Tummy upsets can make small babies very ill. Since milk creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria it is vital to keep feeding equipment scrupulously clean. Bottles and teats should be washed in hot soapy water. Scrub the insides of the bottles with a bottlebrush and turn the teats inside out and squeeze them lightly to make sure the hole is clear. Rinse bottles and teats thoroughly with cold water, then sterilise.

If you can, it is best to prepare batches of six bottles at a time, which you can then store in the main body of the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Do not use softened water to make up your baby’s feed as it has a higher concentration of salt, which can harm your baby’s kidneys. Generally there is always at least one tap that is not affected by a water softener and that delivers mains water.