Becoming a parent can be one of the most wonderful but challenging experiences in your life. Many new parents have lots of questions including “what is the healthiest way to feed my baby?”. Feeding a newborn is not only a round the clock commitment but it’s also the perfect opportunity to begin forming a bond with your new baby.
During your pregnancy you will have the opportunity to discuss your feelings about feeding your baby. The discussion will take place as part of your antenatal care and you will be given evidence based, unbiased information to help you prepare for feeding and caring for your baby the healthiest way.
Here are some useful links
Use a first infant formula throughout the first year. It doesn’t matter which brand you choose as they are all very similar. Talk to your midwife or health visitor if you have any concerns.
Stick to a first infant formula throughout the first year. When your baby is six months old, it’s okay when cooking and preparing foods to use small amounts of pasteurised whole cows’ milk. Tap water is fine for infants over six months of age. When your baby is one year old, they will be getting more of their energy, vitamins and minerals from food, and then full fat cows’ milk can be their main milk drink. There is no need for follow-on formula.
You need to make sure you clean and sterilise all equipment to prevent your baby from getting infections and stomach upsets. You’ll need:
The following instructions apply to all feeding equipment you use for your baby, whether you are using expressed breastmilk or first infant formula.
Use fresh water from the cold tap to fill your kettle every time you make up infant formula. Do not use water that has been previously boiled or artificially softened water. Bottled water is not recommended to make up a feed as it is not sterile and may contain too much salt (sodium) or sulphate.
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Fill the kettle with at least 1 litre of fresh tap water from the cold tap. Don’t use water that has been boiled before.
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Boil the water. Then leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes so that if remains at a temperature of at least 70’c.
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Clean and disinfect the surface you are going to use. It’s really important that you wash your hands to stop bacteria spreading.
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If you are using a cold-water steriliser, shake off any excess solution from the bottle and the teat, or rinse the bottle with cooled boiled water from the kettle (not the tap).
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Keep the teat and cap on the upturned lid of the steriliser. Avoid putting them on the work surface.
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Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and pour the correct amount of water into the bottle first. Double check that the water level is correct.
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Loosely fill the supplied scoop with the infant formula and level it off using either the flat edge of a clean, dry knife or the leveller provided. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only put the suggested number of scoops in the bottle.#
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Holding the edge of the retaining ring, put it on the bottle and screw it in. Cover the teat with the cap and shake the bottle until the powder is dissolved.
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It is really important to cool the infant formula so it is not too hot to drink. Cool the formula by holding the bottom half of the bottle under cold running water. Move the bottle about under the tap to ensure even cooling.
-
Test the temperature of the infant formula on the inside of your wrist before giving it to your baby. It should be body temperature, which means it should feel warm or cool, but not hot.
-
If there is any made-up infant formula left in the bottle after a feed, throw it away.
-
To reduce the risk of infection, make up feeds as your baby needs them. One at a time.
Use a first infant formula throughout the first year. It doesn’t matter which brand you choose as they are all very similar. Talk to your midwife or health visitor if you have any concerns.
Stick to a first infant formula throughout the first year. When your baby is six months old, it’s okay when cooking and preparing foods to use small amounts of pasteurised whole cows’ milk. Tap water is fine for infants over six months of age. When your baby is one year old, they will be getting more of their energy, vitamins and minerals from food, and then full fat cows’ milk can be their main milk drink. There is no need for follow-on formula.
You need to make sure you clean and sterilise all equipment to prevent your baby from getting infections and stomach upsets. You’ll need:
The following instructions apply to all feeding equipment you use for your baby, whether you are using expressed breastmilk or first infant formula.
Use fresh water from the cold tap to fill your kettle every time you make up infant formula. Do not use water that has been previously boiled or artificially softened water. Bottled water is not recommended to make up a feed as it is not sterile and may contain too much salt (sodium) or sulphate.
-
Fill the kettle with at least 1 litre of fresh tap water from the cold tap. Don’t use water that has been boiled before.
-
Boil the water. Then leave the water to cool in the kettle for no more than 30 minutes so that if remains at a temperature of at least 70’c.
-
Clean and disinfect the surface you are going to use. It’s really important that you wash your hands to stop bacteria spreading.
-
If you are using a cold-water steriliser, shake off any excess solution from the bottle and the teat, or rinse the bottle with cooled boiled water from the kettle (not the tap).
-
Keep the teat and cap on the upturned lid of the steriliser. Avoid putting them on the work surface.
-
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and pour the correct amount of water into the bottle first. Double check that the water level is correct.
-
Loosely fill the supplied scoop with the infant formula and level it off using either the flat edge of a clean, dry knife or the leveller provided. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and only put the suggested number of scoops in the bottle.#
-
Holding the edge of the retaining ring, put it on the bottle and screw it in. Cover the teat with the cap and shake the bottle until the powder is dissolved.
-
It is really important to cool the infant formula so it is not too hot to drink. Cool the formula by holding the bottom half of the bottle under cold running water. Move the bottle about under the tap to ensure even cooling.
-
Test the temperature of the infant formula on the inside of your wrist before giving it to your baby. It should be body temperature, which means it should feel warm or cool, but not hot.
-
If there is any made-up infant formula left in the bottle after a feed, throw it away.
-
To reduce the risk of infection, make up feeds as your baby needs them. One at a time.