Before you make up your baby’s bottle you should ensure you have washed your hands (really important), you should also ensure that all your feeding utensils are sterilised and all working areas are clean – baby’s bottle, teats, baby bottles lids & surfaces where you are going to prepare your baby bottles. It’s very important to follow the precise measurements specified by the maker of the baby formula; putting extra scoops into your baby’s bottle may increase the chances of her being sick.

If you choose to bottle feed your baby with baby formula you should consider the following:

• Boil fresh water and let it cool for no more than half an hour before making up a feed, germs may enter the water after this time

• Add the boiled water to the bottle first. Check that you are using the correct amount by looking at the water level in the bottle

• Take a scoop of milk powder, level it off using a knife (being careful not to compress it) and then add it to the bottle. Mix it up a little

• Always use the scoop you are given by the manufacturer as scoops can vary dramatically in size

• Place the teat on the neck of the bottle, fix it in place using the retaining ring and cover with the lid and shake the mixture until the powder has completely dissolved

• Test the temperature of the milk - if it is too warm you can hold the bottle under a cold tap for a few minutes to cool it

• You should then feed the formula milk to your baby immediately

That is the official way to prepare a baby bottle for your baby. However, once they get a little bigger, say 6 months+, you could try using what we call the 45/55 method. The 45/55 method uses all the above mentioned steps but to save time boiling water is added to 45% of the bottle (say 60mls in a 125ml bottle). You should add refrigerated filtered tap water to the other 55% of the baby bottle. Usually, this will bring your baby’s bottle to drinking temperature.

NB: ALWAYAS, test the temperature of your baby’s bottle before you give it to her.