Bottle feeding: the basics

Bottle feeding 

Whether you are unable to breastfeed or choose bottle feeding for personal reasons, here you will find all the information you need. We explain what formula is, the benefits it offers and discuss the amount of formula your baby needs. Continue reading below.

The benefits of bottle feeding

As parents, you naturally want the very best for your little one. We understand that breastfeeding is a unique and rewarding experience, but we would like to emphasize that bottle feeding is also a great alternative that offers countless benefits. By bottle feeding we mean artificial food that is offered to your baby by bottle.

One of the main advantages of bottle feeding is the ability to share the care of your baby with your partner. Especially at night, bottle feeding can be a precious change, allowing you both to catch those precious hours of sleep. In addition, bottle feeding offers you more freedom as parents. It allows you to get away for a while without worrying about pumping or timing. Remember that every choice you make as a parent is out of love and care for your baby. What matters most is the warmth and love you give your baby, regardless of the feeding method.

Do you have questions about bottle feeding? Not sure if your baby is drinking enough? Or just too much? BabyManager's maternity care professionals are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions via chat or video call. So download the BabyManager app and feel free to ask them!

Infant formula

From 0 to 6 months of age, infant formula is called "complete infant formula". This formula contains all the nutrients your baby needs. All kinds of follow-on milk are advertised in the media, but actually switching to follow-on milk is not necessary. Standard infant formula contains everything your child needs in addition to its solid food from 6 months. If after 6 months your child still takes little or no solid food, it is a good idea to consult the infant welfare office about using follow-on milk.

How much do you bottle-feed your baby?

To ensure that your baby gets the right amount of formula, it is recommended that you follow bottle feeding guidelines. In general, a baby needs about 150 milliliters of formula per kilogram of body weight per day.

For example, if your baby weighs 4 kilograms, he needs about 600 milliliters of bottle feeding per day. That is, for example, 8 bottles of ±75 milliliters.

Keep in mind, however, that these are only general guidelines. Your baby will tell you how often and how much he wants to drink. Your baby may need more or less food. Therefore, listen carefully to your baby's signals. This also depends on several factors. At what term he was born plays a role and also the weight of your baby. A full-term baby with a medium to high birth weight is more likely to have a rhythm of feedings every 3 hours than a baby born early or at a low birth weight. These children will want to drink smaller amounts more often.

Need help or advice on feeding your little one? BabyManager's maternity care professionals are there for you 24/7, even in the wee hours of the morning. So you're never alone. Click here for more information about BabyManager.

Feeding on demand

Whether you bottle-feed or breastfeed, feeding on demand is always an option. And since every baby is unique, it is wise to do so. It means letting your baby drink when he indicates, rather than sticking strictly to a feeding schedule. In doing so, you pay attention to signs of hunger, such as searching behavior and smacking sounds. Of course, you should then also pay attention to is satiety signals, such as relaxation or turning his head away. 

In this way, you can better respond to your baby's needs and encourage self-regulation in your little one. This means your baby learns to recognize when he or she is hungry and when enough is enough, which is a valuable skill for the future.

Unsure about your baby's signals? Feel free to contact our maternity care professionals via the BabyManager app. They are ready to support you day and night.

Bottle feeding schedule

Below is a general guideline for a bottle feeding schedule. Keep in mind that every baby is different and may need more or less food than indicated here. If your baby structurally exceeds the maximum daily amount, it is a good idea to watch his or her drinking behavior at the bottle. For example, if your baby empties the bottle too quickly, he will not get the signal of fullness and will keep asking for more.

*The total amount of feeding at a time consists of a combination of water and powdered milk.

Feeding on demand

Whether you bottle-feed or breastfeed, feeding on demand is always possible. Since every baby is unique, it is wise to do so. It means letting your baby drink when he indicates, rather than sticking strictly to a feeding schedule. In doing so, you pay attention to signs of hunger, such as 'searching behavior' and making sounds. Of course, you should then also watch for is signals of fullness, such as relaxation or turning his head away. The "fullness" signal only comes after about 15-20 minutes, so it is important that your baby does not finish the bottle too quickly. When drinking too quickly, the baby does not reach the fullness point, so he remains "hungry" even though he has had enough. So pause regularly for a burp and make sure your baby is in control of the milk flow. We call this responsive feeding or feeding on demand.

Feeding on demand is takes into account your baby's natural reflexes. This is essential for all babies. A baby should not "get" the bottle, but "take" it. The child takes the bottle, decides how much to drink and when to stop drinking. The baby can regulate the amount of milk better, so less: cramps, spitting up or overfeeding.

Bottle feeding - take these steps:

• Use a long, straight teat with the smallest possible hole (slow flow). This is because the milk will not flow out by itself, at most it will drip a little.
• Hold your baby against you as upright as possible, preferably with skin-to-skin contact.
• The teat is offered at upper lip level, with the bottle held almost horizontally.
• Provoke the bite reflex before letting your baby take the teat (do not nip); tickle the baby with the tip of the teat on the upper lip and move the teat slowly along the skin to the upper lip. The teat can also be stroked along the cheeks towards the mouth.
• When the baby opens his mouth wide let him take the teat. He has to reach for it, so to speak. The baby will take a big bite and suck right away. Without a big bite or when the baby does not suck immediately; take back the pacifier and try to provoke a bite again.
• Let your baby suck on an empty teat briefly before tilting the bottle up.
• Next, hold the bottle as horizontally as possible so that the teat is just filled with milk.
• The lip should be curled up against the base of the teat.
• When baby takes a drinking break, take the bottle and teat back for a moment. Partially or completely, see what works best. A drinking break is normal and it can also mean that the baby has had enough. You will then find that the baby does not want to drink again. Don't force the bottle.
• Make sure the baby does not drink too fast so his sucking needs are met. Baby should take about 20-30 minutes to drink a bottle.
• Alternate left and right feeding.

Bottle feeding: what do you pay attention to?

Noises during drinking: smacking, swallowing air, etc. should not be heard.

• Stress signals during bottle feeding: drinking with hands open, gulping, spilling, worried look, frowning, shortness of breath, turning the head away, when your baby won't look at the bottle giver.
• What to do with baby stress signals: pause, tip the bottle down but leave the teat in the mouth and/or tighten the cap on the bottle for a slower milk flow.

In this way, you can be more responsive to your baby's needs and encourage self-regulation in your little one. This means your baby learns to recognize when he or she is hungry and when enough is enough, which is a valuable skill for the future.

Unsure about your baby's signals? Feel free to contact our maternity care professionals via the BabyManager app. They are ready to support you day and night.

When to stop bottle feeding?

It is generally recommended that you begin introducing solid foods when your baby is about 6 months. In doing so, it is important your baby can bear his or her own head and that he or she shows interest in solid food. 

How long to store formula? 

According to the guidelines, it is safe to keep bottles of formula in the refrigerator (at a temperature of 4°C) for up to eight hours. Outside the refrigerator, the formula should not be kept for more than half an hour. Why is this so important? Bacteria can multiply very quickly. This can be harmful to your little one's health.

A handy tip from our maternity care professionals: make sure you put the bottles in the back of the fridge immediately after preparing them. That way, the milk stays chilled and fresh for your baby the very best.

Questions? BabyManager is there 24/7

For support and advice on caring for your baby, you can always count on our experienced maternity care professionals. They are available to answer all your questions, day and night.

With BabyManager you have the possibility to not only chat and video call, but also have access to an extensive knowledge base with valuable information and videos. This way you always have access to verified information written by our maternity care professionals.