Slow natural nursing is what our bottleboot encourages,
allowing the time a baby requires to naturally nurse,
nuzzle and instinctively knead the soft pliable donut
(which can be adjusted to accomodate growth).
Slide bottle, filled with KMR or other milk replacement
for infant animals, into the bottleboot as far as it
will go. The baby's mouth should go slightly onto the
nipple to nurse. The baby's scent will collect there
and provide a familiar place to return to time and time
again to feed - very comforting to the baby. Remember
to place bottle of milk in warm water before feeding
(milk, should be nice and warm but not hot).
Do not heat milk in microwave!! Microwaves can create
hotspots which damage proteins and significantly reduce
the nutritional value.
To ensure slow feeding we recommend one small hole burnt
into the tip of the nipple by a red hot needle. Test by
squeezing the bottle, a very thin stream of milk should
freely flow. Another method of piercing the nipple is to
cut an 'X' into the tip of the nipple with small scissors.
The tip should still appear to be intact. When the baby
nurses, the suction will cause the 'X' to open just enough
to allow a slow natural feeding. Baby should nurse at its'
own pace. Forcing it, by squeezing the bottle could lead to
aspiration and death.
Important Information! Before feeding, remember to properly
stimilate urination by lightly massaging the lower belly
including the genitalia. This is very important to avoid
bladder rupture! -- tiny babies are unable to eliminate on
their own. Also please note that most tiny babies are unable
to generate their own body heat. Therefore they rely solely
on their mother to keep them warm. When caring for orphans
we must provide for their warmth. A heating pad works great
for this purpose on low to medium setting. Follow
manufacturer's guidelines for electric heating pads.