2016年10月25日星期二

How to warm your baby bottle?


It's only safe to warm expressed breastmilk or ready-made formula in a bottle, and there are a couple of easy ways to do it:

Fill a jug or bowl with warm water. Place the bottle in the warm water for no more than 15 minutes, as any longer could cause bacteria to develop. The water should be hot enough to heat the bottle, but cool enough so that you can place your hand in it. Seal the bottle with a cap over the teat while it's in the water. Once the bottle is warmed through, shake it to make sure the temperature is even.
Use an electric bottle warmer. It will take around four minutes to six minutes to heat a bottle to the perfect temperature for your baby. You could also get a travel warmer to use when you’re out and about.

It's best not to heat up a bottle of formula you've made from powder earlier in the day. Mix a fresh bottle of formula for each feed. Even if you store formula milk in the fridge, bacteria can develop slowly.

Having said that, there may be times when you just have to make a feed and keep it in the fridge to heat up when needed. This may be the case if you have twins, or if you're out for the day, or if your baby goes to childcare. Read more about storing formula in the fridge safely.

When you’ve warmed your baby’s bottle, test the temperature of the milk by squirting a little on to your inner wrist. This is a reliable guide as the skin on your inner wrist is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on your hands. The milk droplets on your skin should feel warm, not hot.

Don’t warm your baby’s milk in a microwave, because uneven pockets of scalding milk can form. The milk will also continue to heat up for some time after you've taken it out of the microwave. Some babies have had burns to the mouth and throat after drinking microwaved milk. The intense heat produced in a microwave may also destroy some of the nutrients in your baby's milk.

If you haven't time to warm up a bottle, you may find your baby is happy with milk at room temperature.

Read the full article:

How to heat baby milk in the microwave?


Everybody knows you're not supposed to heat breast milk or formula in the microwave. Why not? The top two reasons usually cited are 1) it kills nutrients, which is scientifically unfounded, unless you're leaving it in there for 20 minutes, or 2) it creates hot spots, which can scald baby, which would be slightly plausible if we weren't talking about a liquid, which is going to have convection currents and is going to be thoroughly mixed long before it gets to baby's mouth.

No, the only real reason not to heat milk in the microwave is also the best one: because if you do, your baby's momma will kill you. She read all those reports on the internets and she doesn't believe your scientific mumbo-jumbo about upwelling for a minute.

So what's Daddy to do when baby is crying for food and Mommy's out at yoga? Just running hot water from the tap over the bottle takes forever and wastes a lot of water. It takes a while for the water to get hot and then most of the heat is just running down the drain.

Step 1: Heat some water in a measuring cup.
Grab the nearest Pyrex measuring cup. Put a couple ounces of tap water into it. Use the hot tap but don't wait for it to actually get hot--junior is hungry and time's a' wastin'! Stick the cup in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. You don't need a lot of water, because the bottle is going to displace a lot. You don't need a lot of time because, well, this is what microwaves are made for!
Step 2: Insert bottle.
Stick the bottle in the cup of hot water. Swirl it around. After a few minutes, check the temperature by doing that thing they do on TV and in the movies, which you always wanted to do in real life: squirt some milk on your wrist to see how warm it is.
Step 3: Enjoy!

Read the full article:


2016年10月21日星期五

How to buy bottles?



  When it comes to babies and bottles, there’s no formula for success. Some babies will take any bottle with a smile. Some take to a particular type of nipple or bottle and outright refuse a different brand. And some babies have less colic, gas, and spit-up with certain bottles.
  You may also find that your baby doesn't have a preference, but you probably will if, say, a particular brand of bottles and nipples leaks or has too many little parts to clean.
To start, buy or register for a small selection of bottles and nipples – either a few different bottle and nipple combinations or 2 different brands of newborn starter sets. Ask friends which brands they recommend, and check reviews online. To make it easier to transition a breastfed baby to a bottle, manufacturers have designed various types of bottles and nipples to mimic the feel of nursing. Again, you may have to try a few to find one that works for your baby.
Bottle material: Glass, silicone, plastic, and stainless steel are the most common materials.
  Plastic is light, ubiquitous, shatterproof and inexpensive, but parents worry about chemicals even in BPA-free plastic (read more about BPA in Important Safety Notes, below). Plastic bottles also deteriorate, so they need to be replaced regularly.
  Glass is heavy and can shatter (you can buy silicone sleeves that go over glass bottles to prevent this), but it’s BPA-free. Glass bottles are sold widely and last longer than plastic ones but are more expensive.
  Silicone bottles are light, unbreakable, BPA-free, and often soft but more expensive than plastic and glass. Often silicone bottles aren’t sold in drugstores or grocery stores, which can be inconvenient if a nipple cracks or breaks and you need a quick replacement.
  Stainless steel is light, unbreakable, BPA-free, and lasts for a long time, but like silicone, these bottles can be expensive and hard to find.
  Bottle shape: Bottles come in a wide variety of shapes. Traditional ones are tall and slightly curved or angled. Many bottles on the market claim to be easier for babies to hold, have an ergonomic design, or angled necks to make them easier for you to hold. Wide-necked bottles may make measuring formula easier; they may also not fit into drink-holders on strollers or in cars.
  Disposables: Bottles with drop-in plastic inserts filled with formula or breast milk can be handy while on the go and are easy to clean: just toss the liner and wash the nipple. Each insert can be used only once.
  Venting systems: Many bottles are marketed as preventing colic; they may have straw-like components that fit into your bottle to prevent your baby from ingesting gas-causing air bubbles, or may have venting systems built into the nipple or bottom of the bottle. The jury’s still out on whether these systems work, but many parents firmly believe they do.
Size and number: The number of bottles you'll need to own can range from about 4 to 12, depending on whether you'll primarily be bottle-feeding or breastfeeding. Start with 4-ounce bottles. They're perfect for the small amounts of breast milk or formula newborns eat in one sitting. Shift to 8- or 9-ounce bottles at about 4 months, or whenever your baby's growing appetite makes bigger bottles more practical.

