Revised Schedule for SellFormula.com – Important

In honor of the 2022 Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot Holidays, Sellformula will have a revised schedule for the months of September & October.

Please take note of the dates as they will affect payments and orders.

You may request & create orders during these dates; however, no shipping kits will be sent, no boxes will be received, and no payments will be sent on the days we are closed.

  • September 26 -Closed
  • September 27 – Closed
  • October 5 – Closed
  • October 10 – Closed
  • October 11 – Closed
  • October 17 – Closed
  • October 18– Closed

We will be open during the other days of the month and will work tirelessly to ensure all support requests, payments, orders, and shipping kits are taken care of accordingly.


Thank you for your understanding & Happy Holidays!

Revised Schedule for September.

Attention: Please see our updated schedule for September 2021.

In honor of the 2021 Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot Holidays, Sellformula will have a revised schedule during the month of September.

Please take note of the dates as they will affect payments and orders.
You may request & create orders during these dates, however, no shipping kits will be sent, no boxes will be received and no payments will be sent on the days we are closed.

  • September 6th (Labor Day) – Closed.
  • September 7th – Closed
  • September 8th – Closed
  • September 15th – Closed
  • September 16th – Closed
  • September 21st – Closed
  • September 22nd – Closed
  • September 28th – Closed
  • September 29th – Closed


We will be open during the other days of the month and will work tirelessly to make sure all support requests, payments, orders, and shipping kits to be taken care of accordingly.

Thank you for your understanding & Happy Holidays!

Bottle Feeding Your Baby: What to Expect

Bottle Feeding Your Baby: What to Expect

The first year of your baby’s life is an exciting one, but it can come with a lot of challenges. If you’re a first time parent, you will know all too well the struggle of trying to figure out how to do things correctly. It’s a time of learning about your baby’s needs, and people from every corner of your life will have their own ideas about how you should raise your child. 

With that in mind, it can often be difficult to know how to bottle feed your baby in the right way to give them the best start in life. There are so many different things to consider that it can be overwhelming, especially when you haven’t had much sleep! For that reason, we’re here to help you to know exactly what you need to know when it comes to bottle feeding your baby.

Without further ado, here is your complete guide to bottle feeding your little one.

Which Baby Bottle to Use


Which Baby Bottle to Use

If your baby is showing signs that they are hungry, it’s time to give them that bottle! But what kind of baby bottle should you be using? Well, it can be broken down into different types of bottles, materials, nipple materials and more. Here’s the low down on the kinds of baby bottles out there.

Bottle Types

First of all, there are a range of different baby bottle types out there. You need to have a rough idea of which one you want – unless you want to buy them all! 

Angle Neck Bottles 

These are slightly angled at the neck. This is useful as it helps to ensure that the air doesn’t overly fill the nipple. If your baby often struggles with gas or you find that feedings can be difficult, this may be the bottle type for you. It is worth noting though that they can often be more tricky to clean due to the shape.

Standard Baby Bottles

When you think of a baby bottle, the standard bottle is most likely what you think about. They feature a simple design and they’re universally loved by babies. They can come in a range of different materials and color designs too. They’re available from most retailers, so they’re easy to replace in case one of them gets broken.

Wide Neck Bottles

These are short little bottles but they are wider at the top. It means that they use wider nipples, meaning that this is a great choice for babies that have been breastfed for most of their lives. It’s ideal if you want to make that transition. Not only that, but they’re super easy to clean because of the wide neck.

Disposable Liner Bottles

These bottles are usually plastic outer shells and they have pouches of milk on the inside. When your baby drinks the milk the bag begins to collapse, and this is helpful as it can be good for gassiness. All you need to do when you’re done is take the bag out, toss it in the trash and swill it out with water. It’s not a good choice if you want an eco-friendly option though.

Vented Bottles

Vented bottles are useful if your baby struggles with gas, since they come with tubes built in that are designed to stop any air pockets from cropping up in the nipple or the bottle. It can usually mean that the bottle is significantly more difficult to clean, however, so it’s worth keeping that in mind.

Bottle Materials

The next thing to consider when buying a baby bottle is the material that the bottle is made out of. There are a couple of them to choose from. Primarily, you can choose from silicone, stainless steel, plastic or glass. There are good and bad parts of each material. Technically, one is not technically better than the other. It just depends on the needs of your baby.

1. Glass

Glass bottles have come a long way through the years! They aren’t just like the little glass bottles your grandparents used to get on their porch. Glass bottles today are designed with a bunch of extra features. They have been designed to handle shock and heat well. In order to protect the bottle even further, these bottles are sometimes bought with silicone sleeves. They can last a long time, and there’s no need to replace them unless they get damaged.

2. Stainless Steel 

These are durable and well insulated to ensure that the milk stays at the designed temperature. They cost quite a bit of money but they’re worth it for the durability that they offer.

3. Silicone

This material is a little pricey, much like stainless steel, but it’s also flexible and durable which is a good choice if you don’t want to replace your bottles all the time.

4. Plastic

This is the most popular type of baby bottle, since they are so easily found. They’re safe to use, but they can be a little fragile so you need to ensure that they are well cleaned and replaced every couple of months.

Nipple Types

The bottle isn’t the only important thing to consider! It’s also vital that you get the right kind of nipple. They can sometimes come with the bottle, but this is not always the case.

You can choose from a range of different nipples based on your baby’s needs. You can choose a traditional nipple, which is basically what you usually see on a baby bottle. If your baby has a sensitive palate then an orthodontic nipple may be suitable due to the bulbous top. Other options include anti-vacuum nipples, multi flow nipples, flat topped nipples and disposable nipples. It’s worth looking into each of them in order to see what will work the best for your baby. Here’s a quick summary:

Orthodontic Nipples

These are designed to help your baby’s mouth to stay safe. They feature a flatter base than traditional nipples and the top is a bulbous shape.

