A nurse is teaching the guardian of a newborn about formula feeding. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Boil bottle rings and nipples for 10 min to ensure sanitization. Boiling for 10 minutes is excessive and can damage bottle parts. A boil time of 5 minutes is typically sufficient for sanitizing feeding equipment before first use. B. Keep the newborn on a strict 3 hr feeding schedule. Newborns should be fed on demand, which may be more or less frequently than every 3 hours. Hunger cues should guide feeding to promote healthy growth and bonding. C. Use bottles of refrigerated formula within 48 hr. Prepared formula should be refrigerated and used within 48 hours to ensure safety and prevent bacterial growth. This is a safe practice when storing formula that has not been fed to the infant. D. Place the newborn on their abdomen for 30 min following each feeding. Placing a newborn on the abdomen increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Infants should always be placed on their backs to sleep.