Bottle feeding can be a family occasion. This can
be especially helpful for a mother with a newly
arrived baby. During this time feeding her child
will be a happy though very tiring time. Getting
others in your family to help out can be a great
help.
Feeding baby is something most fathers really
love doing. Just like mom, dad experiences the
intense emotional and physical bond between himself
and baby. At first, he will probably feel awkward -
just as a mother does when she first bottle feeds.
But give him time and some encouragement and he'll
soon get into the swing of things. Pass on to him
the tips that you've learned and, before you know
it, he'll be passing on tips to you! When dad feeds
his child, just like mom, he's able to distinguish
one cry from another, and know exactly how to soothe
and feed a hungry baby.
Just about all children are fascinated by the
arrival of a new brother or sister. They
instinctively want to help mother and to get
involved in the rearing of the new baby. Teaching
them how to bottle feed is a great way to get them
involved. Just remember to be patient when teaching
them and always supervise feeding. Here are some
tips on how to teach your children to bottle feed
baby.
- Choose a calm time when baby is not very
hungry. Remember, your older children are going to
be excited about feeding their younger sibling, so
it's especially important to create a calm
environment before you begin.
- Sit the baby of the floor and provide good
support.
- Show your child the proper way to hold the
baby, emphasizing the need for proper head and neck
support. Don't rush; your child is still learning to
use and move her own body, never mind learning how
to hold an even younger child.
- Encourage the child to offer the baby a bottle;
allow time for your infant to adjust to the new
feeder.
- Always stay with the child to help and offer
encouragement. Feeding can be tiring, so be sure to
step in and take over when you notice the signs of
fatigue or boredom.
- Encourage her to make eye contact with the
baby. This is a great way to calm down both child
and baby.
- If the child is old enough, you can help her
burp the baby.
- Praise your child for the help she provided.
Make sure other family members help out with the
pre- and post-feeding of baby. Teach your children -
and partner - on how to prepare formula milk. Most
children love to do this, at least at first. Burping
your child is also something that others can do. And
of course, cleaning the bottle, nipples and baby
clothes can be done by anyone.
Without question, getting your family involved in
bottle feeding is of great help to a mother. As well
as getting some rest, the mother also benefits
because others will gain a real appreciation of what
effort goes into feeding baby.