Traditional Nipples

These tend to be shapes like a bell. They are usually made out of latex, and they are the standard kinds of nipples that will come with your baby bottle when you first buy it.

Anti Vacuum Nipples

If your baby struggles with gassiness and colic, these are the best choice. They help to ensure that your body isn’t taking in too much air from the bottle.

Flat Topped Nipples

These look like your breasts, making them easy to adjust to for your little one. The base is much larger and the top is flat. It may be easier to use this if you are transitioning from breastfeeding.

Multi Flow Nipples

This is a great choice if you’re trying to provide two stages of flow in just one nipple. You can simply change the position to choose the flow.

Disposable Nipple

These are great if you want something easy to clean. They are already sterile and are great if you’re out on the go, but you can only use them one time.

Nipple Materials

Nipples usually only come in silicone and latex versions. They can both be great, but silicone is the more durable option. They’re also a good choice if your baby suffers from allergies. Latex is good as it’s easier for your baby to use, but it does need to be replaced a lot and there are some babies that have allergies to it.

Bottles and Nipples for Different Ages

Bottles and Nipples for Different Ages

If you want to know what age the nipple or bottle is for, check on the rim as this will tell you what stage it is. There are 3 stages in total – newborns begin with the stage 1 nipples, then they move onto stage 2 once they reach a few months old. Finally, when your baby gets to around 6 months old they can then move onto stage 3 nipples.

Stage 1 – This is the newborn stage. Nipples at this stage are slow flow, and this means that the milk comes out slowly based on how your baby’s mouth compresses.

Stage 2 – You will move onto this stage after a couple of months. This is provided when your baby is capable of taking a bigger flow of the milk.

Stage 3 – This isn’t always a necessary stage as some babies are fine with staying on stage 2. If your baby no longer seems to be responding well to the stage 2 nipples though, it may be an indication that it’s time to move onto stage 3 nipples.

How to Bottle Feed Your Baby


How to Bottle Feed Your Baby

Now that you have your bottles, how do you feed your baby? Here’s what to do.

Expressed Breast Milk or Infant Formula 

The first thing that you will need to do is prepare the infant formula or bottle. This can be a little scary at first but it does get easier!

The first thing to do is wash all of the things that you are going to use in order to feed the baby. Then, sterilize the bottles

You’re then going to need to get your formula ready and follow the instructions to make up the baby bottle.

Making Up Baby Bottle

Now onto phase two – making up the baby bottle! If you have powdered formula, this is fairly simple – you just need to follow the instructions on the formula container. It’s usually pretty standard among brands though.

You start with boiling around a litre of water and allowing it to cool for less than half an hour. Wash your hands, then pour the water that you need into your baby bottle. Then, you should add the amount of formula that’s specified for the age of your baby. Make sure that you level it off using a knife. Put the teat back onto it and then shake the bottle until the powder dissolves. Allow it to cool then by putting the bottle under some cold running water. If you test the temperature and it’s okay, then you’re ready to go!

Testing the Temperature

To test the temperature, all you need to do is put a little bit of it onto your wrist. If it’s a little warm but not too hot, then it’s ready for your baby.

Best Positions for Bottle Feeding

Best Positions for Bottle Feeding

Then you need to find the correct position to bottle feed your baby. To start with, sit in a position that’s comfortable for you and prop your baby upwards a little. Make sure that you are supporting their head – you can ensure that they don’t swallow lots of air and you can look in their eyes this way.

Then, tilt the bottle a little and put it in your baby’s mouth. Your baby will then start to feed on the bottle.

How Often to Bottle Feed

This ultimately depends on your baby, since the appetite can change on a regular basis. It’s best to learn their hunger cues so you can tell when they need to be fed.

If your baby is still a newborn then it’s important to feed them regularly throughout the day. Every two or three hours is a good rule of thumb. Don’t force them to eat more than they are naturally eating in one sitting. You’ll need to feed them more food but less often as they get older, so let your baby take the lead.

For the first week or so of your baby’s life, they shouldn’t need much more than around 1 to 3 ounces of milk in each feeding session. This will increase as your baby gets bigger and needs more sustenance. It’s important not to force your baby to drink the whole bottle in one go if they don’t want to though.

If you’re curious about how much you need to feed your baby, take their weight and multiply this by 2.5. This will then tell you the amount of ounces that you should be feeding them each day. For instance, a 10 pound baby would need to eat around 3 to 4 ounces every four hours, amounting to 25 ounces maximum each day. If you have any concerns then it can help to speak to a midwife or pediatrician for further advice.

Signs Baby is Hungry

Signs Baby is Hungry

When it comes to feeding your baby, it’s usually best to take their lead. Follow the signs that they may be hungry, including the following:

  • They are putting their hands up to their mouth
  • They’re sucking on their hands
  • They’re beginning to get fussy
  • They start sticking their tongue out
  • They begin to open their mouth and tilt the head to one side

Of course, this can differ by the baby, but these are some general signs. Ultimately, nobody knows your child as well as you do, so your baby may show you their own signs that it’s time to eat. Learn to observe your baby’s behavior, as it will often tell you what they need. This can be difficult if you’re a first time parent, but you will eventually get the hang of it.

Paced Bottle Feeding

Paced bottle feeding is a great way to bottle feed your baby, since it resembles what your baby would naturally do if they were breastfeeding. It’s all about following your baby’s lead – pacing the feedings according to what your baby needs at that moment.

Feed your baby when they need to be fed. It can also be helpful to put them in an upright position as this will help them to access the milk a lot more easily. Give them the bottle horizontally to your baby.

Then, it’s just a matter of feeding your baby according to the signs that they give you. This is a simplified explanation of how to do it, however. You can find more advice here.

