Formula Amounts and Following Your Baby's Cues

From birth to 2 weeks:

Your baby will feed at least 8 times in 24 hours and will take small amounts of formula. At first, your baby may drink 1/2 to 2 oz at each feeding. This amount will increase.

Follow your baby's feeding cues. This is only a guide for the amount of formula to prepare. Your baby's cues should guide how much formula is taken. It is better to feed on cue rather than feed at a set time and a set amount.

*At this time, you can also offer your baby homogenized milk (3.25% milk fat) if your baby is eating foods from all four food groups daily.

 Following Your Baby's Cues

When feeding, sit your baby almost fully upright and hold the bottle so that the nipple is 1/2 to 3/4 full of formula.

Signs your baby is uncomfortable when feeding:

• Struggling to push away from nipple
• Stiffening of the arms and legs
• Breathing fast or working to catch their breath
• Leaking milk out the side of their mouth

Early signs of hunger include:

• Mouthing (hand movements to the mouth and suck on fists)
• Licking lips, sucking motions or sounds
• Rooting (opening the mouth, searching to suck and sucking on contact)
• Opening eyes wider than usual
• Restlessness or moving arms and legs

Early signs of fullness include:

• Sucking actions will slow down
• Losing interest or letting go of the nipple
• Rooting will stop
• Turning head away

How to Clean or Sterilize Bottle Feeding Equipment

1. Clean and disinfect the counter top. Wash your hands with soap and hot water. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean cloth or towel.
2. Wash all equipment (e.g, bottles, caps, nipples) With warm soapy water. Make sure the hard-to-reach areas are clean by using a bottle cleaning brush. Rinse the equipment well. If your baby is four months of age or older and drinking liquid concentrate or ready-to-feed, skip to step 5.
3. Place cleaned equipment into a pot. Fill the pot with water. Make sure all equipment is fully covered with water. Note: If using disposable bottle system with inserts, you only need to sterilize the nipples, rims and caps.
4. Cover pot and bring water to a roiling boil for at least two minutes.
5. Keep equipment in covered pot until items are needed or place equipment on a clean cloth or towel on the counter to dry.

How to Prepare Powdered Formula

1. Clean and disinfect the counter top. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Dry hands with a clean towel.
2. Bring water to a rolling boil for two minutes. Let water cool to no less than 70°C (may take between 10-30 minutes). You can use a food grade thermometer.
3. Read and follow instructions to know how much powder to use.
4. Pour the correct amount of water (no less than 70°C) into an empty sterile glass measuring cup.
5. Immediately add the correct amount of formula powder to the water. If needed, use a sterilized knife to make a level scoop.
6. Mix well by stirring with a sterilized spoon until there are no lumps in the formula. Pour enough prepared formula for one feeding into each bottle. Pick up sterile nipple rim and cap with sterile tongs and put on bottle, and tighten with your hands.
7. It is best to feed your baby prepared powdered infant formula right away. Cool the bottle quickly to room or body temperature by placing it in ice water or under cold running water. If not, store the bottle in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
8. Check the temperature by dripping a small amount onto the inside of your wrist. The temperature should feel lukewarm and not hot.
9. Feed your baby based on his/her feeding cues.

How to Prepare Liquid Concentrate Formula

1. Clean and disinfect the counter top. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Dry hands with a clean towel. If your baby is four months of age or older, skip to Step 3.
2. Bring water to a rolling boil for two full minutes. Cool water to room or body temperature (37°C).
3. Wash top of container with soap and warm water, and dry with a clean towel.
4. Shake can thoroughly (about 10 seconds).
5. Open can with a clean can opener. If your baby is less than four months of age, sanitize the can opener.
6. Pour boiled water into an empty, sterilized measuring cup. Add an equal amount of liquid concentrate formula to the boiled water. Make only the amount you need for one feeding or one day.
7. Mix the water and liquid concentrate together well. Pour enough formula for one feeding into each bottle. Pick up sterile nipple, rim and cap with sterile tongs and put on bottle. Tighten with your hands.
8. Feed your baby right away or store the bottle in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
9. Check the temperature by dripping a small amount onto the inside of your wrist. The temperature should feel lukewarm not hot.
10. Feed your baby based on his/her feeding cues.