12 Best Formula Feeding Hacks

If you have a baby that uses formula, here are some of the top formula feeding hacks to make formula feeding easier!

Bottle feeding does not have to be hard or a huge struggle. Formula feeding is a great option for little ones when breastfeeding or pumping does not work.

I used formula when my first baby was only 3 months old, and the entire time with my second baby. And they are smart, funny, kind toddlers.

Having learned the ins and outs of formula feeding with two babies, here are a couple of formula feeding tips to make things a lot easier on you!

These easy formula feeding hacks will help you feed your baby on the go, in your home, all with ease.

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Am I a Bad Mom if I use Baby Formula? 

You will never be a bad mom if you give your baby formula. 

Both my children were formula fed and are the healthy, intelligent babies. 

Don’t worry if you use baby formula. There is no shame or need for mom guilt. 

You are doing what is best for you and your baby and no one should look down on you for it. 

You are an amazing mom. You are the best mom for you baby. Formula has nothing to do with your success as a mom. 

Many toddlers would benefit greatly from using a formula, as they still need much nutritional support, even with breastmilk. Check out the best toddler formula to help your child continue to be healthy!

Benefits of Formula Feeding 

There are many advantages for formula feeding. Here are a few of them. 

Easy to Stock Up 

With formula, you can stock up as much as you want so you never run out. 

With breastmilk, you have to pump and try to build your storage.

It is a lot easier building a supply with formula. 

Get a Break 

You don’t have to be the only one feeding your baby when you formula feed. 

That means you get a break whenever you have help available!

It is extremely helpful during those nighttime feeds so you can get some rest. Take turns with your partner throughout the night and you’ll feel a lot better. 

When you breastfeed, you are the only one to feed your baby. Even if you bottle feed, you still have to pump. 

With formula, anyone can make and prepare the milk. This was one thing I didn’t realize about breastfeeding.

Know Exactly How Much Baby is Eating 

When you give your baby formula, you know exactly how much food they are eating. 

No guessing is involved and it will help determine if anything is wrong with your baby. 

This is also a great benefit for formula feeding because it is an easy number to give the doctor and to track their growth. 

Less Pain 

If your baby is having trouble latching, formula feeding also causes less pain for you and your baby. 

Your baby won’t have to fight and struggle just to eat. And, you won’t have painful nipples. 

Top Formula Feeding Hacks  

Here are the best tips for formula feeding your little one:

Use One Brand of Formula

Most of the time, babies can do the simple formula no problem. 

A lot of the time the generic formula even has the same exact ingredients as the expensive formula. 

Do your research and pick one formula. If your baby likes it, stick with it. 

If your baby is having trouble, it could be reflux or digestion problems. 

Check out the best formulas for gassy babies.

Soy formula is a good alternative if the issue is cows milk. 

If it is reflux, Enfamil A.R. is great as it has rice starch to help your baby. This is the only one that would help my second baby.

However it is always best to go see a doctor and decide together what will be best for your baby. 

Don’t Have to Boil Water  

You do not have to boil your water to give to your baby. Filtered water works great in most cases. 

You will only need to take these precautions if your water is contaminated. You can check here. 

Don’t Get a Bottle Warmer

You also don’t have to get a bottle warmer. Just like cow’s milk, babies can drink formula cooler as well. 

Do what your baby prefers. In some cases, they like it warm while others don’t have a preference. 

Remember, less steps makes things a whole lot easier so if you don’t absolutely need it, don’t get it! 

Both of my babies did not drink it warm at all and loved it. Heating up baby formula is not necessary, so don’t add an extra step if you don’t have to!

However, if your baby does like a warm bottle, you need the Nuby RapidCool Portable Baby Bottle Maker. It will take the boiling water for your bottle and instantly cool it to the right temperature for your baby!

It works in as little as two minutes. It is the perfect formula feeding hack for traveling!

While you might not want a bottle warmer, you probably want a bottle washer. See if it’s right for you!

Pace Feeding 

Pace feeding will help with reflux, throw up and burps. Basically, it is slowing down the milk so baby takes its time to eat rather than chug all the milk down at once.

You never fill the nipple of the bottle with milk all the way, but rather hold it more horizontally and slowly fill the nipple half way. Every now and again you will tip the bottle down so the baby can have a break.

Usually you will use a slower nipple that has smaller holes for the milk to come out. We did this for my second baby and it made a huge difference!

Pace feeding works great with Anti Colic bottles, like the ones in this baby bottle box. These bottles use a venting system to help prevent colic but also will help pace feed your little one!

Wait to Buy Bottles 

Don’t buy a ton of the same bottles in the beginning. Start with one and see how your baby likes it before buying multiple. 

I made that mistake with my second. I just grabbed a bunch of the Philips bottles since those worked with my breast pump perfectly.

But he hated them. We had to go and buy MAM bottles and never used the Philips ones. It was a waste. 

One thing I loved was that all the free baby boxes I got in the mail each had a different style of bottle so we could try a variety before purchasing other ones.

