Breastfeeding, maternal health and everyday living
Q.15 Are mothers still advised to use cups rather than bottles if they decide to give formula milk?
Yes. Bottles can be easily contaminated and cause diarrhoea, and therefore all mothers who decide to give formula milk or other liquids to their babies should be advised to use cups rather than bottles. This advice is valid no matter the age of the baby or the circumstances of the mother. Cups are recommended because they are easier to clean than bottles, and therefore the contents are less likely to make the baby ill. In addition, ear infections are more common with bottle feeding. Another advantage of cup feeding is that someone has to hold the baby and give him needed attention, while a bottle is sometimes left propped on the baby’s chest while feeding.