Truly Happy Baby ... It Worked for Me: A practical parenting guide from a mum you can trust. Holly Willoughby

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      If you’re exclusively using formula, I’d recommend buying a formula dispenser. These are cheap to buy and usually have about three compartments so that you can measure out the right amount for each feed in advance. These dispensers are great if you are using a narrow-neck bottle, as they act like a funnel and are particularly handy when you’re out and about – or if you need to make up a bottle in the middle of the night and have lost the mental ability to count scoops accurately (it happens!).

      Choosing a formula …

      All the formulas contain similar stuff, but I picked one with added prebiotics. These are naturally found in breast milk and help to promote the production of friendly bacteria in your baby’s gut to boost her immune system. If you find that your baby is struggling to keep her feeds down every time, it’s worth trying another brand to see if it makes any difference.

      Formulas suitable from birth have whey as their main ingredient as it’s easy to digest and nutritionally closest to breast milk. If you find you have a very hungry baby, and one that is putting on a lot of weight due to the amount of milk she’s consuming, you can get hungrier formulas, which use casein as their main ingredient. Casein is harder to digest and means that your baby won’t need to feed so often, but only use this if your baby fits the profile, otherwise it can wreak havoc on your baby’s digestion, which will leave you all in a pickle!

      At about six months you can consider moving your baby to follow-on milk. I did because it contains extra vitamins for older babies, but there’s another school of thought that says they get those vitamins from solid foods once you’re weaning. Whether you choose to keep your baby on breast, infant or follow-on, don’t start her on cow’s milk until she’s twelve months old.

      Formula comes as powder that you have to make up or ready-made in cartons. Of course, the little ready-made cartons are easier and more convenient to use, but they’re also a very expensive option. I always bought the big drums of powder, which I used at home, alongside a portable formula dispenser for when I was out and about. That said, there are occasions when a ready-made carton of formula is like the Holy Grail to a mum out and about! Perhaps you didn’t put the lid on properly and your bottle of boiled water has leaked all over your bag; or you brought the bottles out with you, but forgot the formula dispenser. There will be at least one occasion when you find yourself running into the nearest chemist for a pricey carton of ready-made formula. And, believe me, you’ll never feel more grateful for modern convenience!

      How much formula to give …

      There will be feeding guidelines on the back of every formula container to help you work out the recommended amounts according to your baby’s age and approximate weight. These guidelines are definitely worth considering, but crucially, don’t forget that no two children are the same. They’re all born at different birth weights, so, for example, the guidelines at two weeks for a baby born weighing 7lb (3kg) might not be enough food for one born weighing 10lb (4½kg). As with everything, adapt the rules to suit your baby.

      Which bottle? …

      There are so many different bottles – breast-shaped bottles, anti-colic bottles, coloured bottles, glass bottles! So how do you choose the right one? Again, it’s down to personal preference.

      I used BPA (bisphenol A)-free bottles, which are made from food-grade plastic as opposed to one that might leak the chemical into your baby’s milk. In fact, with Chester, I opted for traditional glass bottles. I know they’re not to everyone’s taste, but I absolutely loved them. Because I had to bottle-feed him from so young, I liked the fact he wasn’t having a plastic bottle. It just felt purer to me. Apart from the risk of them getting broken, they’re also quite heavy, so if your baby is intent on holding her bottle maybe opt for plastic!

      I used basic bottles with Harry but tried the anti-colic bottles with Belle, and I think they’re worth a whirl if you have any colic/reflux concerns (see here). The only downside is that they have even more parts to them, so there’s even more to sterilise and assemble!

      Which teat? …

      Teats come in lots of different shapes, sizes and materials. It’s a matter of preference but be aware you can get slow, medium or fast flow. If the hole in the teat is too big for your baby, she’ll drink too quickly, leaving you in a world of winding pain! If the teat is too small, she’ll have to suck really hard, which will leave her frustrated and possibly too tired to finish the bottle. There’s a risk you’ll mistake an exhausted baby for a satisfied sleepy one because she’s had to work so hard to feed. When changing teats, give her a few feeds to get used to it, but if the milk is flooding out, you’ve moved up a size too early.

      Bear in mind that your baby has to work harder to suck the milk from your breast than from a bottle, so it’s not the change in vessel that frustrates her, it’s the speed she’s getting the milk. If you are combining breast and bottle, perhaps keep a slower-flow teat for longer. This will keep your baby having to work harder at the teat, so there isn’t such a big difference between bottle and breast. That said, be sure she is getting enough milk and isn’t frustrated.

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Cold or warm milk …

      The pros of cold milk It’s totally up to you whether you want to warm your baby’s milk before you give it to her! Some people say babies drink and digest warm milk better (and do be aware of the official guidelines - see here), but if yours is happy with a cold bottle then why make a rod for your own back? It’s a pain in the neck if you’re out and about and you suddenly have to heat a bottle for a screaming baby who’s decided she’s hungry half an hour earlier than you expected, especially as many cafés and restaurants won’t heat milk for you for health and safety reasons. It’s equally frustrating having to warm a bottle in the middle of the night. It’s far easier to have ready-cooled bottles of water on your bedside table, tip in the formula from the dispenser, give it to your baby and then all go back to sleep. The less paraphernalia you need for your baby, the better!

      How to warm milk If you decide to warm your baby’s milk, there are numerous electric bottle warmers on the market, but in my opinion these tend to take longer to warm a bottle than standing it in a jug of boiling water. Not to mention, it’s just another thing you have to find a plug socket for on the kitchen work surface!

      When I asked about using a microwave to save time, I was told you can use them but it’s safer not to. Microwaving doesn’t evenly distribute heat through the milk, so there’s a chance your baby will scald her mouth on patches of boiling liquid.

      Test the temperature by tipping a few drops onto the back of your hand. If should feel just warm, not hot.

      Shortcuts for warming milk I didn’t warm СКАЧАТЬ