Formula feeding seems pretty straight forward. Measure, scoop, mix, and pour, right? Like most aspects of parenting, however, there's always a catch that makes things more difficult than they need to be. Any mom who has fed her baby a bottle of formula knows that making perfectly mixed, lump-free milk for her baby is easier said than done. This may leave you wondering what happens when you give your baby formula that isn't thoroughly mixed.
Lumpy formula can cause a few road blocks in the feeding road but, luckily, there are a few simple ways to get around it so that it doesn't make bottle feeding harder than it needs to be.
According to Baby Center, each brand and type of formula will have slightly different directions when it comes to how much powder to use and how to mix it, so it's important to pay attention to the directions on the package to avoid lumps forming in the first place. However, sometimes the occasional lump is inevitable and can cause moms to worry that it may have some adverse affect on their little one.
Although there is nothing overtly dangerous or harmful about baby drinking formula that isn't thoroughly mixed, it can be annoying at the very least. Furthermore, according to How To Adult, lumps in the formula can make it hard for the milk to leave the bottle and, subsequently, make it harder for your baby to drink the milk they need to stay hydrated, nourished, and happy.
Instead of worrying about lumpy milk after the fact, there are a few things you can do to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Parents noted that using water that has been warmed beforehand will help the formula powder dissolve more easily and completely. Additionally, the aforementioned How To Adult article suggested mixing your formula in a separate bowl, using a wire whisk, before pouring it into the bottle to give to your baby.
Although there aren't technical "dangers" associated with improperly mixed formula, Baby Center noted that formula that has been too diluted can cause your baby to receive less than the ideal amount of nutrients present in the formula. Similarly, formula that is made with not enough water (and the most liable for becoming lumpy,) can tax a baby's kidneys and cause dehydration.
Despite the "straightforward-ness" of formula feeding, if you're not careful to mix and prepare the formula correction — according to the directions on the package, of course — improperly mixed formula can be inconvenient at best and lessen your little one's nutrients at worst.
