Thoroughly wash and dry your hands.
Prepare the bottle of formula and wash and dry your hands again.
Some sleepy newborns may need waking up to feed. (If you are worried because your baby is sleepy and hard to feed, talk to your midwife, doctor or nurse.)
Sit in a comfortable chair with your elbows, arms and back supported.
Your baby needs time for sucking, looking at and listening to you and skin- to-skin contact. Holding your baby while you are feeding him or her is an opportunity to give love and cuddles
Do not leave your baby lying with a bottle to suck on - if babies fall asleep with milk in their mouth, the milk can damage their teeth.
Hold the bottle:
Winding (burping) lets your baby bring up any air swallowed during feeding. If your baby wants to stop feeding too soon, they may need burping before they can go on feeding.
This page last reviewed 22 November 2022.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/feeding-your-baby-infant-formula
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/node/2756
[3] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F1300