Heating Formula Safely

When you’re heating your baby’s formula it’s important that you do it safely. First of all, don’t ever try to heat up your baby’s bottle using a microwave. This can result in uneven heating and this can cause hot spots for your baby. Always test the temperature on your wrist too to make sure that it’s the right temperature for your baby.

If the bottle hasn’t been touched and has been left at room temperature for more than two hours, you should throw it away. Be careful when using the kettle or any other heating method too – you don’t want to accidentally burn yourself!

Bottle Feeding Equipment Needed


Bottle Feeding Equipment Needed

So what equipment do you need in order to bottle feed your baby? Here’s a quick checklist so that you have everything that you need!

  • Around 6 baby bottles – mainly applicable if you are mainly bottle feeding your baby
  • Six teats at least to go with the bottles
  • A brush to clean the bottle
  • Baby milk or formula
  • Equipment to sterilize the bottles
  • Bibs (not essential, but useful!)
  • A kettle
  • Muslin cloths for cleaning

There are a lot of other things that you can get to make bottle feeding your baby a lot easier, but you don’t necessarily need to get them. It’s ultimately up to you – not every item that’s marketed to parents on TV is essential, after all.

Bottle Feeding Problems


Bottle Feeding Problems

So are there any risks associated with bottle feeding your baby? Technically, yes, just like there are risks with breastfeeding. Here are just a few of the issues that you may encounter when bottle feeding your baby.

Choking Risks

One risk that may come with bottle feeding your baby is choking. This usually comes when your baby is propped up or when you keep the bottle in their mouth. They may be more likely to experience choking because they will struggle to control the milk flow. As such, the force of gravity will mean that the milk continues to flow into your baby’s mouth, and they may not be ready to swallow. You need to be careful, and constantly watch your baby while they are feeding. 

Tooth Decay Risk

Propping the bottle can also mean that your baby is more likely to experience tooth decay. This is because the milk can linger in your little one’s mouth. When that’s combined with saliva your baby’s body starts to create acid, and this can result in tooth decay.

Risk of Ear Infections

You heard that right – bottle feeding your baby can even result in ear infections. This is not the case every time they feed from a bottle, however. Basically, if you are feeding them as they lie on their back then there is a higher chance that they may experience an ear infection. The milk and the bacteria that is hanging out in the back of your baby’s mouth can then start to enter the ear thanks to the eustachian tubes. This can then result in an ear infection. You can reduce this risk if you feed your baby in an upright position instead.

Most of the time these issues won’t be severe, but if you have any concerns then you should speak to a pediatrician for further advice.

How to Bond With Your Baby While Bottle Feeding


How to Bond With Your Baby While Bottle Feeding

One big concern that many parents have about bottle feeding a baby is that it can make it harder to bond with their baby. This is not necessarily true! You can still bond with your baby even if you are bottle feeding them. There are a couple of things that you can do.

Skin Contact

You can still do skin to skin contact with your baby even if you’re not breastfeeding. All you need to do is remove or unbutton your shirt and press your baby up against your chest. You can then feed them as you normally would. Being physically close to your baby is really important for bonding, so you should definitely take advantage of this. It releases the hormone oxytocin which is great for bonding between parents and children. This is another great way that dads can bond with their babies too!

Eye Contact

Eye contact is pretty powerful, and it releases chemicals in your brain that can make you happy. It creates a close connection with your little one. You can do this while having skin to skin contact, and it will help to get the oxytocin in your brain coming in. Keep your face around 8 to 10 inches away from your baby’s – they can’t see much further than that at this point in their life.

Talk to Baby

The chances are that your baby probably can’t speak a coherent conversation with you yet, but you can still bond by simply talking to your little one. Tell them about your day, tell them stories! It’ll help them to learn to listen, and it will help them to start talking sooner with their own words. Eventually, they’ll be babbling back to you with the same words you told them when they were young! You can also sing to them, as babies love singing. Your little one just loves the sound of your voice because they’ve been hearing it since before they even got into the world, so let them hear it.

Weaning Baby From Breast to Bottle


Making the transition from breastfeeding to bottle feeding your baby can be a big step. For some babies, it’s very easy to adapt to the bottle. They’ll be guzzling down that yummy food in no time! On the other hand, some babies may take a while to get used to being bottle fed. They may struggle to adjust to the bottle and the sensation in their mouth – it’s a totally new thing for them after all, and the sensory overload can be pretty intense for any baby.

To start with, you should start with just one bottle feeding a day for a week to help your baby to adapt to solely relying on the bottle. Every week you should then increase the number of bottle feedings until you are fully using the bottle. This is great as it can help your body to get used to it, and it helps your baby to adjust gradually. It’s best not to do a sudden change all at once as it may have a negative effect on your little one.

Most babies will have no issue with adapting to bottle feeding, but every baby is different. Just have some patience and give it time, and they will eventually begin to adapt.

Ease Into It

The trick is to make the process a gradual one. Don’t go from breastfeeding one day, to completely feeding your baby from the bottle the next day. It can take time for your baby to adjust, so you need to be patient. Just try it for one feed a day and then increase it over the following weeks. Eventually, your baby will be feeding completely from the bottle.

Weaning Baby From Bottle to Cup


Weaning Baby From Bottle to Cup

Time to get out the tissues, because your baby is growing up! It’s a bittersweet time for any parent, but it’s so exciting to see how your baby responds to all sorts of new foods! Most dieticians recommend that you should stop using the bottles around the time they hit one year old. This is mainly because you’re going to be using cow’s milk instead of formula at this point. Whatever the case, it’s usually best to ensure that they are completely off the bottle by the time that they reach 18 months old. You don’t want your baby to be relying on pacifiers and bottles for longer than necessary. It’s harder to get your baby to detach from them the older that they get.

