Introduction
Have you thought about how you’ll feed your baby? On this page, explore the types of questions you might want to ask as you make the personal decision of how to feed your baby.
Deciding how to feed your baby
Deciding how you’ll feed your baby is a personal choice that depends on many things, including your beliefs. It also depends on support from your partner, family, friends, and health care providers. Your feeding decision may also change depending on both your needs and your baby’s needs at different stages.
Learn about your options and ask questions. You may decide to breastfeed, feed your baby infant formula, or both. If you decide to breastfeed, you may want to breastfeed directly at the breast or offer expressed breast milk to your baby. Talk about it with your partner, friends, family and health care provider. Whatever your questions or feeding decision, there is information and support available. Attending parenting classes or a breastfeeding support group will also give you more information and help answer your questions.
There are many things to consider when deciding to breastfeed, formula feed or both. Even if you’re not planning on exclusively breastfeeding your baby, you may choose to breastfeed or hand express colostrum (a high-calorie, thick, yellow breastmilk that’s produced during the first few days after birth) so your baby can receive its protective benefits. Colostrum has antibodies and gives your baby protection against infections and diseases. Learn more about breastfeeding health benefits.
Choosing how to feed your baby is your decision. Learn more about your options, including breastfeeding, formula feeding, and mixed feeding both breastmilk and formula.
What is recommended?
Breastfeeding your baby exclusively for the first 6 months with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age and beyond is recommended. Exclusive breastfeeding means no other liquids or solid foods except breastmilk, vitamins, vaccines and medicine are given. Any amount of breastfeeding or breast milk for any length of time will benefit you and your baby. The longer breastmilk is provided, the greater the health benefits for both of you.
If you decide not to breastfeed, feeding with infant formula can also provide your baby with the nutrition they need. Using shared breastmilk from other parents or bought online is not recommended.
Vitamin D for all babies
All babies whether they are breastfed, infant formula-fed or both, need 400 IU of a liquid vitamin D supplement every day.
Vitamin D helps your baby’s body absorb calcium, develop healthy bones and prevents rickets.
Thinking about your feeding options is an important part of getting ready for your baby. The role of your health care provider is to give you information about feeding your baby that is up-to-date, useful and sensitive to your needs. Your role is to make decisions that are best for you and your baby.
You can use these questions to help you in deciding how to feed your baby. You can also bring them with you to your next appointment to guide your conversation with your health care provider.
- What types of things are you wondering about when it comes to feeding your baby? Write down any questions about feeding your baby that you would like to ask your health care provider. The answers can help you make an informed decision.
- What is important to you about feeding your baby? Discuss this with your health care provider so they can understand how to best support you.
- How do you feel about breastfeeding? Only you know your own thoughts and feelings about breastfeeding. This is an important part of making this decision.
- If you have had a baby before, what was your feeding experience like? Is there anything you would like to change this time?
- Is there anything about home, work, school or community that could affect your decision? Your health care provider can help you create a realistic plan for feeding your baby.
- Are there any health issues you’re concerned about that may affect your ability to breastfeed? Talk with your health care provider if you have any health issues that may affect breastfeeding.
- Is cost a concern for you in deciding how to feed your baby? Your health care provider can connect you to resources you may need.
- Do you know someone who can support you in your feeding goals and decisions? Whatever you decide, your health care provider can help, but it’s also good to think about family members and friends who can support you as well. Breastfeeding can take time and practice for both you and your baby to learn.
- Is anyone else trying to convince you one way or the other? Do what is right for you and your baby. Don’t let others make this decision for you.
- How would you like to feed your baby? With information and support that meets their needs, most parents who want to breastfeed are able to do so. However you decide to feed your baby, your health care provider can support you in your feeding decision.
Copyrighted material adapted with permission from Healthwise, Incorporated.
Feeding relationship and cues
Your baby is born with the ability to regulate and eat the amount of food they need. In the beginning, your role as a parent is to decide what your baby eats and to follow their cues for hunger and fullness (satiety). Your baby’s role is to let you know when they’re hungry and when they’re full. By having a healthy feeding relationship right from the start, you’ll help your baby develop healthy eating habits for life.
The early months with your baby are a time of learning for all of you. When you respond to your baby’s cues, you’re helping to build a secure attachment and a trusting relationship. You’re also teaching your baby to listen to their body and to stop eating when they’re full. Watch your baby for early hunger cues—babies feed best when they’re quiet and alert. If you’re having trouble reading your baby’s cues, talk with your health care provider.
Babies need to eat day and night. Your baby feeds in their own way to meet their needs. For the first 6 months, your baby will likely wake up to feed during the night. Keep your baby close when they sleep—in the same room as you (room sharing), but on a separate sleep surface such as a crib, cradle or bassinet. This will make it easier to feed your baby, especially at night. It also makes it easier to learn and respond to your baby’s cues. Once your baby is done feeding and is ready to sleep, always place them on their back in their crib, cradle or bassinet.
When your baby has had enough, they’ll stop showing feeding cues and show signs of fullness that may include:
- Slowing down or stopping their sucking and swallowing
- Letting go of or turning their head away from your nipple
- Looking relaxed (e.g., extending their arms and legs, extending or relaxing their fingers)
- Pushing or arching away
- Falling asleep at the end of the feeding
Burping your baby
Some babies find it easy to burp, but some may need help.
