You might want to bottle-feed if you have to get back to work or if you want a more flexible schedule. There is absolutely no reason to feel guilty about giving your baby cow’s or buffalo’s milk, or one of the specially prepared milk mixtures available today. These have been made as much like human milk as possible.
It is true that the love and nestling you give with the feed is as important as the milk. But you can give it as well with the bottle as with a breast-feeding. With bottle-feeding, the baby’s father can get involved too. This can be a source of great joy and satisfaction to him and a much-needed stretch of step at night for you if he takes over the 2 a.m. feed in the early days.
Always, while feeding hold the baby in a semi-reclining position with his head well supported in the crook of your arm. The baby’s head should be kept up to avoid any risk of choking. Keep the bottle tilted and make sure the milk fills the teat and the neck of the bottle; this will prevent air from getting in. Never leave the baby alone, with the bottle in mouth, especially if he is sleeping. He can choke while feeding.
