First, get comfortable. Find a place where you can easily support the baby for a length of time without straining yourself. A comfortable chair is a good choice.

Second, tilt the bottle so the nipple is full of formula. Otherwise, your baby will swallow excessive amounts of air during feeding. More air equals more spit up.

When your baby's first tooth arrives, it's time to begin practicing a good dental routine. Buy a soft, child-sized toothbrush, or use a wet cloth. You don't need toothpaste at this age. Make a game of cleaning that precious little tooth. Remember, the goal is to take care of the teeth while also getting your child into the habit of good dental hygiene.

Third, tilt your baby so that her head is higher than her stomach. Never feed your baby when she is lying down as this can lead to ear infections. The eustachian tubes connect your baby's mouth and inner ear. When she drinks lying back, fluids run into her inner ear and stay there. Sitting up or reclining slightly are the correct positions for feeding.

Fourth, cuddle your baby, holding her as if you were breastfeeding. This is especially true for newborns. A newborn's eyes can't focus well beyond about a foot or so, or the distance between your eyes and hers when she is breastfeeding. Your baby wants to see you. She wants to interact with you and get to know you. Cuddle your baby while she eats. Coo to her. Sing to her. Take off your shirt and go skin-to-skin. These activities bring security and comfort to your baby and help you bond. Sometimes it might seem like you've been feeding her forever, but you'll look back on those early feedings fondly when your little baby isn't so little anymore.

As your baby becomes able to grasp the bottle and take control, let her. Her coordination might be lacking at first, and sometimes babies frustrate themselves by knocking the bottle out of their own mouths. At those times, hold the bottle but let her grasp and tug it around. Before long, she'll be an old pro.