There is a new study out by the Archives of Disease in Childhood which indicates that moms aren’t getting enough information regarding proper preparation for bottles of formula.  Many mothers are getting information from sources such as family members and friends instead of from healthcare professionals and child care experts.  This results in a lot of bottle feeding misinformation and mistakes.

Proper bottle preparation can make a huge difference.  With incorrect bottle preparation you run the risk of causing unnecessary gassiness, upset stomachs or even injuring your baby.  There are several common mistakes that are made when parents and child care providers prepare bottles of formula.  Many of these mistakes are the result of misinformation and are easy to fix.

Common Mistake #1:

Heating a bottle of formula in the microwave.  Using the microwave is dangerous in that it can result in pockets of very hot spots in the bottle that could cause injury.

Fix:

You should always heat a baby bottle slowly in a pot of warm water, under a tap of running warm water, or in a specially designed electric bottle warmer.

Common Mistake #2:

Making the bottle with hot tap water instead of using cold water and then heating the bottle afterwards.  Hot tap water is more likely to contain lead.

Fix:

Always choose cold water and let it run for a minute or two before filling the bottle to allow the water that has been sitting in the pipes to run out first (water that has been sitting in the pipes is more likely to contain lead as well).

Common Mistake #3:

Opening a new can of formula straight from the shelf without rinsing off the top.

Fix:

Always wash off the top of the formula can before opening it to get rid of the dirt, dust and bacteria so it doesn’t get into the formula itself.

Common Mistake #4:

Adding extra water to the bottle, which, can dilute the baby’s sodium levels and lead to seizures.

Fix:

Always fill the bottle with the correct amount of water.  Fill the bottle with water first and then add the formula.  The directions on the side of the can of formula will let you know how much water to add.

Common Mistake #5:

Not sterilizing the bottles before use and periodically during the life of the bottle.

Fix:

Always sterilize new bottles before the first use and sterilize them periodically throughout the life of the bottle (if not after every use).

As an expectant or new parent you will be flooded with tips, suggestions and advice.  It is hard to weed through all the advice and know what is advice you can use and what advice contains misinformation or old information and should be avoided.  If you are ever unsure about something don’t be afraid to ask your child’s pediatrician or another healthcare professional.   It is always better to ask, even if you feel like it is a stupid question, than to do the wrong thing that could result in discomfort or even injury to your child.

What sort of tips and advice did you get about bottle feeding that ended up being completely wrong?