Welcome to your new baby: Feeding your baby

Feeding your baby

(Welcome to your new baby magazine, pages 18 and 19.)

When your baby is very young, feeding will seem to be the main thing you do during wake times. 

It’s an important time for you and your baby to get to know each other, so take your time and enjoy being with your new little person. 

For some babies, feeding goes well from the start. For others, learning this new skill takes time and practice. Be patient, and ask for help if you need it.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the normal and natural way to ensure your baby is healthy and develops well.

It’s good for mother’s health too. 

At first, many mums and babies find this new skill challenging. But once established, breastfeeding is very convenient and rewarding, so it is worth a bit of time and effort to learn how to do it.
  • Hold your baby close with his body facing you and his nose opposite your nipple. This way, he can take a good mouthful of the nipple and the surrounding areola (brown area).
  • If your baby is not attached properly, it can be painful and your nipples can get sore, and he’s not getting enough milk. Ask for help if you’re unsure.
  • Let your baby feed from one breast until he has stopped sucking, then offer the other side. At first he may be quite happy with just one side, but as he gets bigger he is likely to need both, unless he feeds very often. Breastfeeding is a great way to relax both you and your baby.
  • When your baby has had enough, he may come off the breast by himself. If he’s gone to sleep, put your finger in the corner of his mouth to gently break the suction, then take him off.
In the early months, your baby might want 8 to 12 breastfeeds every 24 hours.
  • Breast milk is easy to digest and babies have small stomachs.
  • All babies feed at night, and over half still have night feeds at 7 months.
  • Usually feeding takes less time as the baby gets older but it is important to work out what suits your baby. Again, some babies like to feed quite often, and others like longer sleep times – they are all different.
  • Your baby will show you if he needs a feed, such as searching for the breast, mouthing and sucking his hands, or becoming restless. Crying is the last cue that your baby needs to be fed, not the first.

Breastfeeding – the early weeks

The more your baby feeds, the more milk you will make. It’s OK to give a top up breastfeed if your baby still seems hungry.

Your nipples may be tender in the first few weeks as you and your baby learn to breastfeed, but should improve. 

If your nipples continue to be sore or cracked, it’s probably because your baby is not attaching well. You need to talk to your child health nurse or contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association for help.

Not all crying is hunger. Your baby may just need a cuddle or a walk in the pram. He might be crying because he is overtired. Try settling him to sleep and wait until he wakes to feed him (see Sleep and Settling).

Looking after yourself

Try to get as much rest as possible while you’re adjusting to life with a new baby. Accept all offers of help from your partner, family and friends. 

Join an early parenting group and your local Australian Breastfeeding Association group for support.

Expressing and storing breast milk

You can express your breast milk for others to give to your baby if you can’t be with your baby all the time. Express after a feed, or instead of a feed if your baby is not with you. 

You might need to express between feeds for some time to increase your milk supply. 

  • You can express milk by hand, or with a pump. There are many types of pumps – some work by hand and some with an electric motor. Ask your child health nurse, Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor or a lactation consultant for more information.
  • Put breast milk into a clean, closed container or sealable plastic bag, and write the date on it.
Use expressed breast milk within:
  • 6 to 8 hours at room temperature (under 26 ºC )
  • 3 days kept at the back of the fridge where it’s coldest (not in the door).
  • frozen
    • 2 weeks in the freezer compartment inside a fridge
    • 3 months in the freezer of a fridge with a separate freezer door
    • 12 months in a deep freeze
Thaw milk in the fridge or by standing it in warm water.
  • If thawed in the fridge, use within 24 hours.
  • If thawed in warm water use straight away, or within 4 hours if kept in the fridge.
  • Never refreeze thawed breast milk.
  • Never use a microwave oven to thaw or heat milk as it can damage the goodness of the milk, and cause hot spots which can burn your baby’s mouth.
  • If your baby leaves any expressed breast milk, throw it away – you can’t use it for another feed.

Alternatives to breast milk

Breast milk is the natural food to feed babies, even when they are unwell. 

If you and your baby are having problems breastfeeding talk to your child health nurse, Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor or lactation consultant, ideally before you stop breastfeeding or decide to use infant formula, as this could reduce your breast milk supply. 

Many mothers feel disappointed if they’re not able to keep breastfeeding. This is a normal feeling. Remember that any breast milk is better than none, and formula-fed babies can grow and develop well. You can still have lots of skin-to-skin time with your baby while feeding him.

What is infant formula?

Most infant formula is made from cow’s milk, modified to be as much like breastmilk as possible. It’s not the same as ordinary cow’s milk.