How to Buy Nipples?



Nipples generally come in either latex or silicone varieties. Latex nipples are softer and more flexible, but they don't last as long and some babies are allergic to them. Silicone nipples are firmer and hold their shape longer.
Nipple shape: Traditional nipples are shaped like a bell or dome. Orthodontic nipples, designed to accommodate your child's palate and gums, have a bulb that's flat on the side and rests on your child's tongue. Flat-topped nipples and wide nipples (used with wide bottles) are said to feel more like Mom's breast and may be a good bet if you plan to switch between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
Size and flow: Nipples come in a range of sizes and flow speeds, from slow to fast. Preemies and newborns usually need the smallest size (often called "stage 1"), which has the slowest flow. Babies graduate to larger sizes and a faster flow as they get older, can suck more effectively, and drink more breast milk or formula.
Nipples are marked with the size and a suggested age range. Don't be concerned if your baby doesn't follow these guidelines exactly. You may have to try a few different nipple sizes to find one that works best for your baby. Watch to make sure your baby isn't having a hard time getting milk or getting so much that he's choking or spitting up. And, of course, discuss any feeding concerns with your baby's doctor.
Disposables: Disposable nipples can come in handy when you're traveling or on the go. These are sold prepackaged and sterilized, so they're convenient to pop on a bottle. But they have to be tossed after one use.
Breast milk or formula should drip steadily out of the nipple, not pour out in a stream. This can happen if the flow is too fast for your baby, or if you've been using a nipple for a while and the hole has cracked and gotten larger. Find out more signs it's time to replace nipples and bottles.
Concerns about chemicals in plastic baby bottles – particularly the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) – have driven a renewed interest in glass bottles, as well as sales of alternative materials like silicone and stainless steel. In 2012 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned BPA in the manufacture of all baby bottles.

Though research on BPA continues, the American Academy of Pediatricians recommends parents take precautionary methods to reduce BPA exposure:

Avoid clear-plastic baby bottles or containers with the recycling number 7 and the letters “PC” imprinted on them. Many contain BPA.
Consider using certified or identified BPA-free plastic bottles.
Use bottles made of opaque plastic. These bottles (made of polyethylene or polypropylene) do not contain BPA. You can also look for the recycle symbols with the number 2 or 5 in them.
Because heat may cause the release of BPA from plastic, do not boil polycarbonate bottles, heat them in the microwave, or wash them in the dishwasher.
Inspect bottles regularly to make sure they’re free of cracks that can harbor bacteria. Sticky or discolored nipples can be a sign of deterioration, while cracked nipples can be bitten or chewed off to become a choking hazard.
Baby-bottle recalls are infrequent but do occur. Use BabyCenter’s Product Recall Finder to see if your bottles have been the subject of a recall.

Guide to Firsts: Giving your baby a bottle



Whether you're formula feeding or pumping breast milk, get tips on preparing and giving your baby's first bottle.The follow is the guide to feeding your baby by using baby feeding bottle.

Start clean

Wash or sterilize bottles and nipples as directed on the packaging before your first feeding.

Heat things up

Use a bottle warmer or bowl of warm water (not a microwave) to heat breast milk or formula. Test on inner wrist before feeding.

Or try it cold

You can also try serving the bottle at room temperature, or even cold – some babies like it this way.

Get cozy

Choose a comfortable place to sit with your baby, and have a burp cloth on hand.

Support your baby

Use your arm or a pillow to keep your baby propped up slightly while you hold the bottle with the opposite hand.

Take burbing breaks

TIf your baby gets fussy during the feeding, pause and see if gentle burping helps.

Try, try again

If your baby is used to nursing, the bottle may not be a hit at first. Don't force the issue, but keep trying every day.

How to Buy Bottles and Nipples?


