{"id":4309,"date":"2017-09-27T15:40:01","date_gmt":"2017-09-27T15:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/?p=4309"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:13:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:13:28","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-baby-feeding-equipment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/safety\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-baby-feeding-equipment\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About Baby Feeding Equipment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning the ropes when it comes to feeding your baby can be a task. It can seem simple, but feeding your baby isn\u2019t always easy, and it\u2019s important to remember that every baby has different needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many questions will be flickering through your mind, from \u2018What feeding products do I need?\u2019 to \u2018How to use a bottle warmer?\u2019 or \u2018Are there any products that support breastfeeding?\u2019 There are many products on the market to help ease you into the process. However, it can be hard to know where to begin, so we\u2019ve put together this handy guide on baby feeding equipment and everything you need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeding your baby: your options<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeding your baby is a very personal thing, and as difficult as it can be not to compare your situation with others, choose the best feeding option for you and your baby. Most importantly, your baby is getting what they need, and you\u2019re doing your best for them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re here for you, and here are your options for feeding your baby, but just note that there is no one right way, and you can even choose to do a combination of these options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breastfeeding<\/span><\/h3>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_522182809.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6856\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_522182809.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_522182809.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_522182809-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_522182809-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breastfeeding is a loving experience. It gives your little one the yummy nourishment and affection they need. It also supports them in defending against illnesses and can even prevent allergies. Some of the advantages of breastfeeding include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s always accessible, and no prep work is needed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s free<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased protection against infections in the first months<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lots of nutrients \u2013 including protein and calcium<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contains fatty acids that stimulate brain development<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skin-to-skin contact helps calm your baby\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decreased chance of reflux\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, breastfeeding also comes with its challenges, such as the pressure of feeding the baby always being on the mother, it can be tiring and onerous, it can take time and practice for mother and baby to breastfeed comfortably, and it can be painful. The choice to breastfeed is always encouraged but is ultimately yours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what are the breastfeeding essentials?<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breastfeeding pillow<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can get comfortable with a U-shaped pillow to rest your arms and baby when feeding. Breastfeeding pillows will save the day, especially if you\u2019re in for a lengthy nursing session.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nursing pads<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re a mum who leaks milk, it\u2019s likely that it will occur more during the first few weeks after giving birth. So, stock up on nursing pads to place in your bra for soaking up those pesky milk leakages!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breast pump<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Occasionally, you may need to pump your milk. Breast pumps come in handy for exactly this. Hand pumps are cheaper, but electric ones are quicker \u2013 the choice is yours! They\u2019re also a great alternative if you want your baby to have breast milk but want your partner to be involved and bottle feed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bottle feeding<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_154024568.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6857\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_154024568.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_154024568.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_154024568-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_154024568-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may be worrying that if you don\u2019t breastfeed, you\u2019ll fail to bond with your child. However, the truth is that all loving mothers will always create a special bond with their little one regardless of the feeding method they choose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An alternative to breastfeeding is bottle feeding. Remember that you can use a hybrid method. It is recommended to establish breastfeeding and then move to the bottle for a mixed approach rather than the other way around. You can choose to bottle feed your baby using formula or breastmilk if you want to use a breast pump.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the benefits of bottle feeding include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infant formulas have been improved to match the ingredients in breast milk, so there is a range to choose from that will best suit your baby\u2019s needs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some mothers may feel more comfortable bottle-feeding in public (however, you should never feel uncomfortable breastfeeding in public)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It helps babies who have lactose intolerance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It helps track your child\u2019s daily milk intake<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other people can help to feed your baby, so the pressure isn\u2019t always on the mummy<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bottle-feeding essentials you need consist of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bottles<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A top tip is to stock up on five to ten bottles. That way, you\u2019ll always have a clean one ready and spare if you\u2019re going out anywhere. You will also need to upgrade your bottle teats because there are different sizes as your baby gets older to allow for more milk flow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sterilisers<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t forget to sterilise new bottles before first-time use, and it\u2019s important to sterile all feeding equipment after every use until your baby gets to 12 months old; this is to help to avoid illnesses. Sterilising your baby&#8217;s equipment removes harmful germs and will make sure your bottles are clean before use.