Learn how to properly prepare a bottle for your baby with our step-by-step guide so you can safely feed your child with formula or expressed breastmilk. 

Washing new bottles

Before using any new bottles, make sure to wash and sterilize them to kill any germs that may make your baby sick.

1. Begin by washing your hands, then removing and washing the teat, ring and bottle with hot, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly.

2. To sterilize the equipment, place the pieces into boiling water for 5 minutes, or if you are using a microwave sterilizer, use it for 5 minutes according to the instruction manual. 

3. Let the water cool before removing the bottle and its parts to avoid burning yourself. Empty sterilized bottles can be stored in a sealed container in the fridge.

Preparing formula 

Commercial baby formula is the only safe alternative to breastmilk in a baby’s first 12 months and will help to provide the necessary vitamins, minerals, and fats that infants need. Follow the steps below to prepare formula in a bottle.

1. Boil fresh water and leave it to cool for around 30 minutes until lukewarm.

2. Scoop the formula to fill a sterilized bottle and check the tin to see how much water is needed with each scoop. Avoid letting any moisture into the formula tin.

3. Replace the lid with the rubber teat in place with the cover and wait a few moments for the powder to mix with the water before swirling the bottle.

4. Fully combine by vigorously shaking the bottle.

5. Allow the bubbles to settle down for a minute or so before feeding your baby the formula.

Tip: If you prepare multiple bottles to use later on, you can choose to warm up the bottle in a pot of hot water before giving it your baby. Always test beforehand that the milk flowing from the teat is not too hot. 

Preparing expressed breastmilk

Fresh breastmilk can be warmed by placing it in a bowl of warm water. Gently swirl the bottle and test the temperature before feeding your baby.

Frozen breastmilk should first be thawed in a bowl of cool or warm water. Do not use a microwave to thaw the milk as this often heats up the breastmilk unevenly and can destroy some components of the milk.

Make sure to discard any unfinished breastmilk from the feed..

A good baby bottle available is the Little Martin’s Drawer Breastmilk Bottle, which can be used to safely store and prepare breastmilk and formula.