When it comes to babies and bottles, there’s no formula for success. Some babies will take any bottle with a smile. Some take to a particular type of nipple or bottle and outright refuse a different brand. And some babies have less colic, gas, and spit-up with certain bottles. (Many bottles are designed to prevent these feeding problems by venting air from the more effectively.) You may also find that your baby doesn't have a preference, but you probably will if, say, a particular brand of bottles and nipples leaks or has too many little parts to clean.
  To start, buy or register for a small selection of bottles and nipples – either a few different bottle and nipple combinations or 2 different brands of newborn starter sets. Ask friends which brands they recommend, and check reviews online.To make it easier to transition a breastfed baby to a bottle, manufacturers have designed various types of bottles and nipples to mimic the feel of nursing. Again, you may have to try a few to find one that works for your baby.
What to look for when buying
Bottle material: Glass, silicone, plastic, and stainless steel are the most common materials.
Plastic is light, ubiquitous, shatterproof and inexpensive, but parents worry about chemicals even in BPA-free plastic (read more about BPA in Important Safety Notes, below). Plastic bottles also deteriorate, so they need to be replaced regularly.
Glass is heavy and can shatter (you can buy silicone sleeves that go over glass bottles to prevent this), but it’s BPA-free. Glass bottles are sold widely and last longer than plastic ones but are more expensive.
Silicone bottles are light, unbreakable, BPA-free, and often soft but more expensive than plastic and glass. Often silicone bottles aren’t sold in drugstores or grocery stores, which can be inconvenient if a nipple cracks or breaks and you need a quick replacement.
Stainless steel is light, unbreakable, BPA-free, and lasts for a long time, but like silicone, these bottles can be expensive and hard to find.
Nipples
Nipple material: Nipples generally come in either latex or silicone varieties. Latex nipples are softer and more flexible, but they don't last as long and some babies are allergic to them. Silicone nipples are firmer and hold their shape longer.
Nipple shape: Traditional nipples are shaped like a bell or dome. Orthodontic nipples, designed to accommodate your child's palate and gums, have a bulb that's flat on the side and rests on your child's tongue. Flat-topped nipples and wide nipples (used with wide bottles) are said to feel more like Mom's breast and may be a good bet if you plan to switch between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.
Size and flow: Nipples come in a range of sizes and flow speeds, from slow to fast. Preemies and newborns usually need the smallest size (often called "stage 1"), which has the slowest flow. Babies graduate to larger sizes and a faster flow as they get older, can suck more effectively, and drink more breast milk or formula.
Nipples are marked with the size and a suggested age range. Don't be concerned if your baby doesn't follow these guidelines exactly. You may have to try a few different nipple sizes to find one that works best for your baby. Watch to make sure your baby isn't having a hard time getting milk or getting so much that he's choking or spitting up. And, of course, discuss any feeding concerns with your baby's doctor.

2016年9月25日星期日

How to Choose a Safe and All-Natural Teether for Your Baby?



  Who knows choosing a teether for your little one’s aching gums could be so complicated?Kaqiu baby manufacture is a professional manufacture, producing baby feeding bottle,baby milk bottle,baby teethers, tableware,baby cup and so on. I had no idea when I started the search for a teething product that I’d uncover so many options—some green, some not so green and some downright unsafe. Here’s what I found.
  BPA or bisphenol-A is a plastics chemical that mimics estrogen and disrupts the body’s hormonal systems. It’s particularly harmful for pregnant women, babies and young kids. Though most regulatory bodies, including the FDA, will tell you BPA is safe in the small quantities that appear in plastic products, many companies have chosen to produce and market BPA-free plastics. Excellent! Except for one small detail: Many companies simply replace BPA with BPS — bisphenol-S — which is just as toxic, if not more toxic, than BPA. Bottom line? Just because a product is touted as BPA-free doesn’t mean it’s safe.
  PVC or polyvinyl chloride is the third most common plastic in the world — and also the most toxic. It’s bad stuff, and you definitely don’t want it in something your kids will put in their mouths.
  Phthalates are chemicals added to plastics to make them soft and supple. (PVC is actually hard and brittle so to make something like a squeezy toy would require the addition of phthalates.) Phthalates don’t bond to plastic, though, so they leach out over time. Babies who suck on teethers containing phthalates will be ingesting a known carcinogen. Baby Center has an excellent list of phthalate names so you can check labels.
  Having uncovered all of that information, I felt I could better assess whether something like this silicone banana teether was safe . According to the manufacturer, it’s free of BPA,made of premium food grade, durable silicone that is FDA approved. BPA, PVC, Phthalate Free. No toxic gel inside! http://kaqiubaby.com/banana-silicone-teether.html
  In my search for a safe teething chew, I found a lot of products touted as “all natural rubber” or “100% natural rubber.” Natursutten and Hevea are two of the better known companies that make a range of rubber teethers, soothers and bath toys. They’re not plastic so don’t have all the chemicals that make plastics so problematic — but they do contain latex proteins. A small percentage of the population has an allergy to latex, and latex allergies can develop from frequent and prolonged exposure.
  While I didn’t find anyone making a direct link between chewing on a rubber teether and a child later developing a latex allergy, I did find at least one mom who felt the risk was enough for her to avoid rubber teethers for her baby. Whether you consider rubber an acceptable material for a teething chew will depend on your situation, including existing allergies in your household.
  By the way, there’s a hypoallergenic type of rubber called guayule, which is just now starting to come into greater production. It’s currently being used to make gloves and other medical products for those with a latex allergy. But as far as I know, there are no baby products made with guayule yet.
  Silicone is a type of rubber but one that doesn’t come with concerns about allergies. Medical-grade silicone is considered hypoallergenic and therefore safe for babies. So cute teethers like this silicone.http://kaqiubaby.com/Grape-Silicone-Teether-Baby.html

