One of the most important responsibilities new parents have is to ensure their little ones are well-fed and nourished. And that means finding the best ways of feeding and weaning a baby. Whether that’s breastfeeding, formula feeding with a baby’s feeding bottle or a combination of both, finding the right way to feed baby can be exciting yet challenging. And it doesn’t get any easier when it’s time to move onto solid foods.
But with a little trial and error, you’ll find a feeding and weaning routine that works best for you and your baby. And there are lots of baby feeding sets out there (as well as other baby gadgets) expertly designed to make the process easier.
So, here’s a rundown of some great tech to help feed babies…
Baby bottles and bottle makers
Baby bottle makers make up bottles in a couple of minutes – mixing the formula with the water and heating it up to the perfect temperature. Some of the best baby bottle makers (like the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep) also have anti-bacterial filters – so water can be used straight from the tap without any need to pre-boil.
How warm should baby milk be?
Since breastmilk comes out at body temperature, the aim is to get bottle milk to the same temperature – about 37°C – or a little under. Bottle warmers and bottle makers will get the milk to the right temperature automatically.
Of course, there are other ways to warm up baby formula – under a hot tap or in a bowl of hot water. But that involves a bit more guesswork and fiddling about with a thermometer if you’re unsure.
What are anti-colic bottles?
Baby bottles and anti-colic bottles are usually included in special baby bottle sets. Anti-colic bottles are designed to reduce the amount of air swallowed during feeding. A special venting design helps to reduce the number of air bubbles that form in baby’s stomach – which in turn reduces discomfort.
Need more help? We’ve created a little guide on how to bottle feed a baby.
Sterilising baby bottles
Since everything has to go into their mouths, babies can easily pick up infections. The best way to prevent this is to make sure that their bottles are sterilised and safe. While we’ve previously talked about how to sterilise baby bottles, it’s good to run through some of the best tech solutions around. Baby bottle sterilisers come in all shapes and sizes.
UV
Tommee Tippee’s UV Bottle Steriliser uses UV light to kill 99.9% of bacteria and can hold up to 6 bottles – so it’s a very neat and clean way to sterilise. It also filters out nasties like dust, pollen and airborne pollutants.
Steam
Tommee Tippee’s UV Bottle Steriliser uses UV light to kill 99.9% of bacteria and can hold up to 6 bottles – so it’s a very neat and clean way to sterilise. It also filters out nasties like dust, pollen and airborne pollutants.
When to stop sterilising baby bottles
Do a quick Google search on this and you’ll find opinion on this varies wildly. But the NHS recommend sterilising up to at least 12 months old. That said, you should be having to do a lot less sterilising from 6 months – when infants can start to make the transition over to beakers and cups.
Choose the best breast pump
If breast feeding is part of your baby feeding routine, an electric or manual breast pump means that mums can express milk when it’s convenient for them. The milk can then be stored until needed, allowing other people to get involved with bottle feeds.
Lanisoh 2 in 1 Breast Pump is an electric breast pump that can be used as a single or double breast pump. It works to simulate your babies natural sucking patterns, so can be a lot more comfortable than manual breast pumps.
When you’re looking to choose the best breast pump, look for great features like cushioned cups for comfort and longer battery life when you’re on the move.
How to store expressed breast milk
There’s no need to waste breast milk. According to the NHS, you can keep breast milk in a sterilised container in the fridge for up to 8 days – as long as the fridge temperature stays at 4°C or under. If you’re not sure your fridge stays at that temperature, use the breast milk within 3 days. You can also freeze breast milk and keep it for up to 6 months – as long as your freezer stays at -18°C or below.
Baby food maker and blender
A common weaning question for new parents is “When can I start feeding my baby baby food?” Lots of parents start weaning their babies around the 6-month mark. Mashed or blended foods that are easy to digest – like banana or sweet potato are popular choices. One thing’s for sure – mealtimes can get messy. So a dishwasher proof weaning kit is a good call.
Baby food makers come in different types. Baby food blenders might just puree veg – like this Nutribullet baby blender. But other baby food makers do it all - acting as a baby food steamer and blender. This means you just need to pop in your ingredients and have a meal ready when it’s done. The Dualit baby food maker is also dishwasher safe – so a cinch to clean.
Wondering how to make baby food? We’ve put together a few baby food recipes to get you started. And for everything a new parent needs, check out the rest of our parent & child tech.
