7 helpful hacks for feeding your baby

As parents, we’re always on the lookout for the best tips and tricks when it comes to rearing our babies. With that in mind, here’s our favourite feeding hacks to make milk and meal time easier with your little one. I know, I know, you’re welcome! 

1. Wear a boob bangle

Thanks to sleep deprivation and mummy brain, it’s easy to forget which breast you last fed from. To help you keep track, wear a bracelet to remind you which one is up next. Hopefully, it’ll spare you from suffering engorged breasts too!

2. Prep bottles for nighttime feeds

Spare yourself measuring formula or searching for bottles while half asleep by prepping before you hit the hay. You can also keep pre-measured formula and water in two separate bottles by your bed so you don’t even have to walk to the fridge at night.

3. Discover maternity singlets

Listen up breastfeeding mamas because you will love this hack! If you want to keep breastfeeding discreet when you’re out in public, but your squirmy baby just won’t tolerate being under a wrap, try wearing a maternity singlet under your top. It has little clips just like a feeding bra and means you can simply lift up your shirt to feed your little one, without feeling exposed.  

4. Put a bib hook on your highchair

If you go through bibs like they’re going out of fashion, attach a hook to the back of your little one’s highchair and hang them there. That way they’ll always be on hand and you’ll never have to dive into the clean clothes pile at dinner time again. 

5. Stick to the bottle brand bub likes

It can take time to find the right bottle for your baby, but once you do, toss out all of the ‘no good’ ones. Sorting through a bunch of mismatched nipples and rings every time your baby needs a feed will do your head in. 

6. Freeze purees in ice cube trays

If your baby’s started on solids and you’re still pureeing everything for them, use this trick. This involves making batches of purees, freezing them in ice cube trays and then simply popping out the portions as you need them. The beauty of doing this is that you can vary your baby’s meals by having trays of different purees stored in the freezer at the same time. 

7. Get your partner to introduce the bottle

Need a break from breastfeeding for whatever reason? Get your partner to give bub expressed milk in a bottle instead. She won’t smell breast milk on them and as a result, may be more willing to accept it.

If she REALLY won’t take it, try syringing some expressed breast milk into her mouth or offering it to her in a cup to get used to it. Then have her try the rest in the bottle. 

Also, it’s a good idea to start introducing her to a bottle, if only once a week, from around six weeks old. A six month old breastfed baby might be more stubborn about trying it if she’s never had to drink from one before. 

This is a sponsored post for Emla. Emla is used for topical anesthesia of the skin prior to vaccination and blood sampling. Always read the label. Use only as directed.