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bottle warmer\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some tots love a cold bottle. However, others need it to be warmed up, particularly younger babies. If your baby falls into that category, you will want to invest in a bottle warmer. Warming bottles in a microwave can be dangerous because of hot spots that can burn your baby. A bottle warmed helps to warm the milk to a perfectly warm temperature evenly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sterilising feeding equipment <\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_1453938311.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6858\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_1453938311.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_1453938311.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_1453938311-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/shutterstock_1453938311-768x508.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whilst sterilising your baby\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/255_yoomi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bottles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can seem like an arduous task, ensuring that your baby\u2019s feeding equipment is properly cleaned before every use is essential to avoid illnesses and viruses, such as diarrhoea or foot and mouth disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a first-time parent, the world of sterilising can be a daunting prospect, especially at 5 o\u2019clock in the morning on next to no sleep, but take a look at our how-to guide, and soon you\u2019ll be a pro, sterilising bottles and dummies like you\u2019ve been doing it all your life!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cold Water Sterilising Solution<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a great option if you don\u2019t have easy access to heating equipment, such as a kettle or hob, as it simply requires a bowl of cold water and a sterilising solution. You can purchase special sterilising units specifically designed for cold water sterilising. However, you can just as easily use a bucket or container (though they need to have a lid). Also, ensure that the receptacle you use is thoroughly clean and not used for anything else.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the sterilising solution\u2019s manufacturer&#8217;s guidelines, fill your chosen container with cold water. You must ensure that all the equipment is submerged under the solution, so you may want to use something heavy to weigh them down, such as a plate. Make sure there are no air bubbles trapped inside the bottles and teats when you place them into the water, and ensure they are left in the solution for at least 30 minutes. When you take them out, shake them well, and rinse each item with cool, boiled water.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boiling<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This requires a large pan with a lid. As with the cold water sterilising, do not use the pan for anything other than sterilising.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fill the pan with water and bring to the boil. Submerge the items you wish to clean, ensuring that they are kept below the surface of the water; again, you may wish to use something to keep them under. You also need to make sure there are no trapped air bubbles. Keep the bottles in the boiling water for at least 10 minutes. If you don\u2019t need to use the bottle immediately, keep the lid of the pan on until you need them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The one downside of this method is that boiling can cause damage to bottle <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/search?controller=search&amp;orderby=position&amp;orderway=desc&amp;search_query=teats&amp;submit_search=Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">teats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> quicker than the other methods, so keep an eye on them and replace them when necessary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steam Sterilising<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the most popular method nowadays, though it requires buying more equipment. There are two types of steam <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kiddies-kingdom.com\/268-sterilisers-and-warmers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sterilisers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, microwave or electric that you can choose from. The microwave version simply sits inside your microwave and takes about 3 minutes to sterilise the item completely. The equipment will stay sterile for up to 3 hours if the steriliser lid is closed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also sterilise bottles individually in the microwave without the use of a steriliser. This takes about 90 seconds, but you must remember to leave the bottles unsealed. Another option is to buy an electric steamer, which you just plug into a socket. These take up to ten minutes, hold a large number of items, and have a smaller rack to hold things like dummies or teats. As with the micro steamers, the equipment can be kept sterile for a number of hours if the lid is kept on, which is great if you like to be organised for the day ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So there you have it; now you\u2019re an expert in baby feeding and what equipment you need. Remember that how you choose to feed your baby is a personal choice, and no one can tell you to feed your baby. Do what\u2019s right for you and your baby, and if you need to use feeding equipment, we have everything you need on our Kiddies Kingdom website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning the ropes when it comes to feeding your baby can be a task. It can seem simple, but feeding your baby isn\u2019t always easy, and it\u2019s important to remember that every baby has different needs.\u00a0 Many questions will be flickering through your mind, from \u2018What feeding products do I need?\u2019 to \u2018How to use a bottle warmer?\u2019 or \u2018Are there any products that support breastfeeding?\u2019 There are many products on the market to help<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6855,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[252,162,187,79],"tags":[278,349,66,350],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4309"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4309"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4309\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6860,"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4309\/revisions\/6860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagingpresta.kiddies-kingdom.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}