Keep babies safe while bottle feeding. Here are the best ways to keep your baby from getting sick, reduce the risk of injuries and promote good dental health:
- Keep Formula Clean. Wash your hands before mixing formula or feeding. Clean bottles in the dishwasher or follow the manufacturer's instructions. Use refrigerated formula within 48 hours of mixing and discard anything left in the bottle after a feeding.
- Warm Formula Carefully. Never heat bottles in the microwave or on top of the stove. Warm bottles under running water or in a pan of hot water. Test the temperature of the formula by shaking a few drops onto your inner arm and use immediately.
- Use Only Formula in Bottles. Never put anything in a baby's bottle except formula or pumped breast milk: no honey, no cereal, no other food and no sweetened drinks like soda or powered drinks. By the time your child is ready to drink juice at about nine months, or cow's milk after one year, he or she is also ready to use a cup.