Is Silicone Safe?



  Is silicone safe? It seems like so many things are made with silicone. Are we going to find out in a year that it’s not safe?
  We believe silicone to be a safe alternative to plastics, right? I mean, silicone is everywhere: pacifiers, baby bottle nipples, teething toys, storage jars, freezer trays and more. And our babies are sucking on these products and for long periods of time. “Are we going to find out in a year that it’s not safe?” is an eyebrow-lifting question.
  We contacted the Consumer Product Safety division of Heath Canada and think Baby founder Kevin Brodwick, to find out more about tested silicone safety. Additionally we had contacted a very reputable on-line retailer who specializes in silicone products for babies as being a safe alternative to plastics but never heard anything back from them, even after several emails.
   Silicone is an”inert, synthetic compound”according to Wikipedia and that seems to be a safe alternative to plastics. But is this true?  Frederick S. vom Saal, Curators’ Professor/Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia stated to us that silicone is NOT INERT if it gets into the body. Hmmm. Has silicone really been tested and proven safe for our babies and children to suck on and teethe with?
  SafBaby: We are very curious about the tested safety of silicone for our babies and children. These days there are so many products (pacifiers, bottle nipples, toys, etc.) made from silicone. It seems to be a safer alternative to plastics, but we are curious to know if there have been any studies that have measured showing what leaches off baby products during use.

2016年9月9日星期五

How We Choose Our Best Picks?

 Babies usually feed on bottles until at least one year old. That’s when the American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s okay to give your child cow’s milk. However, many breastfeeding moms continue to nurse well into the second year. Also, you’ll likely want to introduce your child to sippy cups, used to transition kids from bottles to regular cups, between one and two years of age.
Parents prefer different bottle materials for different reasons:
Glass
Sturdy and long-lasting but also heavy, typically more expensive than other models, and can shatter easily.
Stainless Steel
Extremely strong but also makes it difficult to measure how much liquid is actually stored within a bottle.
Plastic
Polypropylene, the hard plastic typically used in bottles, is lightweight and virtually unbreakable but can wear out faster. After health concerns rose a few years ago, plastic bottles are now required to be free of a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). So while any bottle currently on the market should be BPA-free, it’s best to pass on any hand-me-downs.
  The glass bottle is a great little bottle that is easy for parents to use and easy for most babies to latch on to. We like that this body has an eco-healthy borosilicate glass body that is thermal and shock resistant. The silicone sleeve makes it easy for baby to grip and offers some protection from drops and accidental throwing. This bottle is easy to clean, easy to assemble, has limited parts and a nipple that didn't collapse and didn't seem to contribute to air ingestion. Babies were able to hold this bottle easily despite it being heavier, thanks to the grippy sleeve and babies in our testing had no difficulty latching onto the nipple even though it is on the narrow side and one of the least breast like in this review. When baby is ready to move on from bottles, a sippy cup lid can be purchased to prolong the life of the bottle body. There is much to like and not much to dislike about this simple and cool looking bottle.      
  Some babies will take to just about any bottle whether they've experienced the breast or not, but many babies have difficulties with new bottles and nipples causing frustration for parents and baby alike. With so many bottle options on the market, it isn't as simple as picking one off the shelf and throwing it in your cart. What if baby likes a wider more breast like nipple? What if you have decided to limit baby's exposure to plastic? What if baby is prone to gas and colic? Knowing which bottle might be your best bet given all the different shapes, sizes, materials, vents, valves and nipples that today's selection of baby bottles has to offer can be a daunting task. We considered 30 of the most popular bottles on the market before choosing 9 to test side-by-side.

3 Places Not To Leave Your Baby Alone

Now, most of these warnings make sense when some parents out there fail to apply common sense. Else the parental instinct is enough to let one know when or when not to leave one’s baby unattended. Otherwise, you need to have the commandments chalked out by your grandmother, mother or other expert parents if you are too preoccupied with managing other children of yours.

1. You don’t want a Humpty-Dumpty of your child:

Your toddler falling from five feet height is the number one woe. We know how babies are evolving. They attempt doing things you can’t imagine of their age. Don’t be surprised if a one-year-old can indeed climb over your dining table. So if you are not watching, your baby might as well try alighting with no support – he is too fast for you to come and save him in time – much like a silverfish. Hanging on to him under all circumstances, even if it becomes one of the most tiring of the jobs, makes sense. So, taking a chance by leaving him on the couch while you want to check the oven, is a total no-no.

