What You Need for Baby (Part 6: Feeding)

Breast pump if nursing -- You can rent hospital-grade pumps from the hospital or from Parkway Drugs at 680 N. LSD (Playboy building). Alternatively there is the Medela Pump N’Style. Buying these are really, really expensive. It’s worth renting until you figure out if you’ll even keep nursing. Several of our friends’ babies didn’t take to breastfeeding and after several weeks or a month of pumping switched to formulasp they were really glad they hadn’t shelled out $250+ for the pump. However, I ended up using the Avent Isis and loved it! That may have been just cause that was what I started with, but when I switched to the Pump N'Style I couldn't get it to work for me. Not to mention that when hooking up both breasts you feel like a cow. Mooooo!

Newborn nipples

Bottles… - Most people use Avent. Only get (3) of the 4oz bottles though, especially if you are breastfeeding since baby will be eating more than 4 oz within a month or two. Note that some feeding accessorie items you buy have bottles included as part of the package.

…and Nipples – even nipples are high tech these days…Be sure to keep up to date on the proper nipple size based on baby’s age since otherwise they will get frustrated by the milk coming out too slow. Four nipples of each size should do you. After three months, the variable flow nipples ROCK! Plus they are cut so you can use them with cereal.

Formula – Similac and Enfamil are the big names in this, but we use Carnation Good Start, which is easier on baby’s tummy and recommended by our pediatrician when the other two were bothering her when we started weaning. Not to mention that it smells WAY better than the other two. You can ask yours, but our pediatrician said any of those brands are just as good as the next.

Newborn pacifiers – some people think that pacifiers will cause nipple confusion…others worry about orthodenture problems later in life. The nipple confusion thing is a big crock of baby caa caa. And believe me, if you don’t give them a pacifier, they’ll eventually suck on their hands and thumbs, so you’re fighting a losing battle. Babies have a sucking reflex and are gonna want to suck on something…so unless you want them to be permanently attached to your breast for the first month or two, get them a pacifier right off. Get a few different kinds since some babies prefer one over another. The “addiction” starts from constantly putting the pacifier in their mouths when they don’t need it. Right now, Sadie only uses hers to go to sleep. I understand that her dependence on it may increase, but I’ll worry about it when she is 21 and still sucking on it.

Nipple basket for the dishwasher if your dishwasher doesn’t have a “lid” on one of your silverware basket sections.

Bottle & nipple drying rack & Nipple and bottle scrub brush