By the time that your baby is around 6 to 9 months old, they should be beginning to use sippy cups. At this point, they can start to drink water and other sorts of liquids. There are two main ways to get your baby off the bottles too. The first choice is to just take them away entirely, transitioning quickly. This can be effective, but it’s often met with resistance from many parents who think that it isn’t kind to their baby. It isn’t going to be a simple task, but it will make the process faster. Be prepared for your baby to resist. Alternatively, you can gradually introduce them to the sippy cup through time.

You may find that it’s particularly difficult to get your baby to stop taking the night time bottle. It can sometimes mean that it is harder for your baby to get to sleep. You can counter this by having a comfortable ritual at bedtime to help your baby to feel better. For instance, you could keep them close while reading a story, or you can give them a bath before bed. Pretty soon, they’ll forget how much they depended on their bottle and will be fully transitioned to the sippy cup.

The main thing to do is to be consistent. Be firm – the transition is going to be difficult, but it’s necessary for your baby’s health. They’ll thank you for it when they are older!

Summary

And that’s everything that you need to know about bottle feeding your baby! It can be a little daunting, but like with everything when it comes to parenting, you will get used to it with time. If you have any concerns, don’t be afraid to speak to family or a health practitioner for help. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child!




First Year Feeding Guide for Babies

The first year of your baby’s life is a crucial stage of growth and development. They will go from a tiny, wrinkly newborn to a bouncy, boisterous babe in no time. That is, provided they get the right nourishment.

Nourishment and nutrients come from food. Food is and always has been fuel for the human body. We might now consider things like taste, cost, and presentation, but in the most basic form, it is no different from gas for your car.

As a parent, it is your job to choose and deliver the fuel so that your baby can convert it to energy. This energy is used for growth and development all across the body from microscopic neurons in the brain, to the visible height changes. 

Unfortunately, unlike fueling your car, you have more than just one or two options. There is a furious debate about how to give your child the best start in life. It leaves new parents wondering whether breast is best, what formula is appropriate, when they should introduce solids, and what foods to avoid. 

These are tricky questions to answer at the best of times. When you’re sleep-deprived and coping with a crying newborn they seem impossible! 

That’s why we’ve put together a complete guide that will take you through the first year of feeding. Whether you’re preparing to welcome your newborn, or you’re up at 3 am trying to figure out what will fill the seemingly bottomless pit in your crying 8-month-old, the answers are right here.


Basics of Infant Nutrition

Understanding what your baby needs to be happy, healthy, and fuelled can help you make the best choices when it comes to food.

You also need to understand how babies process and handle different foods. You see, human babies are born underdeveloped.

Compared to other animals, humans have a very short pregnancy which is why human babies are so helpless. A baby giraffe, for instance, can walk after a few short hours. A human baby takes around 2 years before they can totter. 

This underdevelopment has helped us climb the evolutionary ladder but it does mean that we need to be more careful and involved when it comes to feeding our babies. 

The key thing to remember is that your baby is not capable of digesting complex foods until their digestive system matures. This usually happens at around 6 months but each baby is different. 

Until their digestive system matures, your baby will need to be on a milk only diet. 

Solids can be introduced slowly after 6 months or earlier on the advice of your pediatrician. 

There are a few foods that should be avoided until the baby is older. We will cover these in detail later, but essentially if a food contains bacterias or the risk of bacteria it should be avoided. Adults have sufficiently strong immune systems to mitigate these risks but babies do not.

Let’s now take a quick look at the nutrients your baby needs to grow healthy and strong in the first year of their lives.

Calcium- This is key for strong bones and teeth. It’s particularly important for babies who are in the process of growing teeth and calcifying their bones.
Milk, breast or formula, is a baby’s main source of calcium in the first year of their lives.

Fat – Fat is turned into energy which is used all around the body. Fat is also used to help the brain develop, boost the immune system, and keep your baby’s skin and hair healthy.
Fat makes up a large part of breast milk. It’s good fat though! Not a saturated fat in sight!

Iron – This is used to build red blood cells and develop the brain.
Babies are born with a store of iron that will see them through about 4 months. After this point, breastfed babies should get some iron supplements in their diet. This is because breast milk doesn’t contain enough iron. 

Protein and carbohydrates –These are converted into energy that is used for daily activities such as moving, digesting, and growing. Essentially, these nutrients are the calorie components.

Folates – Folates help cells divide which is essential for growth.
Folates are found in breast milk and formula. Breastfeeding women are advised to take folic acid daily to help boost their production of folates. 

Zinc –
This is used by your baby’s cells to help them grow and repair.
Up to 6 months of age, breast milk will provide enough zinc for your baby. After that point, they will need to get their zinc from solids or formula.

Vitamins – Your baby, just like you, requires a raft of vitamins to help support bodily growth and function.
Formula milk usually contains all the vitamins your baby needs to prosper. Breast milk will also contain the right vitamins provided you get them through your diet.


A Feeding Timeline


At a glance, here are the feeding milestones your baby should be hitting in their first year.

You must remember that babies develop at their own pace. If they’re a bit behind or a bit ahead of this timeline, don’t panic. 

We advise that you speak to your pediatrician about any concerns you may have or if you want to move on to a new step earlier or later than usual.

Age (months)Food stage
0-4Breast milk or formula only.
6-8Milk is still the main source of food. However, they can begin sampling some solids provided they are cut up or blended.

Milk will provide all the essential nutrients your baby needs up to 6 months of age. However, there is some evidence that allowing your baby to try foods at 4 or 5 months helps prevent allergies.
8-10Still drinks milk but supplements with some solid food.

Your baby will likely start reaching for your food and opening their mouths when a spoon is presented to them.