2. There’s nothing worse than leaving your baby in its bathtub:

Whoever told you that your baby would be fine in the bathtub while you are away even for a moment? For one, you baby might not be able to balance itself in water. Do you know something called buoyancy of water? If you have a toddler who can sit in the tub, you will still fool yourself into thinking that he can take care of himself. What about the suds? Ingesting chemicals of any sort or getting soap in the eyes is quite an unwelcome thing.

3. Letting your baby in the vicinity of choking hazards:

Why don’t you just stitch those stuffed toys when you know that the cotton inside keeps showing up? If you can’t, then it might be ideal to dispose of the toy. I often wonder how mothers can keep stuff like cotton, playdough, paints and other hazards – both chemical and non-chemical in nature – in the proximity of their babies.

2016年9月2日星期五

Do you know how much nutrition the baby has had through bottle feeding?


Bottle feeding lets me know how much nutrition the baby has had. Moms who bottle-feed, whether using expressed breast milk or anything else, should be aware that while artificial feeding may seem to be a very accurate measure of volume consumed, in fact it is often not. Bottle-fed infants more often regurgitate some quantity of a feed, or get a less than perfect balance of fore and hind milk than they might if feeding directly from the breast. If a substance other than breastmilk is used, the increased metabolic workload for the baby, lower digestibility of nutrients and increased waste substantially dilute the benefit of a feed, although it is more easily measured.
It is simple to bottle-feed safely.
Bottle-feeding caregivers face certain challenges in feeding a baby safely. 
Wash hands before handling bottles or feeding baby.
Wash bottles and nipples/teats with hot water and soap, and rinse well. Some sources recommend sterilization of all feeding equipment, particularly bottle nipples/teats.
If infant formula is used:
Wash, rinse, and dry the top of the formula can before you open it. Make sure that all equipment used has been thoroughly cleaned: can opener, measuring cups/spoons, mixing container, etc.
Lot numbers should be kept for any infant formula or bottled water fed to the baby, so that parents can determine whether the product was subject to a recall.
For powdered formula, a clean source of water must be available, free from bacteria. If tap water is used, the caregiver must decide whether to boil the water to eliminate bacteria (which may concentrate any heavy metals in the water), or to use unboiled water. Because powdered infant formula is not sterile, it should be mixed with water that is at least 70°C/158°F to kill any harmful bacteria that may be present in the formula (to reduce the risk of infection, do not mix with cooled water–even if it is bottled or has already been boiled). Cool formula before feeding to baby.
Quantities the baby will need should be carefully estimated, since unused formula must be discarded after the feed.
If you are using both breastmilk and infant formula during the same feed, it’s best not to mix them in the same bottle. This is simply to avoid wasting breastmilk when baby does not finish the bottle (since it contains formula, contents must be discarded at the end of the feed). Feed the breastmilk, then follow with formula.
Additional resources
There are a number of options for feeding baby when you are unable to directly breastfeed-a bottle is only one of them. If your baby is older than 4-6 months old, consider going straight to a cup. If your baby is younger than 3-4 weeks old, consider alternative feeding methods for a couple of reasons:
Regular use of a bottle instead of breastfeeding can interfere with mom’s efforts to establish a good milk supply
Bottle use also increases baby’s risk of nipple or flow preference
One study has shown that babies fed by bottle (whether the contents are breastmilk or formula) tend to gain too much weight.