Infant formula is the only safe alternative to breast milk for the first 12 months. Don’t give your baby ordinary cow’s milk as a main drink until he’s at least 12 months old.

You may need a special formula if your baby has a medical condition. In this case, your doctor will help you choose the right infant formula.

Although your baby shouldn’t have cow’s milk until she’s 12 months old, dairy foods like cheese, yoghurt and milk used in cooking are OK after 6 months.

Balancing breastfeeding and work

Going back to work doesn’t have to mean the end of breastfeeding.
  • Use your maternity leave. Take as long as you can to recover from the birth and get breastfeeding well established.
  • Work part time, at least at first, or try to fit your working hours around your baby’s needs. See if you can do some work from home.
  • Work-based child care is great if it’s available.
  • You can express milk at work, store it in a fridge then take it home to be fed to your baby the next day. The carer can use a cup or a bottle for this. You and your baby can continue to enjoy breastfeeds when you are home.
  • Your baby may be happy to have more breastfeeds before and after work. This is a great time to have together after a day apart.

Starting other foods

(Welcome to your new baby magazine page 20.)

Introducing solid food at the right time is very important. Babies develop at their own pace but if you start too early, your baby is not ready to chew, swallow and digest solid food. If you wait too long, your baby will miss out on important nutrients needed for growth and development.

The best time to start solids is around 6 months, when your baby is:

  • showing an interest in food and looking at what’s on your plate
  • wanting more after a feed of milk
  • opening her mouth when you offer her food
  • has good head and neck control, and can sit upright when you support her.
Keep breastfeeding as well as giving your baby solids until she’s at least 12 months old.

Tips for success…

  • Be relaxed!
  • Make sure your baby is sitting comfortably and supported and is not too hungry or too tired.
  • Use a soft plastic spoon.
  • If your baby refuses first time, try again in a day or so. It takes a few times to get used to new tastes and textures.
  • Always stay with your baby when she’s eating – avoid foods that may cause choking.
  • Sit your baby with the family at meal times so she can watch and learn.
  • Learning to eat takes practice, patience and persistence. Be prepared for a mess – it’s part of learning to eat.

How do I start?

Start with foods that are high in iron – iron-enriched baby cereals or foods such as pureed meat, chicken and fish, cooked tofu and legumes (beans, peas and lentils).

After this, you can introduce new foods in any order and more than 1 new food at a time. It’s OK to mix different food together.

Try to give your baby homemade food if you can.

This is also a good time to think about your own diet – and make some healthy changes.

Offer a variety of foods from the Five Food Groups:

  1. vegetables/legumes/beans
  2. fruit
  3. grain (cereal) foods
  4. lean meat/poultry/fish/eggs/tofu
  5. milk/yoghurt/cheese.

How much food, and when?

  • Once a day, start with a teaspoon of iron-enriched food after a breast or formula feed. Mix the food into a smooth paste with breast milk, formula or boiled water.
  • Introduce a variety of foods, moving from pureed →  smooth → mashed → soft pieces.
  • Gradually increase from 1 or 2 teaspoons up to 2 or 3 tablespoons, according to her appetite.
  • Start with 1 meal a day. By 8 months, your baby will probably be having 3 meals.
  • Once your baby is eating a variety of foods, offer meals before a breastfeed.
Babies are very good at knowing when they are full or hungry, so it is important to recognise your baby’s hunger and full ‘signs’.
Always watch your baby while she’s eating, and avoid any hard foods that could cause choking.
Remember, if you have any worries about feeding your baby, get help early from your child health nurse, Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor or doctor.

Find out more about Baby's first foods

Your family’s diet

(Welcome to your new baby magazine page 39.)

To grow normally and enjoy good health, it is important that your baby eats healthy food from the start. 

He will develop his eating habits from you and his other carers (such as at child care). These habits usually continue into adulthood and will affect his health now and for the rest of his life.

Be a good role model.

Right from the start, even before he’s eating solids, your baby will watch you and the family eating. 

If you choose and enjoy a variety of food from the Five Food Groups every day, he is more likely to develop healthy eating habits – and you’ll benefit too.
  • Enjoy a variety of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains and legumes (such as beans) every day.
  • Choose protein foods from lean meats, eggs, legumes and dairy every day. Avoid fatty, processed meats.
  • Limit foods that are high in fats, contain added sugars and are low in fibre.
  • Limit salty foods, and foods processed with salt.
  • Drink water. Avoid sugary drinks.
  • Limit how much alcohol you drink. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, it’s safest not to drink any alcohol at all.
  • Be active every day if you can.

Need help or information?

Last Updated: 18/06/2021