infections.

Here's a good link for this, by the way --
http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZKBW52R7C.htm?&sub_cat=11

It is also unsafe to prop a bottle in an infant's mouth, as this can lead to choking.

Just as some infants have difficulties nursing, some infants can also have a hard time maintaining suction on a bottle for long enough to finish a feed. This can especially be a problem when babies are very tired, or when there is a developmental delay involved. Often, a slight and gentle wiggle of the bottle back and forth can be enough to restimulate sufficient suction, although this may need to be repeated more than once.

Just as with breastfeeding, positioning can make a big difference for many babies. For infants who tend to spit up more than usual, it can sometimes be helpful to bottle feed them in a semi-upright position (greater than 45 degrees), and to stop for burping every 2-3 ounces.

mikey

I've dealt with some of that, will deal with rest later

I'm writing from a 17 year old, not very good memory, guess it's logical there would have been developements in bottle feeding over the years. looks like I need a trip to the chemist, see what's available now.

Emmily

Here's an interesting link about old baby bottles --

http://www.babybottle-museum.co.uk/

nb: I just pointed out that link because I think it's interesting, not that I think we should link to it from this entry, as it has a number of inaccuracies in the text. The pictures are a riot, though.

This is a good link on choosing from among the current baby bottle options -- it doesn't go into the more specialized lines, but does cover the ones most parents would consider. I think it would be worth including in the entry.

http://babiestoday.com/resources/articles/bestbottle.htm

Oh, and also:

Bottles that are best for formula feeding are not necessarily the bottle that are best for feeding pumped breast milk; some mothers use bottles designed for breastmilk which can attach directly to the pump.

Nipples for bottles are available with a variety of features as well, most notable being the differences in flow-rates. For parents who are using thickened feeds (formula thickened with infant cereal) on their doctor's advice, the nipple aperture sometimes needs to widened a bit with household scissors to provide adequate flow.

(I would probably add a footnote here about thickened feeds -- While some have found that thickened feeds can help with reflux, it's important to consult with your doctor first to ensure that your baby will be getting adequate nutrition. Infant cereal is not as nutritionally balanced as formula, and so the baby can sometimes become sated before receiving adequate nutrition.)

Ok, for all that, are you trying to keep me out of mischief there's plenty to do there.

was surprised that old babies bottles are collectors items.

Mikey, you're in US aren't you, I'm in UK, not sure how many differences between the two re-bottle feeding, but the odd sentence may need to specify UK or US.

What do you think of doing a section on 'Bottle Feeding in the 1980s' and 'Bottle Feeding in 2005' something like that, to show the developements over that time.

Emmily

Hi Mikey

I've made some changes to entry. Removed some, and added some.

Not sure if you meant for me to add your suggestions in paras. as they were, I have in most cases, others just changed a word or two. I've still more from 1st post to add.

>"Bottles are available with a variety of special features, including designs that reduce air inhalation, mimic breastfeeding, or are better for infants with specific conditions such as reflux or cleft palate."

I'm assuming you mean the teats here?

Emmily

Some of the design features are in the nipples/teats, but some are in the bottles themselves -- such as wide-neck bottles, 45 degree angle tilt bottles, and bottles with special valves in the bottom for air flow.

Oh, and with bottles with drop in disposable liners, you also don't have to worry about the air -- because they're able to flatten as they empty, there is no need for extra air to come fill the vacuum.

Ok I'll hopefully go to chemist tomorrow, write down what's available, and what they're called. I'll probably gets some funny looks, standing in shop writing notes.

Emmily

Here, some of the more expensive types of bottles are difficult to find at a drugstore (chemist's), but you see them at places like babies 'r us, and even target -- do y'all have places like that?

not sure, maybe at out of town shopping centre, but not locally. (I think probably not there either)

Locally there's a 'Boots' chemist, and not a very big one and another small chemist.

Was in Tesco earlier this evening, but partner and son weren't impressed with me wanting to look at baby bottles and products.

The US often has 'things' before UK, not sure if they are available here, maybe just my ignorance.

I've got a health clinic nearby, where babies are taken for regular check ups, they're bound to have stacks and pamphlets and booklets about bottle feeding, I'll try there too.

Emmily

What about...what's that shop called? Oh wait there IS a Babies R Us somewhere in the country I'm not sure though. What about Mamas and Papas? Admittedly I've never been in there though....


Sorry I've been lurking guys.

Nah, not near me anyway. This is local out of towner http://www.lakeside.uk.com/ used to be a Mothercare there, that closesd down few years back.

Early Learning Centre used to sell baby stuff, but I think they discontinued baby products, were very expensive.

I think the best 'bet' is the health clinic. Likely to have info. of the latest products, as that's where the companies would aim to get their customers.

Emmily

I've done some research, changed and added under formula heading, you might like to read and comment on. There's still more to add under that heading.

Emmily

"One such company first produced infant formula in 1925..."

Bumbleywhat? You haven't said one such what company?

Also in the first paragraph you used the wrong there (their).

Sorry that's just a quick hop of a change I'm trawling so that when you two are finished it can neatly go through PR quickly.

>"you used the wrong there (their)" Oh Fk

>"One such company first produced infant formula in 1925..."

I'd rather not name the company. advertising, bias, naming only one formula company and not the others,

Emmily

a puzzle for you; should I be using Sterilise or Sterilize

Emmily