6 Easy T i p s To H e l p With I t

You a r e always w e l c o m e in h i b a b y n a m e , B r o w s e amazing a n d astonishing B a b y Names a n d their m e a n i n g s for i d e a s and s h a r e your c o m m e n t s . E n j o y !

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A n n a is a first-time m o m . Her d a u g h t e r Lily i s six m o n t h s now a n d Anna i n t e n d s to i n t r o d u c e her t o bottle f e e d i n g . But s h e is n o t sure w h e t h e r the t e n d e r hands o f Lily w i l l bear t h e weight o f the b o t t l e .

S i x months i s the t i m e when m o t h e r s get t h e freedom to e x p e r i m e n t with t h e child’s d i e t . They c a n gradually w e a n off t h e baby f r o m breastfeeding. I n order t o acquaint t h e baby w i t h other f o r m s of f e e d i n g (than b r e a s t f e e d i n g ) you m i g h t want t o put h i m on b o t t l e feed. F o r this, y o u need t o know w h e n a b a b y can h o l d the b o t t l e . MomJunction t e l l s you a b o u t this a n d also t h e precautions y o u need t o take w h e n your b a b y is d r i n k i n g from a bottle.

W h e n Can A Baby H o l d The B o t t l e ?

A baby s h o u l d be a b l e to h o l d a b o t t l e from t h e age o f six m o n t h s because i t is t h e time w h e n they d e v e l o p motor s k i l l s to m o v e objects f r o m hand t o hand. I n fact, y o u r baby’s a b i l i t y to h o l d the b o t t l e by t h e sixth m o n t h is o n e of t h e indicators o f healthy d e v e l o p m e n t (1).

B a b i e s develop t h e primitive p a l m a r grip f r o m the e n d of t h e fifth m o n t h .  T h e r e f o r e , it i s quite l i k e l y that s h e may g r a b the b o t t l e and h o l d it t o o (2).

H o w e v e r , it i s not n e c e s s a r y that a l l the b a b i e s begin h o l d i n g the b o t t l e by t h e sixth m o n t h . Sometimes, s h e may n o t even s h o w an i n c l i n a t i o n towards h o l d i n g the b o t t l e independently u n t i l 10 m o n t h s or m o r e .

Sponsored

T h i s does n o t mean t h a t she i s lagging i n development. A s long a s she m e e t s other d e v e l o p m e n t a l milestones, t h i s should n o t be a source o f worry f o r you.

A l s o , do n o t be s u r p r i s e d if y o u r baby b e g i n s to h o l d things a s early a s three m o n t h s .

M a k e an e f f o r t to h e l p her i n accomplishing t h e task.

H o w To M a k e A B a b y Hold T h e Bottle:

T h e process n e e d s to b e gradual. Y o u need t o spend s o m e time a n d not l o s e patience a s your b a b y could l e a r n the t a s k after s e v e r a l attempts.

• I n t r o d u c e your b a b y to t h e bottle d u r i n g the f e e d i n g session, b y making h e r touch a n d feel t h e bottle t o get a sense o f its s h a p e , size, a n d weight.

• I n i t i a l l y , make h e r hold a n empty b o t t l e by p u t t i n g her h a n d s on i t .

• O n c e she s h o w s interest i n holding i t , fill t h e bottle i n instalments – quarter, h a l f and t h e n full.

• W h e n filling t h e bottle, y o u need t o consider y o u r baby’s a b i l i t y to c a r r y the w e i g h t of t h e bottle.

• T h e n slowly m o v e the b o t t l e in h e r hands n e a r to h e r mouth.

• I f she h o l d s the n i p p l e to h e r mouth, d u e to t h e smell o f the m i l k , and s u c k l e s , then i t is a n instant s u c c e s s ! Otherwise, y o u can g u i d e the n i p p l e into h e r mouth.

• S u p p o r t the b o t t l e at t h e other e n d . Once y o u are c o n v i n c e d about h e r ability t o have a decent g r i p on t h e bottle l e t go y o u r hold, w h i l e keeping a watchful e y e .

