Whether one feeds a baby with a bottle all of the time or some of the time (and whether filling those bottles with breast milk, formula, or a combination of both), chances are we could all use a few tips and tricks to make the whole feeding process a little easier — and a lot more efficient! That's why we've put together a list of mom-tested bottle-feeding hacks guaranteed to save time and effort, from advice on formula prep to cleaning shortcuts (and a couple of cool gadgets, too).
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Getting a baby to feed is no easy task! Before they become ragamuffin kids eating pizza and french fries, babies first need to learn how to drink from bottles properly. And there are tips and tricks to make the process easier for Mom as well! Because let's face it, after trying to get the baby to feed, the last thing a mom wants to do is go to the kitchen and sterilize dirty baby bottles. Or wouldn't it be great if there was a contraption that made bottle-feeding hands-free? (There is, and we found it!) Take a look at these bottle-feeding hacks that are certain to make the first few months of a newborn's life a little easier — and make things easier for Mom too!
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Happy feeding!
Prep for Bedtime
There's nothing quite so torturous for sleep-deprived parents as fumbling to make a bottle in the dead of night. Give yourself a break and prep nighttime bottles before bedtime, whether that means measuring out formula ahead of time or thawing out breast milk. You can even keep the pre-measured formula and water in two separate bottles by your bed so all you have to do when the baby wakes up is mix them together!
Stock Your Bottle Station
It's all too easy to let bottle pieces and accessories take over every square inch of your kitchen. Designate an area of countertop to set up a fully stocked bottle station with all the things you need and save on time and sanity.
Buy One Brand of Bottle
There are lots of great bottle brands out there, but trying them all means getting stuck with a bunch of mismatched nipples and rings to sort through every time the baby needs to eat. Pick a brand and stick with it to make storage simple!
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Let Your Partner Introduce the Bottle
Babies who are primarily breastfed are often reluctant to take a bottle from their mother ("But the boob is right there!!"). Allowing your partner to initiate bottle-feeding can make the switch go more smoothly and pave the way for future feedings sans mom!
Pre-Portion for On-the-Go Feeding
Measuring formula when you're anywhere but your own kitchen is almost always a giant hassle. Take the fuss out of on-the-go feedings by scooping individual portions of powdered formula into individual plastic containers to pack in your bag (and carry along unopened bottles of water for mixing).
Wash as You Go
Leaving dirty bottles to deal with until the end of the day means scrubbing out crusty nipples and icky plastic parts. Rinse bottles throughout the day or leave them to soak in a bowl of soapy water — then sterilize in a big batch at night.
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Try Hands-Free Feeding
The multitasking mom or dad's best friend, the Beebo ($29.99, thebeebo.com) is a nifty over-the-shoulder bottle holder that lets you feed your baby and do other things (like feed yourself) at the same time!
Make a Big Batch of Formula
Just like mixing up a big pitcher of margaritas, er, we mean lemonade, that you can pour from throughout the day, preparing a pitcher full of formula in the morning makes bottle-fixing a cinch as the day goes on. (Just remember that pre-mixed formula is only good for 24 hours.)
Encourage Independent Feeding
Another great hands-free option, the Podee bottle ($9.99, amazon.com) doesn't even require your partner (or anyone else's) assistance to work — and it can help to reduce gas and reflux!
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Use a Bottle Warmer
Electric bottle warmers might seem like a luxury, but if you've got a hungry baby who hates room-temperature milk, it'll feel more like a necessity. There are lots of options available at a variety of price ranges (this is a perfect item to add to your baby registry!).
Cozy Up to a Nursing Pillow
Breastfeeding pillows aren't just for breastfeeding babies — they also make a perfect snuggly spot for babies with bottles, especially once they can feed themselves!
Use a Bottle Sterilizer
Boiling huge vats of bottles is all well and good, except — well, it's not good at all, it's a giant (steamy, hot) pain in the neck. There are plenty of much more convenient (and probably effective) sterilizing options on the market, with prices ranging from as low as $15 to over $100. A worthy investment!
Serve at Room Temperature
Some babies insist on warm milk, but others are just fine with room-temperature bottles. If yours is one of them, save yourself a step!
Break for Burps
Bottle-fed babies usually need to be burped more often than exclusively breastfed babies, so don't forget to tend to those tiny bubbles. Try a variety of positions until you find one that works (over-the-shoulder, lying facedown on your lap, or sitting up).
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Use a Bottle Holder
Gripping a baby bottle can be tough for LO's tiny fingers. So why not try a bottle holder like the Ba Baby Bottle Holder ($14.99, amazon), which has smaller grips for baby to hold? The holder works for babies as young as 3 months and can be a good hands-free alternative!
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