Infant feeding

Feeding your baby can feel quite overwhelming at first, whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or a combination of both. There is lots of guidance available to support you.

Breastfeeding support

We support breastfeeding mothers/parents/families. You're very welcome to breastfeed in all:

schools
nurseries
health centres
children’s centres

The law protects your right to breastfeed in public spaces.

Breastfeeding advice and guidance

Feeding your baby on the breast can take some practice.

Breastfeeding support and helplines

If you have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding, there is help and support available. You can:

talk to a friend or family member who has breastfed
ask a GP, midwife or health visitor
join a local breastfeeding support group (ask your health visitor for details)

Online support and helplines include:

Bottle feeding

If you decide not to breastfeed you should feel supported in your decision to bottle feed.

You may be worried about:

what formula to buy
what equipment you'll need
how to get the hang of feeding your baby

Information and advice on bottle feeding

Feed your baby responsively allowing them to feed as often as they want. Your baby may not always finish the bottle, this is normal.

Your health visitor can offer support and guidance with safe and responsive bottle feeding.

Introducing solid foods

Introducing your baby to solid foods, sometimes called complementary feeding or weaning, should start when your baby is around 6 months old.

Your baby is ready for weaning, if they:

stay in a sitting position, holding their head steady
coordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at food, pick it up and put it in their mouth
swallow food, rather than push it back out

Try not to feel nervous and overwhelmed at the thought of introducing your baby to solid foods, you are not alone.

Your baby may eat more on some days than others. That's fine. Have fun, stay relaxed, take your time and share mealtimes with your baby.

You could be entitled to get help to buy food and milk

If you're on income-related benefits, or aged 18 and under, you may be able to get help to buy food and milk via the Healthy Start scheme (NHS).

Advice and guidance

Find more information on introducing solid foods:

Vitamins for children

Vitamins and minerals are nutrients your baby's body needs in small amounts to work properly and stay healthy. Find more information on vitamins for babies and young children:

You could be entitled to free vitamins

If you're on income-related benefits, or aged 18 and under, you may be entitled to free vitamin drops for babies and young children via the Healthy Start scheme (NHS).

Oral health

Good oral health is important for physical and emotional wellbeing.

Start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through. This usually at around 6 months, but it can be earlier or later.