2016年9月1日星期四

Step by step for baby bottle feeding


If you've recently decided to bottlefeed your newborn, you're probably full of questions about formula preparation, sanitizing utensils, feeding positions, and burping techniques. Here are seven steps for successfully bottlefeeding your baby.
1. Make sure all bottles, nipples, and other utensils are clean. If the water in your home is chlorinated, clean the utensils in your dishwasher or wash them in hot tap water with dishwashing detergent and then rinse them in hot tap water. If you have well water or nonchlorinated water, either place the utensils in boiling water for five to 10 minutes or use a process called terminal heating.
In terminal heating you clean, but do not sterilize, the bottles in advance. You then fill them with the prepared formula and cap them loosely. Next, the filled bottles are placed in a pan with water reaching about halfway up the bottles, and the water is brought to a gentle boil for about 25 minutes.
2. Read the directions. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions exactly for the formula type you choose. Too much water and your baby won't get the calories and nutrients she needs; too little water and the high concentration of formula could cause diarrhea or dehydration.
3. Prepare the formula. Bring the water you plan to use in the formula to a boil for approximately one minute. Then add it to the formula powder. If you're preparing this in advance, be sure to store it in the refrigerator. If the formula is left out of the refrigerator for longer than one hour or if you don't use refrigerated formula within 24 hours, throw it out.
4. Warm the refrigerated formula. Refrigerated formula doesn't necessarily have to be warmed up for your baby, but most infants prefer it at least at room temperature. The easiest way to warm refrigerated or frozen milk is to place the container in a pan of water on the stove at low heat and rotate it frequently. Microwave ovens should not be used for heating bottles; this can overheat the milk in the center of the container. Even if the bottle feels comfortably warm to your touch, the superheated milk in the center can scald your baby's mouth. Also, the bottle itself can explode if left in the microwave too long.
If you warm a bottle or use it immediately after terminal heating, test it in advance to make sure it's not too hot for your baby. The easiest way to test the temperature is to shake a few drops on the inside of your wrist.
5. Place your baby in a feeding position. Cradle her in a semi-upright position and support her head. Don't feed her lying down -- formula can flow into the middle ear, causing an infection. To prevent your baby from swallowing air as she sucks, tilt the bottle so that the formula fills the neck of the bottle and covers the nipple.
6. Take note of your baby's intake. The pediatrician will probably ask you how much your baby has eaten, so be prepared to answer the question. Your newborn will probably take between two and four ounces per feeding during his first few weeks (during the first few days, he may take less than an ounce at feedings), and will probably be hungry every two to four hours. It's best to feed your baby on demand. Don't encourage your baby to finish the bottle if he's not interested. And if he's still sucking enthusiastically when the bottle is empty, offer him more.
7. Burp your baby. Babies get fussy and cranky when they swallow air during feedings. This happens more often with bottlefed infants, though breastfed infants can also swallow air. To prevent a tummy full of air, burp your baby frequently -- after every two or three ounces of formula. If your baby doesn't burp after a couple of minutes of trying, resume feeding. Here are the three best positions:
Over the shoulder: Drape your baby over your shoulder and firmly pat or rub her back.
On the lap: Sit your baby upright, lean her weight forward against the heel of your hand, and firmly pat or rub her back.
Lying down: Place baby stomach-down on your lap and firmly rub or pat her back.

2016年8月27日星期六

Step by step for baby bottle feeding

                
If you've recently decided to bottlefeed your newborn, you're probably full of questions about formula preparation, sanitizing utensils, feeding positions, and burping techniques. Here are seven steps for successfully bottlefeeding your baby.
1. Make sure all bottles, nipples, and other utensils are clean. If the water in your home is chlorinated, clean the utensils in your dishwasher or wash them in hot tap water with dishwashing detergent and then rinse them in hot tap water. If you have well water or nonchlorinated water, either place the utensils in boiling water for five to 10 minutes or use a process called terminal heating.
In terminal heating you clean, but do not sterilize, the bottles in advance. You then fill them with the prepared formula and cap them loosely. Next, the filled bottles are placed in a pan with water reaching about halfway up the bottles, and the water is brought to a gentle boil for about 25 minutes.
2. Read the directions. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions exactly for the formula type you choose. Too much water and your baby won't get the calories and nutrients she needs; too little water and the high concentration of formula could cause diarrhea or dehydration.
3. Prepare the formula. Bring the water you plan to use in the formula to a boil for approximately one minute. Then add it to the formula powder. If you're preparing this in advance, be sure to store it in the refrigerator. If the formula is left out of the refrigerator for longer than one hour or if you don't use refrigerated formula within 24 hours, throw it out.
4. Warm the refrigerated formula. Refrigerated formula doesn't necessarily have to be warmed up for your baby, but most infants prefer it at least at room temperature. The easiest way to warm refrigerated or frozen milk is to place the container in a pan of water on the stove at low heat and rotate it frequently. Microwave ovens should not be used for heating bottles; this can overheat the milk in the center of the container. Even if the bottle feels comfortably warm to your touch, the superheated milk in the center can scald your baby's mouth. Also, the bottle itself can explode if left in the microwave too long.
If you warm a bottle or use it immediately after terminal heating, test it in advance to make sure it's not too hot for your baby. The easiest way to test the temperature is to shake a few drops on the inside of your wrist.
5. Place your baby in a feeding position. Cradle her in a semi-upright position and support her head. Don't feed her lying down -- formula can flow into the middle ear, causing an infection. To prevent your baby from swallowing air as she sucks, tilt the bottle so that the formula fills the neck of the bottle and covers the nipple.
6. Take note of your baby's intake. The pediatrician will probably ask you how much your baby has eaten, so be prepared to answer the question. Your newborn will probably take between two and four ounces per feeding during his first few weeks (during the first few days, he may take less than an ounce at feedings), and will probably be hungry every two to four hours. It's best to feed your baby on demand. Don't encourage your baby to finish the bottle if he's not interested. And if he's still sucking enthusiastically when the bottle is empty, offer him more.
7. Burp your baby. Babies get fussy and cranky when they swallow air during feedings. This happens more often with bottlefed infants, though breastfed infants can also swallow air. To prevent a tummy full of air, burp your baby frequently -- after every two or three ounces of formula. If your baby doesn't burp after a couple of minutes of trying, resume feeding. Here are the three best positions:
Over the shoulder: Drape your baby over your shoulder and firmly pat or rub her back.
On the lap: Sit your baby upright, lean her weight forward against the heel of your hand, and firmly pat or rub her back.
Lying down: Place baby stomach-down on your lap and firmly rub or pat her back.