6 Tips T o Help Y o u r Baby H o l d The B o t t l e

Y o u r baby c a n show a n interest i n holding t h e bottle f r o m an e a r l y age i f you e n c o u r a g e her t o do s o . Follow t h e s e tips t o teach y o u r baby t h e correct w a y of h o l d i n g the b o t t l e , and m a k e her a s s o c i a t e the b o t t l e with h e r hunger.

1 . Observe p a t t e r n s in y o u r baby’s m o t o r skills:

D o not f o r c e your b a b y to h o l d the b o t t l e while f e e d i n g . Instead, g o by h e r motor s k i l l milestones. B a b i e s usually l e a r n to o p e n and s h u t hands f i r m l y by t h e age o f three m o n t h s . This m e a n s that t h e r e is a good c h a n c e for y o u r baby t o clutch h e r toys f i r m l y , and m o v e them.

O b s e r v e for s u c h playtime p a t t e r n s and i f she s h o w s interest i n holding o b j e c t s , you m a y try t o make h e r hold t h e bottle.

2 . Teach t h e utility o f the b o t t l e :

M a k e your b a b y understand t h e connection b e t w e e n her h u n g e r and t h e feeding b o t t l e . You c a n do t h i s by g i v i n g her t h e bottle w h e n she i s hungry. B a b i e s learn t o recognize f a c e s and o b j e c t s at d i s t a n c e as e a r l y as t h r e e months, w h i c h means t h e y can e a s i l y associate o b j e c t s with a purpose. T r a i n i n g her l i t t l e mind t o look u p to t h e bottle a s a s o u r c e of f o o d will a u t o m a t i c a l l y stimulate h e r to t a k e it w h e n she i s hungry.

3 . Cuddle h e r :

Y o u r baby c a n feel t h e warmth o f your b o d y when y o u are b r e a s t f e e d i n g her. M a k e her e x p e r i e n c e the s a m e even w h e n she i s bottle-feeding. T h i s will n o t make h e r feel d e p r i v e d of y o u r proximity. H o l d i n g the b a b y in y o u r arms w i l l make i t easy f o r her t o adapt t o the b o t t l e .

4 . Maintain p e a c e and s i l e n c e during t h e feeding s e s s i o n :

D o not d i s t r a c t the b a b y with n o i s e s when s h e is f e e d i n g . If t h e r e are t o o many t h i n g s happening a r o u n d her d u r i n g the b o t t l e – f e e d i n g session, s h e may n o t feed t o her c o n t e n t or m a y gulp m o r e air t h a n milk.
C u d d l e her i n your a r m s while f e e d i n g . That w a y you c a n keep a watch o n her w h i l e the w a r m t h of y o u r body k e e p s her c a l m .

5 . Provide s o m e support:

Y o u r baby’s t e n d e r arms c o u l d hurt h o l d i n g the b o t t l e for a long t i m e . Therefore, p r o v i d e support t o her a r m s by p u t t i n g a c u s h i o n or a soft a n d safe o b j e c t under t h e m . You m i g h t also t r y holders t h a t will k e e p the b o t t l e in p l a c e . This w i l l not o n l y help y o u r baby r e l a x her a r m s but a l s o keep t h e bottle i n the r i g h t position w h e n she i s feeding.

6 . It i s okay i f she d o e s not h o l d the b o t t l e some d a y s :

O n certain d a y s , she m a y not w a n t to h o l d the b o t t l e . Just l i k e adults, b a b i e s too c a n have m o o d swings. S h e may c l e n c h her f i s t and n o t open i t . If t h a t is t h e case t h e n leave t h e matters t h e r e . Do n o t force h e r to f e e d from t h e bottle. S h e will r e a c h out f o r it w h e n she i s hungry.

