Answer the eternal question: Should babies be bottle-fed?

Should infant bottle-feeding is a question of many mothers. Some people say that is the right position to lie down. It is rumored that the baby will have ear infections. So what is the truth?

Should babies be bottle-fed?

You may have heard a rumor that bottle-fed babies are more susceptible to ear infections than breastfed babies. Many people speculate that cow's milk - formula milk is the cause. However, this is just a baseless rumor. No association between formula and ear infection has been proven.

The real cause of bottle-feeding babies with ear infections is their sleeping position. Babies that lie down on feed are more likely to get ear infections.

This is because the Eustachian tubes drain the middle ear fluid into the back of the throat behind the nose. When the baby is lying down, the milk flows into the back of the throat easily. Milk then flows down the Eustachian tubes and the middle ear. Hence bacteria can multiply and infect the baby.

So whether you feed your baby a bottle of formula or suck it out to feed your baby, never let your baby lie down.

Posture for the baby to lie down properly 

First, the mother sits comfortably, holding the baby in her arms. Keep the bottle tilted, with the neck and nipples filled with breastmilk or formula. If the baby does not latch on the nipple, the mother can gently press the baby's chin and gently shake the nipple to encourage feeding. This method helps prevent the baby from swallowing air, making gas.

You should regularly check your nipples. When the bottle is turned upside down, the teat can become clogged if you give your baby a formula.

Even when properly fed, a baby can still swallow air. After feeding the baby, the mother should hold the baby upright on her shoulder or on her lap, her hand supporting her chin. Pat or gently rub the center of the back until your baby burps.

The dangers of breastfeeding your baby without someone to hold your baby

Many parents often feed their babies by themselves by placing the bottle on a pillow or blanket roll without someone holding the baby. This is very dangerous for your baby, he may experience the following conditions:

Suffocation: The baby cannot control the flow of milk. Milk will continue to flow even when your baby is not ready to swallow. It is very dangerous if the baby is suffocated without anyone knowing.

Aspiration pneumonia: This disease occurs when food and drink enter the lungs, rather than the stomach. The baby may not be well, has a chest infection and needs to be hospitalized.

Baby is choked by objects that guard the bottle: the things the mother uses to hold the bottle can fall on the baby's face and prevent the baby from breathing. Whenever babies lie down, parents need to ensure the principle of safe sleep. Do not let anything cover the baby's face, head or keep toys in the crib.

Tooth decay: Keeping the bottle a lot can cause tooth decay. Because milk together with saliva creates acids that damage baby teeth.

Baby overeating: If no one pulls out the bottle, the baby must finish the bottle even when full. This will cause your baby to be overweight, vomiting or choking. When the baby shows signs of fullness, the mother needs to immediately withdraw the bottle from the baby's mouth.

Insufficient feeding:: If the bottle falls out of the baby's mouth before drinking it, he or she will not receive the required amount of milk for growth and development. This is a sign that your baby is not drinking enough milk .

Epilogue 

So the mother has the answer to the question of whether to bottle-feed babies. In addition to the risk of middle ear infections, there are many other problems that can happen to your baby if the mother is nursing. Therefore, mothers should never let babies lie down on their own to suckle, but need to observe carefully when babies suckle. You will not want to have unfortunate things happening to your baby just because of the wrong breast feeding!

See more:

Bottle-feeding - the truths about bottle-feeding startle the mother

Bottle-fed babies - All the knowledge mothers need to know

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