Equipment
Feeding bottles and teats with caps, collars and sealing discs.
A bottle brush and a teat brush.
Kitchen tongs.
A jug with measuring marks (for measuring water to add to the powder).
Sterilising equipment (necessary for the first 6 months), either:
- a large cooking pot (large enough for water to cover everything in it) with a lid
- special sterilising solution (or tablets) and a large plastic container with a lid
- a steam sterilising unit designed for microwave sterilising or an electric steam steriliser
If possible, choose bottles and teats that allow air into the bottle. This makes it easier for your baby to suck out the milk.
Bottles
Bottles with straight sides and wide necks are the easiest to clean. Glass bottles are easier to clean than plastic but break more easily. 'Disposable' bottles have throw-away liners only.
Remember that not all baby bottles have accurate volume lines (measure marks) on them. To check that the lines on your bottles are accurate, look for the standard mark EN14350 on the bottle or packaging, or take your bottles to a pharmacy and ask a staff member to check if the bottles are accurate.
Teats
- newborn babies - one hole in the tip of the teat gives a slow flow to encourage strong sucking
- older babies - more than one hole gives a faster flow
Formula should drip from the teat at about one drop per second when tipped.
Watch the video and see what equipment you need for making your baby's formula
