Newborn & baby health centre

Choosing baby formula

12 tips for using baby formula continued...

Safety

• Don’t heat baby’s bottle in the microwave. Microwave ovens heat unevenly, creating hot spots in liquids that can burn baby’s mouth. You can make use of the microwave’s convenience by heating a mug of water in it and then warming the bottle in that mug for a minute or two. Or heat a baby’s bottle to a lukewarm temperature under a warm tap. Check the temperature on your skin before offering it to your baby.
• Feed your baby a cool or room temperature bottle if they seem to prefer it.
• Sterilise new baby bottles and teats in boiling water for five minutes. The teats will change colour, but they’re still fine to use. After that, simply wash bottles, teats and caps in the dishwasher. Or wash them by hand with a bottle and teat brush in hot, soapy water and rinse very well.
• Wash your hands with soap before preparing baby’s bottle.
• Always keep prepared baby formula in the fridge until you need it. Read the instructions on the formula container to see how long it may be stored. Generally, a prepared bottle of powdered infant formula should be used within two hours, and must be used within 24 hours, and a prepared bottle of liquid concentrate or ready-to-use formula within 48 hours.
• Buy own-brand infant formulas if they’re more affordable for you. Name-brand and own-brand formulas made in the UK must both meet the same strict guidelines for nutrition and safety.

The difference between baby formulas is small, so no matter which one you choose, there’s a good chance it’s the right one for your little one. When in doubt, always talk to your doctor or health visitor. They’re very used to questions from worried new mums and dads, and they are there to help.