If you’ve decided on formula as the choice for feeding your baby, you might be a bit confused about all the choices. There are lots of options to help you find the type that will best suit your baby’s needs and your lifestyle.

When you are in the hospital, if your baby is getting formula, it will likely be pre-mixed in one serving disposable bottles, and will be a name brand, milk based formula. This is likely to be what your pediatrician recommends and will work well for most babies. You may be able to use this for the whole first year, with no issues.

If your baby has trouble with this formula, he may have a milk allergy, and may need soy, or other special type of formula. If your baby is having trouble tolerating his formula, he may cry extensively after eating, indicating that he has a stomach ache or he may throw up or have diarrhea. If you notice what you think might be intolerance to the formula, contact your pediatrician right away. You might have to experiment with a few before you find the right one, but don’t lose hope. There is a formula out there that will work well for your baby.

Your next consideration is whether you want pre-mixed, liquid concentrate or powdered formula. Pre-mixed means you just pour and serve. Liquid concentrates need to have water added, as does powdered. Pre-mixed is the most expensive, powdered is the least. But, of course, pre-mixed is also the most convenient. Pre-mixed and liquid concentrates also spoil more quickly. Powdered formulas do have a shelf life, but are generally good for about two weeks. Your decision will generally be decided by your budget and lifestyle, as babies tolerate all three types equally well. You might want to mix and match, using powdered formula when you’re at home, and pre-mixed when you travel. Follow the directions on your formula package carefully.

When you’re bottle feeding, you must also be diligent about sterilizing your bottles. Keeping the feeding equipment sterile is critical to protecting your baby’s health, especially in the early days. If you want to minimize the equipment that needs to be sterile, try using the bottles that hold disposable milk bags. These are good at keeping air out of the baby’s tummy, and require that only the nipple be sterilized. The down side is that you have to buy the sterile disposable bags, and each bag can be used only once. You might want to spend some time shopping around to decide what kind of bottle your want to try. Whatever type you choose, just be sure to read the sterilization instructions, and follow them closely.

At first, bottle feeding may seem like a lot of work, but give it some time. Once you get the hang of sterilizing bottles and preparing formula, it will be a breeze.

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Latex teats are made of natural latex, a high-quality, natural material.
But Silicone teats are made of high-quality plastic and transparent silicone material which is temperature-resistant, whereby even direct sunlight does not cause the material to age.

Latex is a soft material, and it is more nipple-like than silicone, so if you are planning on combining bottle and breast feeding, latex teats may make this easier.

Silicone, however, gets scratched up more easily. Silicone teats should therefore be replaced at the first sign of teeth marks by your baby or other form damages.

Babies may initially reject a new latex teat because of the way it tastes, so it is advisable to place it in boiling milk for 3 minutes, as this will neutralize the taste. However, the fat in the milk will make the teat age more quickly. Latex teats only come in 2 sizes: Size 1 for babies from 0 to 6 months and size 2 for 6 to 18 months. Toddlers of 18 months and older are usually able to feed themselves, so from this age it is recommended. This is why silicone soothers are only available in size 1 and size 2.

Choosing between latex and silicone is completely up to you and will depend upon your and your baby’s needs.

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Every grandmother and grandfather will tell you entertaining stories of their children when they were first born. And for every funny and poignant story they have, they will be able to tell you another for every hardship they encountered. Parenting is something that is done in many different ways by each parent. The following are four general styles engaged by parents:

Authority
Authoritarian parents rule on just that: authority. Guidelines or commands are given to children that they must follow regardless of the circumstances. If these commands are not followed, harsh punishment will ensue. These parents do not welcome feedback from their children. In fact, it is met with severe punishment. The children tend to be quiet and unhappy. They have more of a fear than a love for their parents. Male children have anger management issues and female children have trouble facing hardship due to their heavily structured life where nothing ever changes.

Indulgent
Indulgent parents tend to be described as lenient or easy-going. They tend allow immature and childish behavior. These parents expect the children to learn from their mistakes and to fend for themselves in most times of need. These parents tend to be democratic and allow for feedback from there children on issues. They will hear both sides of an argument and usually make a compromise. Indulgent parents usually avoid confrontation with their children by all means, but do tend to be more involved and emotionally closer to their children.

Authoritative
Authoritative parents are a combination of the two styles previously mentioned. They are the happy medium. While expecting proper behavior from their children, they welcome feedback and questioning on certain issues. They’re able to demand things of their children but are also able to respond to what they’re child says, questions and requests. These children tend to be the happiest, most confident and self assured of all the mentioned parenting styles. It is very difficult to be a purely authoritative parent.

Passive
Passive parenting is being completely uninvolved. These parents may never be home due to immaturity, work or the like. These children are usually raised by grandparents, older siblings, babysitters or themselves. There is no parental involvement at all.

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