They will also start using their fingers and thumbs to pick up food and feed themselves.
10-12At this point, they’ll be taking some milk, but most of their food will be solid.

They should be beginning to feed themselves with their hands, but should also begin to use a spoon independently.

Now that we have an overview, let’s take a look at each milestone in detail.


Breast Milk vs Formula


Whether you plan on breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, the first few feeds help get your baby used to the actual act of feeding. Your little one will need to get used to the feel of your nipple or the teat and they will need to develop their suckling skills.

We will take a look at how to make the most of these feeds whether your breast or bottle feeding. But first, let’s address the fierce debate that rages around breastfeeding and bottle feeding. 

The first thing to be aware of is that the term ‘bottle feeding’ doesn’t automatically mean formula. Some women express their breast milk and feed from a bottle. This might be due to time or schedule conflicts. because the baby struggles to latch, or simply as a way of allowing their partner to feed the baby. 

The real debate focuses on whether breastmilk or formula milk is the best food source for babies. 

It is, at times, an incredibly fierce debate, often fuelled on both sides by emotional, social, and religious beliefs. It’s not the place of this article to share or dispel those arguments. What we’re here to do is look at the facts. 

Breast milk is nutritionally better for babies. Not because it has higher levels of nutrients, but because the nutrients are more suitable for digestion by human babies.  

Formula tends to be made from cow’s milk that has been dried and treated. The treatment makes the milk more digestible for your baby than standard cow’s milk. 

Formula milk is based on the whey and proteins found in cow’s milk. Nutrients like zinc and iron are usually added to the formula so that the mix produces everything the baby needs. 

Breast milk has also been proven to protect babies from certain infections and conditions including asthma, diabetes, and meningitis. This is because antibodies from the mother are passed on to the baby through the milk. 

Even though breast milk offers benefits that formulas don’t, the formulas that are around now are safe and healthy alternatives to breast milk. 

Formula contains the nutrients your baby needs to thrive. This is regulated by the FDA across all formula brands.

So if you’re having trouble with breastfeeding, or simply can’t breastfeed, you should not feel guilty about using formula instead.


The First Feeds

In the first few days of your baby’s life, you will spend a lot of time bonding. Feeding is one of the key bonding times because of the intimacy of the activity and the frequency.

In the first week, you might find that your baby wants to feed as often as once an hour. This is ok. They won’t be taking much each feed at this point. After a week or so they should settle down to longer but fewer feeds. 

The amount of milk your baby needs will depend on whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding. 

Breastfeeding

It’s impossible to overfeed a breastfeeding baby. Your baby will tell you when it’s hungry by turning towards the nipple, sucking its fingers, or murmuring. 

When you notice these signs you should allow your baby to feed. It is much more difficult to try and soothe a crying baby with milk than it is to feed before they start to cry. 

When the baby has had enough they will unlatch and turn away. At this point, you should stop. There’s no need to try and encourage them to take more milk. They will feed again when they’re hungry. 

You’ll probably notice that the first milk you produce is almost golden. This milk is called colostrum and it’s incredibly dense in nutrients. It’s because of the high quality of this milk that your baby will feed little and often in the first few days. 

After about a week, your milk will ‘come in’ and you’ll notice that it’s more like normal milk in appearance. When this happens, your baby will probably settle into a more manageable feeding routine. 

As a rough guide, you should be feeding your baby at least 8-12 times in 24 hours for the first week.  To reiterate, this is a rough guide. Your baby may want to feed many more times or far fewer times a day. 

The key thing to remember is to be a responsive feeder. That is, you feed when the baby indicates that they are hungry.

Formula Feeding

If you are using formula, similar rules apply. Feed your baby before they start to cry when they show signs of hunger.

Initially, they will take small amounts of milk often. This means that they won’t always finish off what you have in the bottle. Again, it’s best not to force them to drink. 

If you have formula leftover, make sure it goes straight in the refrigerator. You can reuse it within 24 hours. 

As with breastmilk, by the end of the first week, they should have settled into a more manageable feeding schedule. 

In the first few days, you’ll be feeding as little as 1 – 2 oz of formula per feed. This will increase gradually as your baby grows.

A Note on Formula

Formula comes in two different forms, powder or ready to go. Powdered formula needs to be mixed with sterilized water, while ready to go milk just needs to be heated. 

There are pros and cons to both, however, powder lasts longer, is much cheaper, and is generally easier to come by. 

Ready to go milk, while more convenient, can’t be stored for more than 2 days when opened. If your baby doesn’t finish the bottle at that point it needs to be thrown. 

With powder, you have a lot more control over how much milk you makeup and therefore how much is leftover in the fridge. 

Another great thing about powdered formula is that your unused and unopened containers can be sold when your baby no longer needs them. This is great news as babies are incredibly expensive. Selling the mountains of gifted formula you tend to get or the bulk buys you never end up using can help pay for some of those baby-related expenses. 

Choosing a formula can be tricky, there are lots of different brands offering lots of different ‘specialty kinds of milk.’ You’ll see them labeled as advanced, pro, hypoallergenic, follow on, and various other names. 

Ultimately, as long as the formula is suitable for use from birth, you don’t need to change to a different formula as they get older. There is no evidence that these advanced or ‘super, hyper pro’ formulas have a greater impact on your baby’s growth and development.


1 Week – 4 Months

As mentioned above, in these months you will be feeding exclusively with milk. Whether your breastfeeding, expressing, or formula feeding, as long as it’s only milk, it’s fine.

As your baby grows they will naturally need more milk to help them grow and develop. 

Below you’ll find a chart of recommended feeding sizes based on the baby’s age and the type of milk. It should be noted that these are general guidelines, not strict rules. 

Your baby will drink when they are hungry and stop when they’re full. This method of feeding is called responsive feeding or on-demand feeding. 