M o s t importantly, d o not a i m to t e a c h your b a b y to h o l d the b o t t l e in t h e first f e w days i t s e l f . Rushing t h r o u g h the p r o c e s s could m a k e her d e v e l o p an a v e r s i o n or h a r m her p h y s i c a l l y . Take e n o u g h safety p r e c a u t i o n s to a v o i d any h a r m to y o u r baby.

P r e c a u t i o n s To T a k e When T h e Baby H o l d s The B o t t l e :

F o l l o w i n g these s a f e t y measures w i l l make s u r e that t h e r e is n o danger, h o w e v e r minor i t is, f o r your b a b y .

1 . Place t h e baby i n the r i g h t position:

T h e best p o s i t i o n for y o u r baby t o feed f r o m the b o t t l e is t h e breastfeeding p o s i t i o n : lying o n the b a c k cuddled i n your a r m s . If y o u intend t o put t h e baby o n a s u r f a c e , then k e e p her i n a s l i g h t l y arched p o s i t i o n that m i m i c s the n a t u r a l breastfeeding p o s i t i o n .

N e v e r let t h e baby h o l d the b o t t l e vertically s t r a i g h t or t i p it o v e r into h e r mouth ( 3 ) . This c o u l d choke t h e baby o r result i n infection, i f the c o n t e n t s flow o u t into h e r ears. I n s t e a d , let t h e baby e x e r t strength f r o m her h a n d and d e c i d e the a m o u n t of t i l t she r e q u i r e s for t h e bottle.

2 . Do n o t leave t h e baby u n a t t e n d e d :

E v e n if y o u r little b u n d l e of j o y has b e c o m e independent w i t h bottle f e e d i n g , you c a n n o t leave h e r alone w h e n she i s drinking f r o m it. S t a y close a n d monitor y o u r baby w h e n she i s feeding. I f you f e e l she i s losing h e r balance w i t h her b o t t l e , gently c o r r e c t the p o s i t i o n .

3 . Listen c a r e f u l l y to f e e d i n g sounds:

L i s t e n to t h e sounds y o u r baby m a k e s when s h e is f e e d i n g . If s h e makes t o o much n o i s e then p e r h a p s she i s sucking i n a l o t of a i r . Check t h e nipple o f the b o t t l e for a n y blockage, a n d also t h e position o f the b o t t l e in h e r hand. E n s u r e that s h e has p l a c e d the n i p p l e properly i n her m o u t h .

4 . Help r e m o v e the n i p p l e from t h e mouth:

Y o u r baby c o u l d be a pro i n holding t h e bottle b u t she m a y still n e e d help i n removing t h e nipple f r o m her m o u t h , especially i f she s t a r t e d holding t h e bottle a t a y o u n g e r age. L e a v i n g the n i p p l e for t o o long i n the m o u t h can c a u s e cavities i n the b a b y ’ s mouth. T h e r e f o r e , gently r e m o v e the n i p p l e from h e r mouth a f t e r she f e e d s herself a d e q u a t e l y . If s h e shows r e s i s t a n c e or p u t s it b a c k in t h e mouth t h e n she i s not f u l l yet.

5 . Never l e t the b a b y sleep w i t h the b o t t l e

T h e bottle i s not a toy a n d should n e v e r be l e f t unattended w i t h the b a b y . She m a y overfeed h e r s e l f and i t can b e a c h o k i n g hazard. B e watchful o f your b a b y ’ s feeding h a b i t by b e i n g around w h e n e v e r she f e e d s .

H o l d i n g a b o t t l e is n o t a d i f f i c u l t task f o r your b a b y . She c a n learn i t in n o time, e s p e c i a l l y if s h e loves t o drink t h e content i n the b o t t l e . Have p a t i e n c e and h e l p your b a b y with t h e job. A n d there i s no h a r m if y o u r little o n e learns t h e art l a t e r than t h e other b a b i e s .

W h e n did y o u r little o n e begin h o l d i n g the b o t t l e ? Share y o u r experiences w i t h us b y leaving a comment b e l o w .

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