Question for Moms Who Feed Infant Formula at NIGHT

Updated on January 16, 2011
M.J. asks from Glenview, IL
15 answers

Please, no breastfeeding lectures. I am forced to formula feed my infant due to having to be on anti-psych medications for my severe post partum depression, that is unsafe in breast milk!

At night, when my 2 month old gets up once to feed, I make his formula at the bedside. I have a bottle of premeasured water ready, and just add the premeasured formula to it, mix it, and feed him.

Question is, so many bubbles form! It doesn't seem to bother him - I just make sure I burp him more often during and after his feeding is done.

I use the VentAire bottles.

Any way to lesson the bubble formation, or is this normal?

Thanks!

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D.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I always put a drop or two of Mylicon in the bottle when making it. That eliminated the extra bubbles in the bottle.
Hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful

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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

It's sad that you have to start your post with the request not to receive breastfeeding lectures - but it's so true that there are tons of breastfeeding extremists out there. Anyway good for you that you've taken control of your health and sounds like you are taking great care of your baby.

My babies both had formula later in their 1st year...I used Enfamil Premium Lipil and it would generate bubbles. I found that it helped a little to mix like this: when you first add the powder, swirl it a few times first before shaking...then you don't have to shake as much to get it mixed. The up and down vigorous shaking is what makes all of the bubbles. Some bubbles are going to form regardless, but this helped me to minimize them a little.

:)

3 moms found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Las Vegas on

I think its normal as well. i formula feed and every bottle did that, i started out on enfamil with lipil and then dr switched her to soy formula, both kinds did that. I noticed some are saying stir, but i was a shaker. I did have a battery operated bottle mixer thing. I never used it, lol. I really dont think the bubbled are necessarily air, i think its just bubbles from shaking. i do know that if you let the bottle set for a few minutes the bubbles go away.

And can I just say to the judgemental breastfeeding moms (not all bf moms just the judgemental ones) that we as mothers love our children and no one should be concerned with how we feed our children as long as we ARE feeding them! Sorry if thats tacky, i just hate that we are on an open mom forum to help each other out and we still have to worry about being judged.

3 moms found this helpful

S.J.

answers from Charlotte on

The bubbles are normal and as long as you burp him he'll be fine. I've fed hundreds of infants as a NICU nurse and this is not unusual for bubbles to form.
Please don't let pro breast feeding moms upset you -- always remember you know what's best for you and your infant.

Sandy J
www.kidsbestnutrition.com

3 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Mom - First off, GOOD FOR YOU for being a loving mom and doing what is best for your family and feeding your child! Sounds like you've already gotten the beating from the lactivists...shame on them :)

What we did with our formula feeding babies is to make all the bottles for a 24 hour period. That way all we had to do was pull it out of the fridge and feed - which always cracks me up because bf-extremists always talk about how *hard* it is to make a bottle in the night LOL! Our kids didn't mind it cold and in fact our youngest never wanted it warm! It makes it really nice for when you switch over to milk at age 1.

If you aren't sure how many overnight bottles you will need, just make 3 or 4 and that should get you through. Good luck and happy feeding :)

2 moms found this helpful
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S.T.

answers from Provo on

I'm sorry you had to start your post out like that. I had to use formula to, my milk never came in. We used to do the same thing you are at night especially traveling. We added water first so the powder didn't clump at the bottom and swirled it a few times to distribute it then would shake it. If it doesn't bother your baby I wouldn't worry too much. :)

2 moms found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

We did what you are doing, premeasured the powder into bottles before bed and added tap water when he woke up, never worried about the bubbles and neither did DS. We gave up burping him because we almost never got a burp and he seemed fine.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

We had to add Mylacon Gas Drops to every bottle due to reflux. Just add them to the water and when you add the formula it doesn't make as many bubbles. If it does then they die off very quickly, just let it sit a moment.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.K.

answers from Chicago on

You should always stir the bottle, not shake it. Shaking it causes the bubbles. Use either a butter knife or a baby spoon. It takes an extra minute but it's worth it for your babys belly :)

1 mom found this helpful
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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

its normal, if he doesn't seem bothered I wouldn't worry about it. Sometimes if I watched a baby that got a little gassy with the powder, I would always make sure to stir it into the water with a spoon. Much less bubbles =) Congrats on your baby!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.G.

answers from Boston on

I did exactly the same thing as you. I'm not sure if there is anything you can do about it and it never bothered my boys

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

here's a tip and what we did for our son. premake his bottles. they will keep for 24hrs, and you really dont need to warm them up, our son drank them cold because thats what he was use to

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I always use the premixed formula. Made my son less gassy/fussy.

R.O.

answers from Houston on

maybe try GERBER good start plus formula. my baby is 2 months old also and at first i gave her enfamil, it made alot of bubbles too but when i switched to gerber i noticed it made no bubbles at all

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

Use premixed formula instead of mixing it at night.

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