Feeding essentials — keeping things simple!

Freedom of choice is a good thing. On the contrary however, too much choice isn’t always such a good thing. As any new mum quickly realises, when it comes to baby products there are so many to choose from that it can be difficult to work out which are essential and which aren’t. And because you’ll want to spoil your little one and make sure he or she gets the very best, there’s a great temptation to buy everything and anything! To help you sift through some of the things out there, here are a few suggestions for what I consider to be the key essentials when it comes to feeding.

A breast pump. If you are breastfeeding or are planning to, a breast pump is invaluable. Expressing is a convenient and easy way of making sure your baby still gets the benefit of your breast milk when you can’t be there to give the feed. It also allows other people to share in the joys of feeding, like your partner. It is best though to wait a few weeks after the birth to let breastfeeding become established before you start expressing, unless a healthcare professional recommends otherwise. There are two types of pumps available – manual or electric. A manual model will need to be continually pumped in order to collect breast milk, while an electric pump will automatically perform the expressing action for you.

If you are expressing, you’ll need something to put your milk in! The bottle you choose for your baby is an important consideration because you want your baby to find feeding from a bottle natural and comfortable. The best bottles to choose are those that are designed to give your baby a feeding experience that is as close to breastfeeding as possible You will need three or four bottles to get started and a selection of teats. Newborn teats with the smallest feeding hole are best in the beginning. Try to look for a brand that can accommodate teats with different flows, so that the flow rate can increase as your baby grows. There are also some that have been designed to reduce colic, which baby will thank you for. (Ideally, try to wait until breastfeeding is established before giving your baby a bottle)

And finally, for the first 12 months it is crucial to make sure feeding equipment is properly sterilised as your baby’s immune system isn’t properly developed and can’t fight off certain types of bacteria. Steam sterilisation is the safest and most effective sterilising method. It uses no chemicals and is widely used in hospitals, which is reassuring. Again, there are two types available, one an electric steam steriliser and the other a microwave steriliser. Both simply need a bit of water to function. It’s worth bearing in mind that the microwave ones are good for travelling because ithey are compact and a handy place to store feeding equipment.