Complete infant formula

The choice for bottle feeding is a personal choice, which is often made with great attention, love, and care.

During pregnancy, you are invited by various disciplines to explore the possibilities surrounding feeding your baby. Perhaps you have taken a breastfeeding course, spoken with the midwife, or been in contact with a breastfeeding coach or lactation consultant. You have gathered information, asked questions, weighed the options, and reflected on what breastfeeding could mean for you.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that breastfeeding is not possible for everyone. Sometimes there are medical, practical, or personal circumstances that make breastfeeding unsuccessful, unfeasible, or simply not feel right. And sometimes bottle feeding is the conscious choice from the start.

Whatever path you have walked, ultimately you have chosen what suits you. A choice made with care, out of love for your baby and with the desire to feed in a pleasant and appropriate way.

For love is not in the way you feed. Love is in the attention, the closeness, and the care with which you do it.

Which bottle do you choose?

Choosing a bottle that suits your baby

Choosing a bottle: with attention to what suits your baby

Choosing a bottle for your newborn baby deserves attention, but it doesn't have to be a complicated search for one 'perfect' bottle. The most important thing is that your baby can drink safely, calmly, and comfortably. The right teat, an appropriate milk flow, a comfortable feeding position, and responsive feeding are at least as important as the brand or model of the bottle.

Every baby is different. It is therefore perfectly normal if you need some time to discover what works well for you. Pay close attention to your baby's signals while feeding. Is your baby drinking in a relaxed manner, taking sufficient pauses, and does the pace seem comfortable? If so, that is an important indication that the bottle and teat are a good fit.

Even when feeding doesn't come naturally, you don't have to figure it out alone. If you have questions or problems, an expert, such as a pediatric nurse, lactation consultant, or other healthcare professional, can look at the situation with you. Together, you can look for a feeding method that is comfortable and safe.

What should you look out for?

When choosing a bottle, parents can look at, among other things:

the material of the bottle;

the shape and ease of use;

the available sizes;

the shape and material of the teat;

the speed of the milk flow;

whether all parts can be cleaned properly;

or whether replacement teats are readily available;

and especially: how your baby reacts to the bottle and teat.

It can be nice to try one or two bottles first, instead of immediately purchasing a large number of the same type. This gives you the space to calmly discover what suits your baby.

Ultimately, a good bottle is not necessarily the most well-known or expensive one. It is the bottle that allows your baby to drink safely and comfortably, and that is pleasant and practical for you as a parent.

In this way, a bottle becomes more than just a tool for feeding. It can also be a quiet moment of closeness, eye contact, and connection. It is precisely in those small moments of being together that trust grows between parent and child.

Which bottle do you choose?

Choosing a bottle that suits your baby

Choosing a bottle: with attention to what suits your baby

Choosing a bottle for your newborn baby deserves attention, but it doesn't have to be a complicated search for one 'perfect' bottle. The most important thing is that your baby can drink safely, calmly, and comfortably. The right teat, an appropriate milk flow, a comfortable feeding position, and responsive feeding are at least as important as the brand or model of the bottle.

Every baby is different. It is therefore perfectly normal if you need some time to discover what works well for you. Pay close attention to your baby's signals while feeding. Is your baby drinking in a relaxed manner, taking sufficient pauses, and does the pace seem comfortable? If so, that is an important indication that the bottle and teat are a good fit.

Even when feeding doesn't come naturally, you don't have to figure it out alone. If you have questions or problems, an expert, such as a pediatric nurse, lactation consultant, or other healthcare professional, can look at the situation with you. Together, you can look for a feeding method that is comfortable and safe.

What should you look out for?

When choosing a bottle, parents can look at, among other things:

the material of the bottle;

the shape and ease of use;

the available sizes;

the shape and material of the teat;

the speed of the milk flow;

whether all parts can be cleaned properly;

or whether replacement teats are readily available;

and especially: how your baby reacts to the bottle and teat.