Responsive feeding has become increasingly popular over the last few years. However, there are still very few studies into the difference between schedule fed babies and responsive fed babies. 

Those studies that do exist suggest that responsive feeding has some important benefits for baby and mother. These benefits include improved intellectual development and attainment.

If you’re concerned that your baby isn’t eating enough or that they’re always hungry, speak to your pediatrician.

Age(months)Formula per feed(oz)Number of breast or formula feeds per 24 hours.Maximum formula volume per 24 hours
0-1≅ 4 oz6-824 oz
2≅ 6 oz5-632 oz
3≅ 7 oz5-632 oz
4≅ 7 oz5-632 oz

You’ll notice that there isn’t an amount given for breastfeeding. This is because it’s impossible to measure how much breast milk they are taking unless you express it. 

It’s important to remember that at this age, babies will stop feeding when they are full but these guidelines should help you when it comes to preparing bottles. 

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

For the first four months, breastmilk and formula should provide enough vitamins and minerals for your baby. The exception is vitamin D which is only produced by the body when it gets direct sunlight.

Breastmilk won’t provide enough vitamin D for your baby. As such you’ll need to speak to your doctor about vitamin D drops. These are added to the milk once a day to boost the vitamin levels.

Most formulas do provide enough vitamin D. The recommended amount of vitamin D for babies under a year is 400 IU. Generally, if your baby is taking 32 oz of formula each day, they won’t need drops. If they are taking less they may need them.


4-6 Months

Between the ages of 4 and 6 months, your baby’s primary food is still milk. It is from milk that they will get their nutrients and their energy. 

However, you may be able to start introducing some solid foods at this point. These solids should be tasters rather than meal replacements. 

The idea is that by introducing solid foods to the baby, their body learns to accept them and so allergies are reduced. However, the solids are introduced too slowly to be a reliable source of nutrients or energy for your baby. 

Before you start introducing your baby to solid foods you need to make sure that they are physically able to handle these foods. 

First and foremost, your baby needs to be able to sit upright and have good control over its head and neck. If they can’t sit unaided in a high chair, don’t start with solids. 

The other thing to look out for is their tongue control. Until your baby is ready for solids, their tongue will automatically push food out of the mouth. 

When your baby can use their tongue to move food from the front to the back of the mouth, they are ready to start trying solid foods. 

Don’t rush this step. If they’re not ready in 4 months, that’s fine.

Tips for Introducing Solids

  • Take it one food at a time. You don’t want to offer them mixes like cereal and fruit or meat and veg. 
  • Introduce one food slowly over a few days before introducing the next. Giving your baby a few days to respond and react to the food. This will help you identify any allergies or intolerances. 
  • Start small. Begin with a teaspoon and gradually increase as they get used to the food. 
  • It’s best to start with infant cereal before moving onto fruits, veg, and then meats.
  • Breast or formula milk must be used for the rice cereal as babies under a year should not drink cow’s milk. 
  • Be aware of how much salt and sugar is in packaged food. Your baby does not need additional salt or sugar.
  • Do not give your baby fruit juices until they’re over a year old. 
  • Infant cereals should not be solely rice-based. Too much rice in their diet can expose them to arsenic.

Below you’ll see a table that highlights the feeding recommendations for babies between 4 and 6 months.

You’ll notice that the solid food guidelines are measured in teaspoons per feed per day. This amount should only be given when the baby is familiar with the food. In the first few days of introduction, the amount will be fairly negligible. 

Remember that the recommended amounts for solid foods are optional at this stage. You don’t have to feed them rice cereal, fruit, veg and meat each day. Just let them have a few bites when they are hungry before going to the bottle.

FoodAmount per DayFeeds per Day
Breastmilk or formula28 – 32 oz4-6
Infant cereals with formula or breastmilk3 – 5 tbs1 or 2
Fruits1-2 tbsp1 or 2
Vegetables1-2 tbsp1 or 2
Meat1-2 tbsp1 or 2

Remember to wash any fruits and veg you feed to your baby. You need to be especially vigilant when feeding them fruit and veg that have come into contact with the ground as these can sometimes carry botulism spores. 

Also, remember that at this stage any ‘solid’ food needs to be blended or mashed. Your baby won’t be able to chew whole food.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Your baby should continue to take vitamin D drops as advised by your doctor. Remember that it is especially important that breastfed babies take vitamin D supplements. 

After the age of 4 months, you’ll most likely need to give your baby iron drops in addition to vitamin D drops. This is generally only true of breastfed babies as formulas tend to be fortified with iron. 


6 – 8 Months

By the age of 6 months, your baby should begin eating complementary solid foods. Essentially, these are larger amounts of solids from which the baby can obtain some nutritional benefits. 

You’ll notice that the purpose of these foods are different from when you were simply introducing them at around 4 months. 

As with before, you’ll want to give these foods in a mashed, strained, or pureed form. However, as they become more confident with solid foods you can begin to feed them slightly lumpier textures. 

The recommendations for the kinds of foods to feed are pretty much the same as before. Fortified cereals mixed with breastmilk or formula, fruits, vegetables, and meats. 

As before, you’ll want to introduce new foods slowly and one at a time. You can, at this point include foods from the allergens groups like nuts, fish, and eggs provided there isn’t a family history of reactions.

Food6 months7 months8 months
Breastmilk or formula28 – 32 oz, 4-6 times a day.30 – 32 oz, 3 – 5 times a day.30 – 32 oz, 3-5 times a day.
Infant cereals3 – 5 tbs, 1 – 2 times a day.3 – 5 tbs, 1 – 2 times a day.5 – 8 tbs, 1 – 2 times a day.
Fruit1 – 2 tbsp, 1 – 2 times a day.2 – 3 tbs, 2 times a day.2 – 3 tbs, 2 times a day.
Vegetables1 – 2 tbsp, 1 – 2 times a day.2 – 3 tbs, 2 times a day.2 – 3 tbs, 2 times a day.
Meat1 – 2 tbsp, 1 – 2 times a day.1 – 2 tbsp, 2 times a day.2 – 3 tbs, 2 times a day.

