Newborns and infants (0-12 months)

Check out the ways you can tell if your baby is getting enough milk. Your midwife or Well Child nurse will also help you to recognise these signs, and make sure your baby is feeding effectively.

It is fine to choose any 'from birth' formula that suits your budget. There is no independent evidence to suggest that any company's milk is better for your baby.

Skin to skin contact between you and your baby is beneficial to you both at any time. It is particularly important immediately following birth, no matter whether you intend to breastfeed or formula feed.

You will need feeding bottles and teats with caps, collars and sealing discs. You will also need a bottle brush and a teat brush, kitchen tongs, and sterilising equipment (necessary for the first 6 months).

Breastmilk can be stored. Remember to use a sterilised container to put the milk in. Find out more about how long you can store breastmilk.

Expressing milk means squeezing milk out of your breast. You would do this if you are separated from your baby for any reason.

Feeding whenever your baby wants to feed will help maintain your milk supply. This is your baby's way of making sure they have all the breastmilk they need. The milk they take is replaced each time they feed.

Your milk usually takes 2 to 3 days to come in, and babies usually regain their birth weight by 10 to 14 days.

Make sure your baby is properly latched. Watch a video showing you how.

Babies have such a strong instinct to breastfeed. Usually in that first hour your baby will start to show signs of being ready to feed. If left, they will move towards your breast and latch on by themselves.

Holding your baby against your skin straight after birth will calm your baby, steady their breathing and help keep them warm.

Before your baby arrives, find out as much as you can about how to breastfeed.

Plan for 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks each day, once your baby’s eating a variety of foods and textures. Babies have small stomachs so need frequent opportunities to eat small amounts.

Help your baby learn about food by letting them play with it. Encourage their independence – give your baby their own spoon to hold when they can.

Be guided by your baby's appetite. Offer your baby new foods. Let them choose how much to eat - you decide what food is offered, your baby decides how much to eat.

It takes a little work to bring everyone together for meals. But it's worth it and the whole family eats better.