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Bottle Feeding 101: Everything You Need to Know

by Erin Dower

bottle feeding a baby

In This Article:

How should I position my baby?

When it comes to preventing colic, spit-up, and gas, the positioning of your baby and the bottle during feedings is more important than your choice of bottle or nipple, according to the AAP. When it's feeding time, hold your baby with her head supported in the fold of your elbow. She should be in a semi-upright position, about a 45-degree angle so that her head and tummy are noticeably a bit elevated. Placing a pillow under your arm can help you prop her up.

The angle of the bottle is also important: Hold it so that the nipple area is always full of breast milk or formula so that your baby is not swallowing air. During your baby's first few months of life, she'll need to be burped at least once mid-bottle. Babies should always be burped after a bottle is finished to promote better digestion.

Don't feed your baby while she's lying down because this increases the risk of choking and milk running into the tubes in her ears, causing inner ear infections. Never put your baby to bed with a bottle because it contributes to tooth decay and can also be a choking risk.



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