It can be nice to try one or two bottles first, instead of immediately purchasing a large number of the same type. This gives you the space to calmly discover what suits your baby.

Ultimately, a good bottle is not necessarily the most well-known or expensive one. It is the bottle that allows your baby to drink safely and comfortably, and that is pleasant and practical for you as a parent.

In this way, a bottle becomes more than just a tool for feeding. It can also be a quiet moment of closeness, eye contact, and connection. It is precisely in those small moments of being together that trust grows between parent and child.

How to prepare infant formula

1. First wash your hands with soap and water and make sure the work surface is clean.
2. Use a clean bottle and teat. Check that all parts are thoroughly clean.
3. Place the bottle, teat, cap, and measuring scoop on a clean surface or a clean cloth. Try to touch the inside of the bottle and teat as little as possible. This way, everything stays as clean as possible for your baby.
4. For day 1 after birth, the general rule is: 1 level scoop of powder per 30 cc of water, unless the maternity care provider, midwife, or the packaging indicates otherwise.
5. First, put the correct amount of cold tap water or cooled boiled water into the bottle. Use cooled boiled water if this has been agreed with the maternity nurse or midwife, if the packaging indicates this, or if you have doubts about the quality of the tap water.
6. Warm the water in the bottle until lukewarm. This can be done with a bottle warmer or by placing the bottle in a bowl or measuring cup filled with warm water. Gently swirl the bottle occasionally so that the heat is evenly distributed. Do not heat the formula too hot and do not leave the bottle in warm water for an unnecessarily long time.
7. Using the microwave is not recommended during the postpartum period. Therefore, it is preferable to warm the water or bottle using a bottle warmer or by placing the bottle in a bowl or measuring cup filled with warm water.
8. Then add the correct number of level scoops of powder using the measuring scoop from the packaging.
9. Do not use an extra scoop and do not leave out any scoops either; otherwise, the ratio between water and powder will be incorrect.
10. Stir the formula gently, or swirl the bottle carefully, until the powder is completely dissolved. Try to avoid air bubbles as much as possible.
11. Always check the temperature by dropping a few drops on the inside of your wrist. The milk should feel lukewarm, not hot.
12. Give the bottle preferably immediately after preparing it.
13. Don't let your baby take longer than half an hour to finish the bottle.
14. Throw away leftover food. Do not save leftovers for later.
15. Rinse the bottle and teat immediately with cold water after feeding. This prevents milk residue from remaining.
16. Afterwards, gently wash all parts with warm water and dish soap, or follow the arrangements you made with the maternity care provider.
17. Rinse everything thoroughly and let the parts dry on a clean cloth or a drying rack.
18. Afterwards, place a clean cloth over it, or store the material covered in a clean container until the next feeding.
19. Preferably prepare the food just before feeding.
20. Check the temperature of the formula before offering the bottle, for example by dropping a few drops on the inside of your wrist. The formula should feel lukewarm, not hot.
21. Throw away any food your baby does not finish. Do not save leftovers for later, as bacteria can enter the bottle while drinking.
22. Rinse the bottle and teat after use and clean them thoroughly according to usual hygiene guidelines.

Bottle feeding the first 24 hours

The first 24 hours of bottle feeding:

In the first 24 hours, your baby usually only needs small amounts of food. The stomach is still small, and your baby needs to get used to drinking, swallowing, and digesting outside the womb.

Offer the bottle calmly at early feeding cues, such as waking up, searching, smacking, sucking on hands, or restless movements. Crying is often a late feeding cue.

Hold your baby close to you and ensure a calm posture. Hold your baby slightly more upright, with the head well supported and the chin off the chest, so that feeding and breathing are easy.

Let your baby drink at a calm pace. Hold the bottle so that the nipple is filled with milk, but also give your baby short pauses if he or she lets go, looks away, spills milk, or becomes restless. This gives your baby time to swallow, breathe, and indicate satiety.

