As first time parents, you will be facing so many decisions in caring for your baby. You will need to decide on what crib you will be buying, car seats you will be using, clothes, whether your baby will be rooming in with you or not, and so on. Another important decision is the baby feeding bottles you will choose to have your baby use.

There are many types of baby bottles in the market today; the traditional feeding bottles for babies are made of plastic and are quite inexpensive. However, there are also glass baby feeding bottles that are safer to use but much more pricey. You will also have to check on the types of teats that are appropriate for your baby’s age. The teat or the nipple of the baby bottle feeding controls the amount of milk that your baby gets. While there are teats that only let in a small amount of milk into your baby’s mouth, it is important for you to remember that it would still be more than what your baby gets from breastfeeding.

Feeding bottles have to be washed and sterilized a lot since your baby would need about 8 feedings in a day. Additionally, you might be raring to go back to work and would need extra bottles to store your own milk in for your baby when you are at work. This means that you need to have a load of feeding bottles at home that are sturdy and can last for a long time.

Plastic feeding bottles for babies are safe for use, regardless of bad publicity that made a lot of parents want to switch to glass bottles. There have been reports that some trace chemicals in the manufacturing of plastic feeding bottles could be harmful to your growing baby. However, FDA has already released a statement that this is not true. The only disadvantage of plastic feeding bottles would be that they should be changed as soon as the plastic is already blurred. This is not to say that it becomes less safe but only because you will have a hard time reading the demarcations for ounces.

Glass baby feeding bottles made a comeback right after the concerns on chemicals in plastic bottles surfaced. They are still a viable option though, if only to make you feel at ease with what you use to feed your baby. The only trouble is that because it is glass, it is much heavier and easier to break.

Parenting a child is not such an easy task as it seems. It involves such a huge category of work and care that it cannot be placed in strict regimen. From morning till night the mother is always busy taking care of some or the other necessary activity that baby care initiates. Proper baby care is necessary for the right upbringing of the child and this process involves a huge number of activities.

Feeding:

Food is the most important part of human existence as it is the fuel that makes the human body survive and work as per requirements. Therefore proper food is very important, particularly for the new born baby. Breast feeding is considered to be the best source for nutrient supply to the body of the new born child. The breast milk contains colostrums which plays a vital role in building up the immune system of the child. This will eventually help in making the child healthy.

However, the mothers should avoid food that causes them health problems like cold or gas throughout the period of breast feeding as these problems might get carried down to the kids and they can face problems of congestion or breathing disorders.

Bottle-feeding is another way of feeding the child. The bottle feeding period starts after the breast feeding stage ends. Since this process involves the use of bottles for the purpose of feeding, you must make sure that the bottles are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. Boiling in water for around 25 minutes also helps in killing the unwanted organisms that might cause severe harm to the new born. All these necessary things should be taken and cleanliness should be inculcated in the kids so that they do not eat any object lying anywhere.

Sleeping care:

Sleep is very important for the child. Maximum growth of the body takes place during sleep. Sleep should be comfortable and you should ensure that the baby gets perfect comfort with regards to the lying surface (mattress), blanket covers and covering for protection from mosquitoes and flies. These things should be taken care of properly as the baby would not say anything even if he feels uncomfortable. You should see to it that the baby is not covered with unnecessary clothing as this might lead to heating and temperature rise, thereby making the kid feel uncomfortable. The baby should always be made to lie on a good and firm mattress. This would prove beneficial for the spine of the child.

Clothing:

Proper clothing for the kids is of utmost importance. During the summer months the babies should be given light cotton clothes, whereas in the winter season, adequate woolen clothing should be provided so that the child doesn’t catch cold. Changing diapers at regular intervals is also very important. For the perfect comfort of the child you should see to it that the child doesn’t feel wet any time. You should remove the smelly and wet diapers immediately as wet diapers can lead to infection in that area.