Types of baby bottles


Here are the major types of baby bottles to consider. Many allow you to use nipples with varying flow rates, so you can change the nipple as your baby grows but not the bottle. In some cases you can also use nipples from one brand on a bottle from a different manufacturer.
Standard Bottles
There are two basic sizes of this classic shape with straight or slightly curved sides: 4 or 5 ounces for infants and 8 or 9 ounces for older babies, in glass or plastic, including non-polycarbonate plastic. Some brands are available in 7-ounce or 11-ounce sizes as well.
Pros: These bottles are easy to fill and hold, can be used repeatedly, and allow you to accurately gauge formula amounts. They can also be simple to clean. Most breast pumps and baby-bottle warmers are designed to be used with standard bottles, although you can easily transfer pumped breast milk from a standard bottle to a disposable.
Cons: Some bottles have a valve on the bottom and vents in the nipple that manufacturers claim minimize air intake during feeding. But in our previous research, we have found no independent evidence that such designs actually minimize gas in a baby's tummy.
Angle-Neck Bottles
These bottles are bent at the neck, making them easier for you to hold in a comfortable position.
Pros: Their shape causes formula or breast milk to collect at the bottle's nipple end, so your baby is less likely to swallow air, according to manufacturers. The shape may work well for feeding your baby while she lies semi-upright, a position that may help prevent fluid from collecting in her ear canals, which can lead to ear infections. One type has a vent at the removable bottom of the bottle that is designed to keep air out of the liquid so your baby will drink virtually bubble-free.
Cons: Angle-neck bottles can be awkward to fill. You must hold them sideways or use a special funnel to pour in liquid.
Wide Bottles
Some baby bottles have a wide neck, and they're slightly shorter and broader than standard bottles. Some brands offer them in plastic or in both plastic and glass. At least one type we found can be used with a variety of nipples.
Pros: Manufacturers claim that wide-neck bottles and wide nipples feel more breast-like to babies and are a good choice for "combo moms," those who switch back and forth from breast-feeding to bottle-feeding. Wide bottles are available in 4-, 5-, 8-, and 9-ounce sizes and come in glass and in plastic made without BPA, in angled or straight sides, and with or without bottom venting. Wide nipples are available in slow, medium, fast flow, and Y-cut (a nipple with a cross-cut opening.)
Cons: You might pay more for a wide plastic bottle compared with a standard plastic bottle, both made without BPA. And even with a wider feel, there's no guarantee that your baby will take to this style of bottle and nipple. But it's worth a try, especially for "combo moms."
Bottles with Disposable Liners
With these bottles, a disposable plastic pouch, or liner, fits inside a rigid outer holder, called a nurser. The top edge of the liner fits over the nurser's rim. You pour in formula or breast milk and hold the liner in place by fastening the lid (a nipple and bottle ring). The liner collapses as your baby drinks, reducing the tendency for air bubbles to form. Some brands that make nurser systems claim their liners are BPA-free. Liners are available in different sizes, such as 4-ounce and 8-ounce.
Pros: Collapsible liners are designed to prevent air from collecting as your baby sucks. Cleanup is easy: You just remove the liner, wash the nipple, and you're done.
Cons: You'll need to buy liners continually, which adds to the cost.
Natural-Flow Bottles
Natural-flow bottles have a two-piece straw-like vent system in the center of the bottle, designed to eliminate the vacuum that can form when a baby sucks, so there are no air bubbles, reducing the possibility of colic and gas. There are plastic and glass baby bottles with this feature.
Pros: The design may just work.
Cons: Compared with other bubble-reducing bottles, such as angle-neck models, these have an extra piece or two to wash, and the straws can be hard to clean. You'll need a tiny brush, which comes with the bottles. Replacement brushes are available where baby bottles are sold. Some are available in BPA-free plastic and glass.
Premium Bottles
These eye-catching bottles are often characterized by their unique design.
Pros: The nipple and bottle come as a unit, so there are fewer pieces to clean and keep track of.
Cons: The different-sized bottles and nipples can come in various flow rates such as newborn, slow, medium, and fast flow. You change bottles to change the flow, so at a higher price per bottle, stocking up will cost you a bundle, although you might be able to find them for less if you shop around.
Glass Bottles
Manufacturers are offering lots of choices in glass bottles. Some people prefer glass, especially if they are concerned about BPA or because they think glass is easier on the environment than plastic when recycled. Some manufacturers offers bottles in glass or plastic. Some manufacturers offer a sleeve, which helps contain the glass if it shatters.
Stainless Steel Bottles
Some manufacturers make stainless-steel baby bottles, but they can be pricey.