Swipe, tap or click dots below to see different ways to burp your baby:
Feeding by bottle
Whether you’re feeding your baby expressed breastmilk or using infant formula, when you feed your baby from a bottle:
- Hold your baby almost upright in your arms, using skin-to-skin cuddling.
- Hold your baby’s cheek to your breast to feed.
- Change the arm you use to hold your baby at each feed—just as you would when breastfeeding.
- Always hold your baby until they’re finished their feed. Never leave your baby alone with a bottle in their mouth—they can choke.
- Choose a low flow nipple with a single hole.
- Tip the bottle so the liquid just fills the nipple.
- Let your baby seek the nipple. Follow their feeding cues.
- When they’re ready, put the nipple deep enough into their mouth until they have a wide latch. They should not gag.
- Babies will usually feed for 15–30 minutes at each feed. If they drink too fast, tip the bottle down to slow their feed or remove it. Your baby should not gasp, cough or cry while bottle feeding.
- Burp your baby when they’re finished feeding.
Let your baby control the flow of milk and follow their feeding cues. You can tell if your baby is swallowing too fast when:
- They’re not taking a breath between swallows.
- Their eyes are opened wider than usual.
- Their nostrils are flaring.
- Their arms and legs are stiffening as they struggle to breathe and feed at the same time.
- Breastmilk or infant formula is leaking from the sides of their mouth.
Follow your baby’s cues. When they’ve had enough they’ll:
- Stop or slow down their sucking or swallowing
- Let go of the nipple
- Look relaxed
- Stop showing feeding cues
- Fall asleep
Choose low flow nipples
Low flow nipples help your baby coordinate their sucking, swallowing and breathing.
Leftover breastmilk and formula
Aim to finish each feed within 2 hours of preparing the bottle. When your baby is done feeding, throw away any breastmilk or formula that is left in the bottle. Do not put breastmilk or formula back in the fridge or store it at room temperature for the next feed.
Breastmilk and formula can grow bacteria in it from your baby’s saliva which can make them sick.
Feeding equipment
- Checking your equipment
- Cleaning feeding equipment: Overview
- Cleaning feeding equipment for babies under 4 months old
- Cleaning feeding equipment for babies 4 months and older
In this Section:
Checking your equipment
You’ll need preparation and feeding equipment if you’re supplementing or formula feeding your baby. This includes things such as cups, bottles, bottle nipples, caps, tongs and spoons. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions for use.
Use glass or BPA-free plastic containers. BPA is a chemical used in some plastics that may not be safe for children. Baby bottles purchased in Canada after 2010 do not contain BPA. If buying plastic baby bottles outside of Canada or any other plastic containers, make sure they’re BPA-free. Check the package or call the manufacturer if you’re not sure if it has BPA in it. To learn more, visit the Government of Canada – Bisphenol A (BPA).
Check bottle nipples before each use for signs of damage such as tears, cracks, discoloration, swelling or stickiness. These can be a choking hazard for babies and should not be used.
Can you boil your feeding equipment?
Choose equipment, bottles and artificial nipples that can be boiled after each use. Bottles or nipples that warp, melt or become sticky after being boiled are a choking hazard and should not be used.
Cleaning feeding equipment: Overview
To keep your baby safe, clean all of the feeding equipment you’ll use like tongs, measuring cups, bottles and nipples. Young babies are at higher risk of getting sick because their immune systems are still developing. How you clean the equipment depends on if your baby is under or over 4 months old.
Cleaning feeding equipment for babies under 4 months old
Clean feeding equipment before use. Feeding equipment is not fully clean until it has been boiled or cleaned in a dishwasher with the sanitation cycle.
If you don’t use the cleaned bottles right away, wait until they are completely dry and then fully assemble them so the inside stays clean. Store all feeding equipment in a clean, protected area. Download and print our step-by-step guide to cleaning feeding equipment for babies under 4 months old.
Clean by boiling
Step 1:
Wash your hands well with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Step 2:
Clean feeding equipment and working area with hot, soapy water. Then rinse in clean water.
Step 3:
Put all the feeding equipment in a large pot. Cover the items with water.
Step 4:
Bring to a rolling boil. Boil for 2 minutes.
Step 5:
Remove feeding equipment with tongs that have been boiled. Put items on a clean towel or paper towel. Let cool.
Clean by dishwasher
You can also use the sanitize cycle on a dishwasher to clean the feeding equipment if:
- There’s a National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) symbol on your dishwasher. You can also check online to see if the dishwasher is NSF 184 certified.
- The dishwasher has a sanitize feature.
Cleaning feeding equipment for babies 4 months and older
All feeding equipment should be cleaned before and after every use with hot, soapy water—boiling is no longer needed. You can also use your dishwasher—the sanitize cycle isn’t needed.
To clean the equipment:
- Wash your hands well with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use hot soapy water to clean and remove any residue on the equipment. Rinse in clean water that’s safe to drink. If using a dishwasher, use the longest, hottest wash and dry cycle.
- Air dry the equipment on a clean paper towel or clean cloth.
If you don’t use the cleaned bottles right away, fully assemble them once they are completely dry so the inside stays clean. Store all feeding equipment in a clean, protected area.
Download and print the steps for cleaning feeding equipment for babies 4 months and older.