I used those first and then would buy after I knew what brand worked best for my baby.  

I recently tried the Babylist bottle box and loved it! It comes with five choices to help you decide which one your baby prefers before buying more.

Create a Formula Feeding Station  

Decide where you will feed your baby and make it as comfortable as possible. 

Having a feeding station will help you be best prepared, which is the next tip.

Get a diaper caddy or other bag to keep everything neat and organized. 

Just like a breast pumping station is essential, so is a formula feeding station!

Prepare for Night Time Feedings

Preparation is key for formula feeding at night, out and about, and even at home.

Get all your supplies in a diaper caddy for a nice and easy formula feeding station.

Keep it close to your bed so you don’t have to get up during the night or in an easy accessible place in your house.

Even if your baby only eats twice a night, always prepare an extra in case they want to cluster feed. 

Nothing is more annoying than when you don’t prepare enough. And, if you overprepare, then you are just ready for the day! 

Preparing for night feeds will keep you organized and get you more sleep.

Get a Formula Pitcher

A formula pitcher is one of the best formula mixing tips but it does mean you get up to go to the fridge during the night just to make a bottle. 

It works as a great baby bottle mixer and will help you do a bulk baby formula for the entire day.

If you are looking on how to prepare baby bottles in advance, this is the best way to do it!

Buy PopYum Bottles

PopYum Bottles are also amazing to have for bottle feeding and is one of the best baby formula tips and tricks that I wish I knew about sooner!

It is a quick mix baby bottle to help with formula to go right in your bottle.

They already store the formula in place so you simply have to pop, mix, and feed. 

No getting up or spilling formula. These baby bottles with formula holder make formula feeding at night and on the go so much easier. 

Use a Baby Powder Formula Dispenser 

If you don’t have a big budget, try getting a formula dispenser. It was a lifesaver because it helped me measure all the formula out, so all I had to do was pour it in the bottle, shake, and it was ready to go.

I found one that stacks up to 5 formulas so you can have a full days worth all at once!

Try Some Pre-Made Formula 

It was really nice to have the liquid pre-made formulas during the newborn stage. It is one of the baby formula travel hacks we used from time to time.

That definitely made formula feeding a newborn a lot easier as they tend to eat all the time.  

Being a new mom, you are in that postpartum stage. Everything hurts. It hurts to move and to get up. 

Having a set of those liquid formulas by your side will help you to still feed your baby and heal quicker. 

This is one of the best tips on how to stop wasting formula that I found to work great!

Have a Least Six Bottles

Having six bottles on hand helps tremendously, and here’s why. 

You are exhausted, especially during the newborn stage or with multiple children. Even though you want to get the dishes done every single day, it is not always possible. 

Having six bottles on hand helps give yourself grace. It also allows you to relax when your baby is napping instead of dragging yourself to do the dishes. 

During the newborn stage, they eat a lot, sometimes every two hours or more, even at night. 

Having six bottles on hand and ready to go let’s you stay in bed and not get up to go clean a bottle at 2am. 

Formula Feeding Must Haves 

Here are a few of my favorite formula feeding must haves to ensure your feeding journey is successful and as easy as it can be. 

Bottle Cleaner 

Get a bottle cleaner even if you have a dishwasher. 

Oftentimes you need to clean a bottle right away and can’t wait for the dishwasher. 

That’s when a bottle cleaner always comes in handy. Plus, they are super cheap so it makes it worthwhile. 

If you never end up using it for bottles, it also works great for a water bottle cleaner.  

Diaper Caddy 

Get a diaper caddy to hold the bottles, formula, and everything else you need for day and night time feedings.

Instead of trying to carry 6 bottles at once or make multiple trips in and out of the room, just get a diaper caddy to hold your bottles and other necessities. 

It was a lifesaver with my second child. We got one big enough to hold diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and six bottles and two formula dispensers. 

It saved me so much sleep during the night. It is so worth it. 

MAM Bottles

MAM bottles were both of my kid’s favorite bottles. They are great for reflux and are easy to clean and use. 

Both the tops and bottoms come off. They also make it easy to sterilize in the microwave quickly as well. 

Their size 1 and 2 nipple are all you’ll need. We never used size 3. We bought them but it was too fast for our baby even as she aged. 

PopYum Bottles  

PopYum Bottles, if they are in your budget, will make things 100x easier. 

If your baby likes the nipple these would be my top formula feeding must have. They are incredible and were invented to save new moms. 

Put it on your baby registry to get some for free!

Bottle Dispensers 

Whatever bottle dispenser you get, grab two. 

Also make sure it will hold enough formula to last until they are a year old so you don’t have to buy additional ones later on. 

When you don’t need formula anymore, these are also great snack holders! 

Formula Pitcher 

A formula pitcher is like meal planning for babies. 

It makes a big batch to last you throughout the day and saves a lot of time. 

Formula Feeding Tips FAQS 

Formula Feeding Hacks Wrap-Up

These formula feeding tips and must haves saved me time, sleep, and ultimately money with two children. 

Hopefully these formula feeding hacks help you too!