It is normal for your baby to drink small amounts or sometimes spit up some food in the beginning. Let your baby burp quietly between and after feedings, especially if he or she becomes restless, seems to swallow a lot of air, or has difficulty finishing the food.

Feel free to keep a muslin cloth within reach while feeding. It comes in handy if your baby spits up some milk, if milk runs down their mouth, or if you just want to dab them dry in between. The cloth is also useful after feeding when you are burping your baby or holding them upright against you for a moment. This way, you can easily catch small amounts of milk, keeping feeding calm and comfortable.



Contact the midwife or maternity care provider if your baby cannot be woken up for a feeding, refuses to drink, keeps choking, seems breathless, remains drowsy, develops an abnormal color, repeatedly spits up forcefully, or if you are worried.

Cleaning the bottles and teats

According to current national guidelines for maternity care, it is important to thoroughly clean the bottle, teat, ring, and cap after every feeding. The KCKZ indicates that the national protocols are now available in the updated protocol environment.

Step-by-step cleaning of a baby bottle;

1. Wash your hands
2. Wash your hands thoroughly before cleaning the bottle.
3. Ensure that the countertop and the materials used are clean.
4. Take the bottle apart.
5. Twist the bottle apart.
6. Remove the teat from the ring and remove the cap.
7. All parts must be cleaned separately.
8. Rinse immediately after feeding
9. Rinse the bottle and teat with cold water immediately after use.
10. This removes milk and food residues and limits bacterial growth as much as possible.
11. Clean the parts
12. Wash the bottle, teat, ring, and cap in hot water with dish soap.
13. Use a special clean bottle brush for this to thoroughly clean the inside and hard-to-reach places as well.
14. Alternatively, the parts can be washed in the dishwasher according to the manufacturer's instructions.
15. The current recommendations from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre list a complete program for this.
16. Rinse well
17. Rinse the bottle and teat thoroughly with clean/warm running water.
18. No residue of dishwashing liquid should be left behind.
19. Let everything dry
20. Place bottle, teat, ring, and cap upside down on a clean, dry cloth.
21. Let the parts air dry.
22. Do not dry the inside with a tea towel, as this can reintroduce bacteria.
23. Store the clean bottle
24. Store the completely dry parts in a clean and dry place.
25. Keep clean and used bottles separate.
26. Important for maternity care

An older protocol may still indicate that bottles must be boiled regularly during the first few months. That advice can be found, for example, in older RIVM documentation.

However, current recommendations from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre indicate that a bottle does not need to be sterilized as a standard procedure for a healthy baby: thorough cleaning in hot soapy water or the dishwasher is sufficient. Additionally, always follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions.

So, to summarize the steps as: wash hands → disassemble bottle → rinse immediately with cold water → clean with hot water, dish soap, and a bottle brush → rinse thoroughly → let air dry upside down → store clean and dry.

Finger feeding when breastfeeding or bottle feeding isn't working out yet

Finger feeding for a newborn is a technique in which a baby receives milk via a thin feeding tube or a syringe with a soft tip that you place on your finger, running along a clean finger. It is sometimes used when a baby is temporarily having difficulty drinking from the breast or a bottle. It is advisable to do this only after instruction from a midwife, maternity nurse, or lactation consultant.

Broadly speaking, it works like this:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly.
2. Attach a thin feeding tube or a flexible syringe to a syringe or reservoir containing expressed breast milk or formula.
3. Place the small tube along your clean index finger, with the end just past your fingertip.
4. Hold the baby upright or supported slightly reclined.
5. Let the baby suck on your finger (with the soft side of your finger facing up, against the palate).
6. While the baby is sucking well, the milk flows through the tube. Ideally, the baby sets the pace by sucking independently.

NB:

• Do not push the milk in quickly; the baby must be able to coordinate the feeding themselves.
• Stop if the baby chokes, turns blue, seems breathless, or cannot swallow properly.
• Clean all materials according to the instructions.