Bottle Feeding Baby Without Guilt

September 04, 2006 by
Kori Rodley Irons  
Kori Rodley Irons
Kori Rodley Irons
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Baby Feeding  |  Feeding Baby  |  Bottle  |  Infant Feeding  |  Nipple Rings

How to Bottle Feed with Confidence and Comfort

The "breast is best" pendulum has swung so far in favor of breast feeding infants that parents who choose to (or have no choice but to) bottle feed their babies feel stigma and guilt. Although just a half century ago, bottle-feeding was the norm in the United States, times and trends have
 changed and breast feeding is the accepted "best practice" for infant feeding. Still, according to physicians, bottle feeding is a healthy and satisfactory choice, and a reasonable substitute for breast feeding. In other words, bottle fed babies are healthy and develop just fine. Here are some bottle feeding tips on how to feed our baby and shake the bottle-feeding guilt!

It is important to know that infant formulas on the market are regulated in terms of their content. They are manufactured to resemble human breast milk as closely as possible. So, there is not significant difference in the constitution of different brands of formula. What a parent will find is that formula is available in cow-based or soy-based. Most physicians recommend trying the cow-based formula first. Then, if a reaction or allergy develops, try a soy-based formula. Check with your physician or pediatrician for suggestions. He or she may have suggestions based on your genetic history, or updated information on products available.

Formula is available in powder, liquid concentrate and ready-made packages. The powder is the least expensive and must be mixed with water. The liquid concentrate is more expensive and must also be mixed with water to make it consumable. The ready-made cans or "bottles" are the most expensive and can be served to the baby "as is." These are great for travel and visits. Be sure to read the expiration dates on formula cans as they do have a finite shelf-life. This is especially important for parents who like to "stock up" to save even more money. Make sure you'll be able to use the formula before it expires.

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"In other words, bottle fed babies are healthy and develop just fine."... Except for the ones who die of SIDS, viruses, and bacterial infections because they were formula-fed. Formula kills 4 out of every 1000 babies who drink it, and the ones who survive past infancy--thankfully, the vast majority--are over 10 times more likely to be obese, diabetic, or depressed as adults I'm glad that it's available as a last resort, but it's utterly unreasonable to claim that they are "just fine" when it's actually a fatal choice for some babies.
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Posted on 10/21/2008 at 11:10:57 AM

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Posted on 05/27/2008 at 10:05:44 AM

i'm amazed at how blind and narrow minded can people be when they in any way advocate use of infant formula. It's BAD, BAD, BAD. Say, how can possibly a powder milk substitute can be good enough for even an adult? Or infant formula which even does not contain all the necessary elements which MOTHER NATURE put in a breastmilk? It is just a POWDER milk.!!!!! Only ignorant and/or highly arrogant parents can choose it instead of breastfeeding, or the lazy ones. And TIHOSE greedy billioniers brainwash you on the benefits of Similac so that they can make another billion or two...
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Posted on 03/24/2008 at 1:03:14 PM

It is amazing how a trend can brainwash so many people. I am not arguing that breast milk is not the best for your baby. It does contain all the nutrients and anti-bodies a baby needs, but isn't it amazing that many extremely intelligent well rounded adults today were bottle fed?? 20 years ago hardly anyone breast fed their children and isn't it amazing just how many intelligent people there are in the world that never had an ounce of their mothers milk. Some moms have to take prescription medications that prevent them from breast feeding. Some moms have problems keeping their milk supply up even when their child nurses every 2 hours, and some parents adopt children making it impossible to nurse. Do these things make you any less of a caring loving parent?? Sometime your made to feel that way just because you chose to use a bottle...I think it just isn't fair. Everyone should do what feels right for them..and look everyone here in there 20 or older managed to survive and grow i
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Posted on 11/10/2007 at 12:11:00 PM

I think it is rediculous the length that people go to, to make you feel guilty about formula feeding your child. I for one formula feed my child and he is an extremely happy, and healthy little boy. Even one of my articles that was completely reassuring that breast milk is best but reassured women who formula feed that formula is the next best thing you can do was bashed in so many words. It's crazy! I think its because a lot of the old cons pertaining to formula has changed and now people have no reason to bash formula. You should be ashamed of yourselves using scare-tactics and guilt trips to women who literally have no other choice but to formula feed their children. Great article by the way!
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Posted on 05/18/2007 at 7:05:00 AM

I breast feed both of my children as long as could but after I returned to work by milk dryed up because pumping was very hard for me. It is because of judgmental people like you that I feel guily to have a bottle in public. I should not have to explane to anyone why my son has a bottle. He is happy health and growing just fine. I have done nothing wrong by him or my older daughter.
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Posted on 03/05/2007 at 8:03:00 AM

Moreover, feeding a baby a bottle is nowhere near comparable to nursing a baby. It is not anywhere near the same. Any mother who has breastfed AND bottlefed will tell you that.
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Posted on 01/27/2007 at 6:01:00 PM

Formula is not near as regulated as you think. It's not even mandatory in the US that formula companies include DHA. There have been dozens of recalls, and babies have died from contaminated milk and had serious problems related to nutrient deficiency because of inadequate formula composition. Bottle-fed babies are 14 more times likely to be hospitalized and are at increased risk of a number of ailments from ear infections to anemia. Their healthcare costs on average $1400 a year more than a breastfed baby.
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Posted on 01/27/2007 at 6:01:00 PM

they give the baby a bath? Or if she wants a break from a feeding, why not pump breastmilk -- ever heard of a breast pump?? The reason why some bottlfed infants feed less is because the formula sits in their guts. It is very hard on their systems to digest because of the large enzymes. Breastmilk digests easily which is why babies may need to nurse more often. Even so, their bodies create a lot of less waste since more of the breastmilk is used for good. If for some reason a woman can absolutely not breastfeed, if she's seen a lacation consultant or has a biological issue where she can't feed, then I am happy we have formula as a back up. It's kind of like choosing to raise your baby on fruits and veggies or fast food. Sure they will still thrive, but wouldn't you want the best for your baby?
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Posted on 09/05/2006 at 8:09:00 AM

First off, bottlefeeding is by no means on any equal level of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding contains a variety of nature-induced goodness including immunities passed on from mom to baby, while human breastmilk contains just the right amount of nutrients, in the right proporations for your growing baby. It is a living biological fluid that works itself to suit your baby in a unique way. When your baby is sick the milk changes to provide a bunch of immunities to help him heal as quickly as possible. As the baby grows the milk changes to suit the baby needs. Breastfeeding is also great for the mother, reducing her risks of breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer. If you think bottlfeeding is easier, you are wrong! Breastfeeding is FREE. There is no clean up involved unless you must gently wipe your baby's mouth after a feeding. It also provides for an AMAZING bond for both mother and baby. If the mother wants the father or grandparent to be involved so bad, why can't they give the
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Posted on 09/05/2006 at 8:09:00 AM

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