Page 105 - MHF-FeedingMinds-final.indd

96 4.1 Milk Feeding
available in the country to which a family is
travelling. Taking at least one unopened can of
powder with them will allow some time in which to
find a supply abroad.
As in the UK, tap water and bottled water should
be boiled for making up a formula feed using
powdered formula. The label on the bottled water
should be checked to make sure that the sodium
level is less than 200 mg/L. Bottled water should be
still and unflavoured.
Storing prepared infant formula is no longer
recommended but there may be times when feeds
need to be prepared in advance. The prepared feeds
must be stored in a refrigerator kept at 5°C or
below. The maximum storage time is 24 hours and
any prepared feed not used after this time should
be discarded.
Warming refrigerated feeds
Refrigerated feeds can be warmed to room
temperature by standing in a jug of hot water for a
few minutes. Microwaving formula feeds is NOT
recommended practice and should be discouraged
because of:
●● ongoing cooking – the milk will continue to
heat after removal from the microwave
●● ‘hot spots’ – hot fluid in the centre of the bottle Solid foods should never be added to a bottle of
may be undetected and scald the infant.
Bottlefeeding Infants
Total fluid requirements for 24 hours are:
Age mL/kg body weight/24
0–2/3 days hours
3/4 days–6 months
7–12 months minimal
150
120
Newborns may take very small volumes of formula.
From day 3 the volume of feeds demanded will
gradually increase to around a total of 150 mL per
kg every 24 hours. The total volume increases as
infants gain weight. As with breastfed babies,
younger infants feed more frequently than older
infants. At each feed infants should be allowed to
regulate their own intake of formula feeds. Parents
should:
●● learn the cues that their infant uses to show he
or she is hungry
●● wait for the infant to open his or her mouth and
accept the feed and never force the teat into the
mouth
●● cuddle their infant and use skin-to-skin contact
when feeding to ensure the same closeness as
when breastfeeding
●● tilt the bottle so there is always milk in the teat
●● allow the infant to pause from time to time
while feeding from a bottle, and to wind him or
her at some stage during the feed to allow a
break before offering more
●● allow their infant to stop feeding when he or she
has had enough rather than encouraging him or
her to finish each bottle, which may lead to
excess weight gain which is a risk factor for
childhood obesity
●● discard any leftover milk at the end of the feed.
milk and infants should never be left alone with a
bottle.
Extra fluid
In exceptionally hot weather formula-fed infants
may become thirsty in between their usual feeds as
the water content of formula feeds does not vary as
during breastfeeding. They can be offered drinks
of cooled, boiled water. Flavoured or sweetened
waters are not suitable.
Introducing a cup
From about 6 months of age a feeding cup can be
introduced and encouraged for milk feeds.
Bottles of milk should be phased out from
around the age of 12 months as toddlers may begin
to associate bottles of milk with comfort and can
become stubborn about giving them up.