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Bottle feeding can be a family occasion. This can be especially helpful for a mother with a newly arrived baby. During this time feeding her child will be a happy though very tiring time. Getting others in your family to help out can be a great help.
Feeding baby is something most fathers really love doing. Just like mom, dad experiences the intense emotional and physical bond between himself and baby. At first, he will probably feel awkward - just as a mother does when she first bottle feeds. But give him time and some encouragement and he'll soon get into the swing of things. Pass on to him the tips that you've learned and, before you know it, he'll be passing on tips to you! When dad feeds his child, just like mom, he's able to distinguish one cry from another, and know exactly how to soothe and feed a hungry baby.
Just about all children are fascinated by the arrival of a new brother or sister. They instinctively want to help mother and to get involved in the rearing of the new baby. Teaching them how to bottle feed is a great way to get them involved. Just remember to be patient when teaching them and always supervise feeding. Here are some tips on how to teach your children to bottle feed baby.
- Choose a calm time when baby is not very hungry. Remember, your older children are going to be excited about feeding their younger sibling, so it's especially important to create a calm environment before you begin.
- Sit the baby of the floor and provide good support.
- Show your child the proper way to hold the baby, emphasizing the need for proper head and neck support. Don't rush; your child is still learning to use and move her own body, never mind learning how to hold an even younger child.
- Encourage the child to offer the baby a bottle; allow time for your infant to adjust to the new feeder.
- Always stay with the child to help and offer encouragement. Feeding can be tiring, so be sure to step in and take over when you notice the signs of fatigue or boredom.
- Encourage her to make eye contact with the baby. This is a great way to calm down both child and baby.
- If the child is old enough, you can help her burp the baby.
- Praise your child for the help she provided.
Make sure other family members help out with the pre- and post-feeding of baby. Teach your children - and partner - on how to prepare formula milk. Most children love to do this, at least at first. Burping your child is also something that others can do. And of course, cleaning the bottle, nipples and baby clothes can be done by anyone.
Without question, getting your family involved in bottle feeding is of great help to a mother. As well as getting some rest, the mother also benefits because others will gain a real appreciation of what effort goes into feeding baby.
Robin O'Brien is founder of a baby bottle feeding website. There you will find help on such topics are what baby formula to use and the advantages of bottle feeding. |
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