Bathing requirements:

Maintaining cleanliness is very important for the child. The child should have proper bathing and mouth washing sessions. For mouth washing of the baby cotton should be used. The baby enjoys bathing in a tub and therefore you should have an adequate tub that suits the baby’s requirements for this purpose. Soaps and shampoos specially made for the purpose of child care should be used to bathe the baby. Mild and moisturizing soaps should be used for baby baths. You should avoid scrubbing the body of the baby with a wash cloth. Even the shampoos for the babies are specially made and are less irritating for their eyes. These shampoos can also be easily rinsed. After the bathing session the baby cream, oil and powder also needs to be applied on the skin of the baby. These products are also specially made for child care.

Vaccinations and medical treatments:

Babies are more prone to diseases and therefore proper measures should be taken to avoid any condition that might promote these diseases or ailments. The baby should be given injections for immunization against diseases like small pox, measles, polio and rubella.

Following these tips and going through several other tips in our online books can help you in taking proper care for your kids and initiate better living conditions for them.

The care of a baby is very important for its growth and development. The care of a baby should be done both professionally and gently. The amount of care that is given to a baby greatly reflects in the later stages of a person’s life. It builds the basic character of a person. Therefore complete care should be given to a baby. All its needs should be fulfilled emotionally, physically and mentally. If complete care is not taken of the baby, the baby may not grow up to be a healthy person or the person can have various disorders in his later life.

A baby is very delicate. Almost anything and every thing have a great impact on the baby. How a baby grows up is greatly influenced by its surroundings and the people around him. The first and the foremost thing that should be noted is that the baby should be kept in a safe and secure environment. This means that if should be not too humid or damn as the baby might catch a cold. It should also be free from sharp objects. The lesser the medicines or antibiotics that are given to the baby the better it is.

The baby should be given a massage regularly. A regular message helps the bones of the baby to grow and set properly. It also helps in the growth of the baby and the development of strong bones. With a proper massage everyday, the baby will in no time be able to walk on its own acquiring balance and stability on its legs. The baby should be always kept in clean and dry diapers. This is to avoid rashes and infections. Also a baby in clean diapers will be happy and healthy.

One of the most important parts of baby care is breast feeding. A mother’s milk is the best source of nourishment for human babies. There is no substitute for mother’s milk in the diet of humans. Also many experts agree that breast feeding has many physiological effects on the baby. Therefore proper breast feeding of the baby is a must. The infant for the first two years of his life must be breast fed properly for a healthy growth of the child. Also breastfeeding passes on many anti bodies on the child’s body. This helps the child develop a strong immune system and combat many diseases that might affect it effectively. Also breast feeding strengthens that bond between a mother and her baby.

When the child is a little older a feeding bottle can be used to feed the child. Essentially a feeding bottle is used to feed baby milk. It should be held in proper angles so that the milk can flow down effectively from the bottle. The teat of the bottle must at all definite times be kept clean and sterilized. If possible a new teat should be used every time while feeding the baby although some babies might find adjusting to a new teat all the time uncomfortable.

Attention should be paid to the nature of the baby and care should be taken to ensure its proper growth. A good care of the baby is the very basic of good parenting.

Formulas:

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies under 12 months of age should be fed either breastmilk or infant formula. No other type of milk provides all of the nutrients in the right amounts to support optimal growth. Formula companies use human milk as a standard and produce a product, usually based on cows’ milk, which contains proteins, fats and carbohydrates in a proportion that is close to human milk. Then they add vitamins, minerals and other ingredients to bring the final product as close to human milk as possible. As ongoing research reveals factors in mothers’ milk that were previously not known, the drug companies that manufacture infant formula add them, and advertise the product as being “new” or “improved.” Some recent additions are ARA and DHA. Read labels carefully to know what is in the brand you purchase. When you choose a formula for your baby, it is usually best to start with one that is milk-based, since these are tolerated by most babies and are lower in cost than the specialized formulas. If your baby does not tolerate his formula, consult your pediatrician about which one to try next. While soy based formulas contain all of the nutrients needed to sustain growth, they also contain phytoestrogens that may affect a baby’s growth and development, and they hinder the absorption of zinc and calcium. According to an FDA paper, the AAP states “Healthy full-term infants should be given soy formula only when medically necessary.” (http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/596_baby.html) Specialized formulas for allergic babies are more expensive, and should be used on the recommendation of a pediatrician.

