One Stop Shop For Kids - Feeding

Types of Formula for Kids

One thing that is trial and error in the beginning for new parents and kids is finding the perfect baby formula. If a mother decides to strictly breastfeed her baby then formula isn't and issue but some nursing mothers choose both and alternate feedings of breastmilk and formula. Most formula comes in large powder containers, travel packs or liquid.

There are lots of types of formulas to choose from such as Similac, Enfamil, Earth's Best and Good Start. Ask your pediatrician if they have formula samples that you can experiment with before you head to the grocery store to buy it in bulk. You will need to try a formula and see if how your baby responds to it for they may have a reaction like diarrhea, gas or extreme fussiness. If that occurs you may need to switch to a lactose free formula but always consult your pediatrician first.

Ready made formula is very convenient but it is normally more expensive than powder formula. My son was having gas bubbles when I made his formula and immediately gave it to him. One tip I learned was to make his bottles about an hour before giving it to him so they bubbles in the bottle had time to settle before entering his stomach. He also preferred a cold bottle of formula over a warm bottle. If your baby spits up large amounts frequently, he or she may have a reflux so consult your pediatrician

Always test the temperature of your baby's bottle on your wrist before you give it to them. It should be warm but not hot because if the formula is heated in the microwave it can have hot spots that will burn the inside of your baby's mouth. What formula worked the best for your baby?

Shop for Baby Feeding Products from Enfamil, Gerber, Plum Organics and more at Babiesrus.com!

Shop here for a huge selection of Formula for kids

Reminder: Talk to your pediatrician if your child has a reaction to formula.

Need fun recipes? Click Here! for 120 recipes for kids!

Helpful guidelines for feeding infants

First and foremost you should always talk to your pediatrician about your baby and feeding options but here are a few tips for the first year.

One to Three Months Old- At this point they should stick to either breastmilk, formula or both if you are supplementing your breastmilk.

Four to Six Months- This is when you can start to add precooked cereal. You need to keep it a soupy consistency so it is easy for your kids to swallow. Remember they have only had breastmilk or formula so thick cereal will be too drastic of a change.

Depending on your kids size and ability you can introduce baby food like yellow and green vegetables around five to six months. You will need to start with one food and use it strictly alone for three days to make sure that your kids do not have any reactions to the food. Next, you can start adding fruits. Always get your baby used to vegetables first instead of fruit or they will never want to eat the vegetables.

Seven Months you can start to add strained meats to their daily meal plan.

Eight to Twelve Months- This is when it starts getting fun for your kids. They can now start eating very small pieces of noodles, macaroni and cheese, breads, etc. Once your baby has reached one year old you can start weaning them off of formula and onto milk which is much more economical.

Feeding is part of your child's speech and language development. Make sure your child is meeting all of the necessary milestones for their age.

Again, always ask your pediatrician about what they recommend for you and your kids.

How to pick the right type of bottle for your kids

Whether you are breastfeeding or bottlefeeding you will need a couple of bottles. It is always good to have a 4-ounce, 8-ounce and a 10 or 12-ounce bottle handy. Bottles come in three different types:

Traditional Bottles which have straight necks and bodies

Angled Neck Bottles which are made to reduce your baby's air intake by keeping the nipple filled with liquid rather than with excess air. The less air the better because it will cause less gas for the baby. baby bottles

Disposable Liners are liners or plastic bags that are reusable and collapse as the baby eats which also minimizing air swallowing.

You can sterilize the bottles in your dishwasher or you can wash them in very hot water. Your doctor may recommend that you submerge the bottle and nipple into a pot of boiling water for a few minutes before each use to make sure the bottle is sterilized. Another way to sterilize the bottles is to buy a bottle sterilizer that is the brand of the bottle you choose. You rinse out the bottles and then put the bottles in the sterilizer face down. Put 7-10 ounces of water in the bottom of ther sterilizer. Then place it in the microwave for 3-4 minutes. Rinse and then fill the bottle with new formula.

Never Heat breastmilk in the microwave because it will kill the nutrients in the breastmilk. If you heat formula put it in a pot of warm weather or run warm water over the bottle. Never put a formula bottle in the microwave because the formula may warm unevenly and create "hot spots" that can be hot and burn your babies mouth.

Tip for preparing formula bottles: I have found that if I made my sons bottles ahead of time and let them sit in the fridge he had less gas. I would pour the correct amount of water and formula into a cup and mix it properly and then pour it into the bottle. Put the nipple on it and place it in the fridge. The air bubbles would have time to settle a little bit before I gave it to him and he would not be as fussy afterwards.

Remember when trying to move your kids to a sippy cup rather than a bottle do it slowly. Alternate each feeding with a bottle then cup so they get used to the idea and feel like big kids when they use their sippy cup.

The Mommy Must Haves for Feeding

Click Here for healthy eating for kids

Diaper Bags- Diapers Bags are personal and something that you have to carry with you every where that you go. Check out these awesome Diaper Bags and find the one that matches your needs and your style. My favorite bag is the baby bag from Vera Bradley because of the adorable pattern and it is washable!

Bibs- Bibs are a necessity and an accessory. To find the cutest bibs for your kids check out these links... Bibs for Boys and Bibs for Girls.

Bottles- There are many brands of bottles to choose from but the ones that work best among my friends and I are Dr. Brown Standard Polypropylene Bottle (3-Pack) and Philips / Avent Natural Feeding Bottle (3-Pack) .

Bottle Brush - Scrub bottles, nipples, and feeding accessories with this plastic dishwasher-safe bottle brush.

Bottle Sterlizer- Sterlizing bottles can be a major pain boiling water or taking up extra space in your dishwasher. I suggest you get a sterilizer AVENT Express II Microwave Steam Sterilizer

Bottle Warmer - You can warm your kids breast milk, formula, or baby food with no danger of overheating in this handy appliance. The unit holds all types of bottles, including disposables and baby food jars.

Breast Pump- I loved my Medela Pump In Style Advanced Breast Pump with Metro Bag This is the breast pump I used and I totally reccomend it.
Dishwasher Basket for nipples and bottles - Munchkin Deluxe Dishwasher Basket, Assorted The key to this design is that it keeps nipples and straws in an upright position throughout your dishwasher's cleaning cycles, allowing for a targeted water spray and more thorough sanitizing.
Formula- Finding the right formula can be a guessing game. Your child may have a reaction to certain kinds. To find the perfect match for you and your baby click here to view all the formula options.

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Favorite Baby Formulas of Other Moms

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Nestle Good Start
I HIGHLY recommend it!!! I used it on all 3 of my daughters and I never had any problem with spit-up, projectile vomiting, acid-reflux, constipation, ruining ...

Enfamil Premium Not rated yet
I've used Enfamil with all three of my children and it has been great, no issues with any of them!

Nestle Goodstart Not rated yet
I used all types of baby formula in the beginning but my favorite was by far Nestle Goodstart. My babies enjoyed it and their clothes are stain free!

Similac Advanced Not rated yet
We have used Similac Advanced with both of our kids. They have both been very healthy and happy babies. They have very few spit up episodes so it makes ...

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