Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for your baby. However if your baby is taking  formula from a bottle, you have to make sure it is safe and clean. Powdered infant formula is not sterile and as a result may contain bacteria which may cause serious illness to the baby. To reduce the risk infection, you have to prepare  and store formula properly and also sterilize your bottles well.

Tips for keeping bottle feeding safe for your baby.

• feed your baby liquid formula especially when she is a newborn to make sure the baby’s formula is safe
• boil baby bottles and nipples for about 5 minutes before using them for the first time. After first  use , wash them for about 1 minute in hot, soapy water and rinse after each use. This is to remove any harmful bacteria that can make your child sick
• when you first open the container of formula, make sure it is properly sealed. Return it to the store if it is not properly sealed
• make sure the formula is not expired by checking the ” use by” date on the formula

If you are using powdered formula :

• you should prepare formula with sterilized bottle water. You can also boil water. Allow it to cool down before mixing with formula
• do not mix large amounts of formula at one time
• it is important to use  the right amount of water to mix the formula . Too much water can reduce the amount  of nutrients the baby gets. Too little water can result in diarrhea or dehydration

For the bottles

• to avoid burns , do not heat formula in a microwave. Some parts can heat up more than others and cause burns . You can warm or cool the bottle by holding it under running water. Make sure the running water is below the lid of the bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the formula to avoid hot spots
• do not leave formula out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours to prevent bacteria from growing . Refrigerate formula until you are ready to feed the baby
• discard any remaining formula after the baby has finished feeding
• when traveling , keep prepared formula cold by placing the bottle in a lunch bag with ice bags