Remember that at this age, milk is still the biggest source of nutrients. Solid foods are like snacks and shouldn’t replace milk feeds.


9 – 12 Months

During these months, your baby will gradually move towards eating 3 meals a day consisting mainly of solid foods. 

They will still drink milk as their main form of fluid intake but you should notice that they are gradually drinking less milk and eating more solids. 

From 9 months, your baby should be able to manage finger foods and you can start some baby-led weaning. 

The idea behind baby-led weaning is that you choose what foods to offer but the baby chooses what to eat. 

You’ll know if your baby is ready for this because they’ll be able to pick up foods between their finger and thumb. They’ll also start to develop a chewing motion which will help them with different textures. 

As they approach 12 months, they should be getting breakfast, lunch, and dinner with milk feeds in between if they are hungry. 

Wherever possible, your baby should eat with you as they learn from observing adults. 

From 9 months onwards you can offer your baby food from the following food groups: 


  • Fruits

  • Vegetables

  • Proteins

  • Carbohydrates or starches

  • Dairy

Dairy products need to be pasteurized to be safe for your baby. Suitable foods include pasteurized yogurts and cheeses. 

You can use unpasteurized full fat cow’s milk in cooking but it shouldn’t be given as a drink until after their first birthday. 

Remember that added salt and sugar are no good for your baby. As they get older they will likely start eating more and more packaged food like yogurt or meats. If this is the case, you need to check the nutritional ingredients for the sugar and salt content. 

Also during these months, your baby will start to develop some independence when it comes to feeding. They’ll pick up the finger food you offer them and will begin to use a spoon or fork. 

It’s a messy but vital stage. Doing the feeding for your baby to avoid a mess is not the answer. This will delay their development. 

While milk will be your baby’s main source of hydration, you can offer a sippy cup of water with meals. Learning to drink from a cup is another vital skill that they will need to learn. 

Your baby will also begin teething at this stage. You can offer them teething cookies such as rusks or arrowroot cookies to relieve some of the discomforts. 

Food9 months10 – 12 months
Breastmilk or formula30 – 32 oz, 3 – 5 times a day.24 – 32 oz, 3-4 times a day
Infant cereals5 – 8 tbs, once a day.5 – 8 tbs, once a day.
Fruit2 – 4  tbs, 2 times a day.2 – 4  tbs, 2 times a day.
Vegetables2 – 4  tbs, 2 times a day.2 – 4  tbs, 2 times a day.
Meats and proteins2 – 3 tbs, 2 times a day.2 – 3 tbs, 2 times a day.
Starches¼ – ½ cup, 2 times a day.¼ – ½ cup, 2 times a day.
Tips for Preparing Foods

When your baby begins eating solid foods in earnest you can give them the chance to eat foods without blending them. 

However, even at 12 months, your baby still has a small throat susceptible to blockages from larger foods. As such, you must prepare food safely and watch your baby closely during meals. 

The CDC lists examples of foods that can become choking hazards here. Below are some tips for avoiding these hazards.

  • Chop round foods in half lengthways so they are less likely to block the throat. If they’re still a bit big, quarter them. 
  • Long foods like hot dogs or cucumbers are better off sliced into sticks or batons. These are easier to hold and less likely to get stuck in the throat. 
  • Be wary of dry foods like crackers, cereals, and bread. The crumbs can cause the baby to cough and splutter. Make sure you offer some water for them to wash it down with. 
  • If you are serving meat or fish, make sure all bones and skins are removed. Cut them into small chunks that can be chewed and swallowed. 
  • For small food items like peas, nuts, or chickpeas, mash them lightly with a fork before serving.


Foods to Avoid

In general, it’s a great idea to encourage your baby to try lots of different foods. They shouldn’t be limited to foods you like or restricted to adult diets. The wider range of foods your baby tries the wider their palette will be as they grow. 

There are, however, some foods that should be avoided or limited while your baby is under 12 months. These foods tend to present a particular risk of infection or illness. 

  • Honey – Honey often contains botulism spores which can make your baby very ill. Also, honey contains a lot of sugar which can be particularly damaging to newly developing teeth.

  • Unpasteurized foods – this includes milk, yogurt, cheeses, and juices. These foods carry an increased risk of e.coli bacteria which can cause fatal infections.
    Pasteurized versions of these foods are fine for your baby to eat.

  • Fortified cow’s milk – this contains too much protein for a baby under 12 months. It can seriously affect their kidneys.

  • Whole nuts – these present a significant choking hazard to young children. If you are feeding nuts, chop or mash them first.

  • Fish high in mercury – these fish tend to fall in the sharks, swordfish, and marlin category so aren’t particularly common in most diets. However, tuna carries a medium level of mercury and should not be fed too frequently.

  • Raw shellfish – there is an increased risk of food poisoning with raw shellfish. This can be very severe in babies. 

The above foods should be avoided in your baby’s first year. The risks are far too high for an infant. There are other foods that should be eaten in moderation. They include: 

  • Foods high in salt – salty meats, processed foods, chips, and other snacks tend to have higher levels of sodium. Limit or avoid these foods. Sodium can damage your baby’s kidneys. 

  • Foods high in sugar – sugar causes tooth decay and can increase the risk of obesity. Give sugary foods like ice cream, cookies, and cake as a rare treat not an everyday snack.


Drinks

While your baby mainly drinks milk, they don’t require any other drinks. This means that until about 6 months of age, you won’t need to give them water except in the case of exceptional heat.

