Please Note: Breastfeeding baby until the age of 12 to 18 months is ideal choice; Babies should be bottle-fed only when breastfeeding is not an option.
Nipple Care
Bottle feeding has its own disadvantages in terms of care. Proper care should be taken to see that the hole in the teat is of correct size otherwise baby may not feel comfortable. Too small or too big a size will have its own repercussions. Read on to know how.
What are the problems
of a big hole in the teat
If the hole is too big, the milk
will spurt out rapidly. This will result in the baby taking in too much
milk and choking. Boiling the teat may reduce the size of the opening but
if it does not you will have to discard the teat.
What are the problems
of a small hole in the teat
If the hole is too small, the milk
will not come out easily and it will take a long time for the droplet to
form at the hole in the teat. In this case, the baby will swallow air in
her effort to suck the milk which can cause colic and vomiting after feeds.
A small hole in the teat can be enlarged using a red-hot needle.
How do I ensure that
the hole in the teat is of the correct size
The hole is the right size, if the
milk falls steadily drop by drop when you turn the bottle upside down.
Turn the bottle upside down to check that the hole in the teat is the correct
size.