Bottles:

If your formula feed your baby, you will need bottles, nipples (teats), and a bottle brush for effective cleaning. There are many types and styles of bottles available, and what you choose depends upon your preference.

Bottles with disposable liners are fairly easy to use and easy to clean, but they are more expensive than other types because the liners have to be purchased throughout the months that your baby uses a bottle. Plastic bottles are lightweight, and most are easy to clean with hot soapy water and a brush. In recent months, news articles have warned about possible dangers from the leaching of a chemical called bisphenol A or BPA into milk from the plastic when bottles are heated, and also from the linings of the can the formula comes in. Although the FDA states that plastic bottles do not present a hazard to babies, you might want to research the different brands to see which are considered safer before purchasing bottles for your baby. A google search turned up lists of brands which are BPA free.

Different babies do better with different types of nipples. You should choose those with a slow flow at first, especially for a very young baby. If the milk flows too fast the baby may choke, or take in too much air. Be sure to replace nipples that become worn so that they do not break during a feeding. At times a baby who is teething may chew on the nipple and cause tiny pieces to come off, so inspect them on a regular basis.

Formula Preparation:

Infant formula comes in three forms: ready to feed, concentrate, and powder. Ready to feed formula is the easiest to use. It can be stored at room temperature until the can is opened, and is fed to the baby directly as it comes from the can. It is, however, expensive compared to the other types. Both other forms of formula must be mixed with water before feeding. It is very important to read the directions on the can to be sure that you add exactly the right amount of water so that the milk the baby receives is neither too dilute (which could lead to malnutrition) nor too concentrated (which could be hard on the baby’s kidneys). Some pediatricians (and the World Health Organization) recommend boiling all water prior to using it for a baby. Other doctors feel that it is OK to use water directly from the tap as long as it has been proven safe for drinking. If you are not sure, ask your pediatrician. Powdered formula is not sterile, and in recent months, reports have warned about the potential contamination of some such formulas with Enterobacter sakazakii, a bacteria that can cause infections in all ages, but newborns (under 1 month of age) and premature babies are at greatest risk. The World Health Organization recommends that formula given to these infants be ready to feed, or concentrate. If powdered formula must be used for a newborn, it should be prepared with boiling water or heated almost to boiling, then cooled before feeding to kill the bacteria if it is present. Once it is prepared, the formula should be refrigerated or kept cold with ice packs until the baby is fed. Discard any unused milk left in the bottle after feeding, since bacteria multiply quickly in warmed milk. Heating baby bottles in the microwave is not recommended because “hot spots” that can scald a baby may occur. If you do use a microwave, be sure to shake the bottle thoroughly to mix the formula completely. (Never microwave expressed breastmilk because that would kill some of the living cells that protect the baby from illness.)

Feeding the Baby:

Feeding time is very important in terms of your baby’s emotional and social well-being. You should always hold your baby in your arms when giving him a bottle, and cuddle him close. This is a good time to talk to your baby, look into his eyes, and watch him smile and interact with you. His head should be slightly elevated because most bottle nipples flow fast enough to choke a baby who is lying flat when he swallows. When feeding a newborn, stop and try to burp the baby every ounce or so. As baby grows, he can take in larger amounts without burping. Ask your pediatrician how much formula to feed your baby. Don’t force him to finish a bottle if he stops drinking and acts full. Most babies know how much they need, and overfeeding can predispose him to obesity later on. Never prop a bottle because of the danger of choking, and don’t put your baby to bed with a bottle. Milk that remains on his teeth during the night will promote tooth decay.

However your baby is fed, feeding time should be very comfortable and enjoyable for both of you.