From 6 months old, your baby can have small sips of water to wash down food. You need to remember that your baby’s stomach is very small and it can easily get filled up with water. 

Large amounts of water in short spaces of time can cause water toxicity. This can be caused pretty quickly in babies as their stomachs are so small and their kidneys underdeveloped.

So, the rule is, none before 6 months and small sips after 6 months. 

In terms of other drinks, we’ve already mentioned that unpasteurized substances like fruit juice and milk can carry e.coli. These should not be given before 12 months and limited after that age.

Cow’s milk can be given as a drink from the age of 12 months but not before. It does not contain the right levels of iron but it will fill up their tummies. 

Sugary and carbonated drinks like soda and milkshakes should not be given to babies. It contains too much sugar and not enough nutritional content.

Textures

In the later months of your child’s first year, you’ll want to start getting them used to different textures. Up until about 9 months of age, everything they’ve eaten will have been liquid or pureed till smooth.

As they begin to wean off milk you’ll want to introduce them to different textures. You can start by lightly mashing instead of pureeing food and eventually move to chopped or ground foods. 

At first, your baby might find these textures confusing or uncomfortable. They might pull faces or spit the food out. 

This is ok. Just try to be patient and let your baby choose the food when they are ready. 

It’s important to keep offering them textured foods even if they’ve pulled a face or spat it out before. Often babies need to try a food a few times to get used to it. As long as it’s offered, they will eventually become accustomed to the taste and texture.

Final Thoughts

In their first year of life, your baby will have tripled their birth weight and grown on average about 7 inches in length. Those first 12 months are the most intense in terms of growth that your baby will know in their entire life. 


You need to provide them with the right fuel to help them grow and develop. This means choosing foods or milk that provides them with the right nutrients.

However, food is also important in their development as human beings. Learning how to eat, how to use cutlery, or how to drink out of a cup are important milestones for your baby. 

It’s also important to use this time to introduce them to new tastes and textures ready for their adult life. 

We know that that first year can become a bit of a blur of feeds, diaper changes, and sleepless nights. Hopefully, this guide provides you with some clarity in those challenging but rewarding times. 

Passover 2020 Holiday Schedule for SellFormula

Attention: Please see our updated schedule for Passover 2020.

Blog post.
In honor of the Passover Holiday, Sellformula will a revised schedule.
Please take note of the dates as it will affect payments.
You may request & create orders during these dates, however, no shipping kits will be sent, no boxes will be received and no payments will be sent on the days we are closed.
Thursday, April 9th – closed
Friday, April 10th – closed
Monday, April 13 – open
Tuesday, April 14 – open
Wednesday, April 15 – closed
Thursday, April 16 – closed

We will resume & be open as usual, Friday, April 17, 2020

Thank you for your understanding & Happy Holidays!

October 2019 Sukkot Schedule (Festival of Tabernacles)

In Honor of the Sukkot Holiday (Festival of Tabernacles), SellFormula will have a revised schedule twice this month.

Please note these dates carefully, as they will affect payments and shipments from us to you.

On the following dates, you can still request a shipping kit online, but no Shipping Kits will be sent, no boxes will be received and no payments will be sent.

October 14th – CLOSED

October 15th – CLOSED

October 16th – Open

October 17th – Open

October 18th – Open

October 21st – CLOSED

October 22nd – CLOSED

All operations will resume as normal when we return on October 23rd.

 

Rosh Hashana SellFormula Holiday Schedule

In honor of the Rosh Hashana holiday, SellFormula phone support will be away from Monday October 31st through Tuesday, September 1st.

You can still receive a quote and request a shipping kit online, but no packages will be sent or delivered until Wednesday, September 2nd. 

All orders will be handled in the order they were received.

We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

September & October 2018 SellFormula Holiday Schedule

September and October bring us an updated Schedule at SellFormula.com.

Please review these dates carefully as they will affect when shipping kits will be sent, orders received, and payments submitted.

When calendar days are not marked, everything will work as usual and we will resume as usual when we are back!

We apologize for any inconvenience.

 

Monday September 11, 2018 – Closed
Tuesday September 12, 2018 – Closed

Tuesday September 18, 2018 – Closed
Wednesday September 19, 2018 – Closed

Monday September 24, 2018 – Closed
Tuesday September 25, 2018 – Closed
Wednesday September 26, 2018 – Open
Thursday September 27, 2018 – Open
Friday September 28, 2018 – Open

Monday October 1, 2018 – Closed
Tuesday October 2, 2018 – Closed

Business will resume as usual on October 3rd.

Schedule - SF - 2018

SellFormula.com – Updated September & October 2017 Schedule

In honor of the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot Holidays, SellFormula.com will have an amended schedule. During the days we are closed, no boxes will be received, no shipping kits will go out and no payments will be sent.
Please review these dates carefully and schedule your shipments accordingly. You can still request shipping kits online, and mail your formula to us, but payments and receiving will be delayed.

  • SellFormula.com will be closed September 21 through the 22nd.
  • SellFormula.com will be closed October 5th through the 7th, but will be open with limited access on the 8th 9th 10th and 11th and be closed the 12th and 13th.
  • We will be fully functional on the 16th of October.

We apologize for any convenience this updated schedule may cause.
– The SellFormula.com Team

SellFormula.com Shvuot Holiday Schedule 2017

In honor of the the Shvuot Holiday (Feast of Weeks) and Memorial Day, SellFormula.com will be closed on May 29th, May31st and June 1st.

We WILL be open on May 30th.

We will re-open again on Friday June 2nd 2017.

Please make sure you note these days before shipping your formula into SellFormula.com as this will delay payments. All shipping kits ordered during this time will be sent on Friday when we return.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email us at [email protected].