A difficult experience with breast-feeding one child, perhaps including painful mastitis, leads some mothers to decide to bottle-feed their next baby.

Sadly, they are often made to feel guilt about it. What's the best thing to do?

Stop feeling guilty!
Happy babies have happy parents. Frustration, anxiety and pain are more likely to interfere with bonding with your baby than a plastic teat.

Remember millions of healthy, contented babies have been bottle-fed and some have even grown up to be rocket scientists.

Be confident about your decision...
From your first antenatal visit, make it clear to the midwives that you intend to bottle-feed. Explain why clearly and assertively. You're the best person to decide about this, so have confidence in the decision you've made. If you're not definite, you'll find yourself under pressure to change your mind. The milk kitchen on the maternity ward is a bit like smokers' corner. Don't let this unnerve you.

Your baby will be happier if she doesn't have to wait for your milk to come in. If you're bottle-feeding, it's easier to establish a routine and see how much milk your baby has drunk.

Others can share the feeding
Time spent feeding a very small baby is a bonding experience. With bottle-feeding more people can share the experience. Hold your baby close while you feed her, talk to her and look her in the eye and the experience will be the same as breast-feeding. Ask your partner and your baby's grandparents to help. This frees you up to spend more time with your older child. Older siblings can feed the baby too, if you supervise them.

• What Else Should Parents Know About Their Baby's Diet?
• ... Or Ask Our Paediatric Dietitian, Dave Swain
• What If A Baby Doesn't Like Milk?
• Breastfeeding Support From www.laleche.org.uk