Importance of a Bottle for Babies

The decision to breast versus bottle feed a baby is an intensely personal one for many families. A bottle is an important part of feeding a baby regardless of the decision you choose. There may be times when you will be unable to be there to personally feed the baby and having a bottle on hand is necessary. There are many reasons why a bottle is important for a baby.

Freedom

• Bottles allow the parents to feed their child at any time regardless of a mother's milk production. If the mother works and needs a babysitter or the father takes the baby for a day out with dad, then a bottle filled with pumped breast milk or formula provides freedom of feeding when mom is not around. In this case, even breastfeeding mothers should have a bottle ready for such an occasion.

Difficulty Feeding

• While a new mother may want to breastfeed regularly, sometimes the child has a different opinion. A child may not attach well to his mother's nipple for many reasons, from a minor tongue defect to the shape and size of the nipple itself. A bottle becomes the only way a child can feed in such instances. The mother can also have difficulty producing milk or be on a medication that makes her milk unsafe to be used for feeding. A bottle filled with baby formula becomes the primary form of feeding.

Supplements and Medicine

• Babies with special dietary or digestive needs may need additional vitamins not found in breast milk. The bottle allows parents to easily mix supplements with breast milk. A bottle becomes a convenient medicine dispenser if the child falls ill and requires antibiotics or other medicines. This can be done with a special bottle designed especially for medicine dispensing or by adding it to an ordinary bottle.

Choosing a Bottle

• There are many types of bottles and nipples available on the market. Every child is different and may feed better from one type than another. Purchase several different types and see which one your baby likes best. Factors to consider include how fast the milk flows, if the baby is gassy or cries soon after feeding and how much milk dribbles out the side of his mouth. When you find a bottle that works, stick with it for as long as the baby bottle-feeds.