2016年8月18日星期四

Global and Chinese Baby Bottle Sterilizers Industry - 2016

This report 'Global and Chinese Baby Bottle Sterilizers Industry - 2016 ' deeply studied the current state of Baby Bottle Sterilizers industry. Chinese market is also learned as a focus. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Baby Bottle Sterilizers manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.
Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and Chinese major industry players in detail. The company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and 2011-2016 market shares for each manufacturers are presented in this part.
Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and Chinese total market of Baby Bottle Sterilizers industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and Chinese import/export. Furthermore, the total market is divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates 2016-2021 market development trends of Baby Bottle Sterilizers industry. At last, the analyst of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and current market dynamics is carried out as well.

Baby Bottle Campaigns: How to Stop a Bad Message & Support a Good Cause

Seldom do good causes make me cringe. This one had me not only cringing, but even drawing back and shrinking down in my pew. When the church’s guest speaker explained “we’d like you to take one of these beautiful baby bottles home, fill it with spare change and other donations throughout the week, and then bring it back next Saturday to benefit mothers and babies in need,” my stomach sank. As a nurse who has dedicated years of my life’s work to supporting mothers in breastfeeding, seeing a baby bottle used as the symbol for babies in need didn’t sit well with me. And hearing the words “beautiful” and “bottle” in the same sentence definitely triggered my cringe-shrink mechanism!

Only moments later, the woman continued, “… and we use the money to buy cribs and layettes and formula for the babies.” I sank even lower in my pew and muttered, perhaps a little too loudly, “This is outrageous.”

Baby = Bottle? Not So!

Everyone wants to help the babies, and “baby bottle campaigns” seem to be spreading. As far as I can tell from a quick Google search, such fundraisers are usually sponsored by religion-based organizations—but with “how to” pages popping up around the Internet, they’re likely to spread further. This is not the first time I’ve encountered one. This time, the pitch was made at the close of worship at the church I attend in Virginia; last year, I heard it at my mother’s church hundreds of miles away, outside of Rochester, New York.

Last year, I snagged the church secretary after the service and sputtered, “It isn’t responsible to promote bottles as the symbol for babyhood. And it certainly isn’t responsible to promote formula!” The secretary, who knows me well, said, “Marie, I get what you’re saying, but we can’t hand church-goers a breast as a container for donations!”

Although her response got a chortle out of me, it didn’t address my primary concern: That when we use bottles as a symbol of babies, we perpetuate the idea that babies need bottles. And formula. In fact, the argument could be made that it’s babies in need who need breastfeeding most of all! (That’s why WIC now focuses a lot of its effort on breastfeeding support.)

Fight the Message, But Do Good

At my home church in Virginia, I decided to take a more diplomatic approach to the problem. Rather than take my concerns to the church staff, I decided to talk to the guest speaker directly. As I walked towards her, she reached out to hand me a bottle. (I felt so repulsed by the bottle coming towards me, I could feel myself recoil with a half step backwards.)

Politely but firmly, I said, “No, I am not taking the bottle, but I thought perhaps I could offer my services.” She directed me to the appropriate web site and phone number. I admit I don’t have a complete plan, but I do plan to contact them. Here’s how:

Combating the Baby Bottle Campaigns

Contact the sponsoring organization. It appears to me that there are several—or perhaps many—sponsoring organizations. This seems to be propagating as a grassroots fundraiser for various organizations. I’ll start with the local one—the one that reached out to me at church and has an active campaign going on this week. I’ll probably stick with a traditional letter sent by postal mail, but e-mail does have the benefit of allowing me to cc: a local media contact, if I want to draw more attention to my concerns.
Start the letter with a positive note. Applaud the organization’s efforts to help mothers and babies.
Express a willingness to help. I could cheerfully donate money, but I absolutely refuse to put it into a baby bottle, or to knowingly give it to a group that will use it to purchase formula. I knit, so I’m happy to donate a lovely layette, or maybe a lovely shawl for the mother. I can certainly volunteer my time. I am fully qualified to educate pregnant or new mothers about breastfeeding, or to do some train-the-trainer courses for those who currently work with the mothers and babies. I’m open to other suggestions, too—as long as they don’t endorse formula, explicitly or implicitly.
Build awareness in the Board of Directors. They need to hear that the cost of a bottle and a can of formula is small in comparison to the costs of not breastfeeding for the mothers and babies. The health, nutritional, economical, and emotional benefits (for lack of a better word) for breastfeeding are well-established, and I’ll highlight a few, such as fewer ear infections and gastrointestinal illness for the baby, lower health care costs, and reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer for the mother. A nonprofit Board of Directors should use its resources wisely, and buying formula is difficult to justify.
Offer an alternative. For decades, since infant formula overtook breastfeeding as the leading way to feed U.S. babies, its makers have equated bottles with babies. The symbology is hard to shake. But there are many alternatives available. How about pastel treat boxes adorned with dye-cut baby footprints? Every baby has footprints, and there’s no implication for infant feeding with little boxes!