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Bottle-feeding

Important Notice

Breastfeeding is best for your baby and provides many benefits. Good maternal nutrition is important for the preparation and maintenance of breastfeeding. Introducing partial bottle-feeding could negatively affect breastfeeding and a decision not to breastfeed is difficult to reverse. An infant milk should only be used on the advice of a health professional and the manufacturer’s instructions for use should be followed carefully. Improper use of an infant milk or inappropriate foods or feeding methods may present a health hazard. The social and financial implications of using infant milks should be taken into consideration.

Deciding to use formula milk

• Breastmilk is the perfect food for babies, created naturally to build strong healthy babies with good immune systems.
• Some women choose not to breastfeed, others find that they aren’t able to.
• Scientists and medical experts have spent years developing high-quality, nutritional baby formula milks.
• Deciding which formula is right for your family means you need to take into consideration your baby’s: health, age, and dietary needs, as well as each formula’s cost and preparation time.

Why Aptamil?

• Aptamil range of milks contains key nutrients such as carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals at the right amounts to meet the specific requirements of growing babies.
• The complete range of Aptamil Formulas contain a unique blend of GOS/FOS prebiotics, similar to those found in breastmilk
• There are also special types of formula manufactured for premature babies.

Babies with allergies to milk

• If your baby has a cow’s milk intolerance or an allergy she should be referred to a dietitian.
• The dietitian may recommend a specialised formula, such as a protein hydrolysate.
• These types of feed are based on a cow’s milk formula which has been specially modified for babies with an allergy or intolerance.

Feeding guidelines

Below is a suggested feeding schedule. However, you shouldn’t worry if you can’t persuade your baby to follow a rigid schedule in the early weeks. Simply try offering your baby the bottle every two to three hours, or when your baby seems hungry. And don’t try and force her to eat if she doesn’t seem hungry. If you’re concerned about your baby’s feeds or weight, speak to your Public Health Nurse or GP.