TranslateFeeding your baby
A Child Health and Parenting Service (CHaPS) parent resource
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the normal way of giving infants the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Breast milk provides all the food and drink your baby needs for about the first six months and can continue to benefit you and your baby until you choose to wean.
Breastfeeding, like any new experience, takes time and practice to gain confidence and skill.
Tips for attachment:
- get to know your baby’s feeding cues
- sit comfortably, unwrap and hold your baby close
- allow your baby time to follow their own instincts to attach.
Your baby is attached the right way when:
- it doesn’t hurt
- your baby has a good mouthful of breast with their lips slightly curled back
- your baby’s chin is well in against your breast
- your baby’s chest is against your chest
- your baby’s tongue is well forward
- you may hear your baby swallow.
Babies vary in their feeding needs. Some feed quickly and some slowly. They may need as many as ten to fifteen feeds, or few as six to eight feeds, in twenty-four hours.
Blocked Ducts
- pain/discomfort
- tenderness of the affected area or when letdown occurs
- lumpy breast/s.
How can this happen?
- missed feeds / long intervals between breastfeeds
- breasts not emptied completely
- oversupply
- trauma/external pressures such as ill-fitting bras and seat belts
- fatigue/exhaustion.
What can you do?
- breastfeed more often from the affected side first
- empty the breast completely at each feed
- express and massage the affected breast. A warm shower or warm pack may help
- take pain relief
- phone CHaPS, your GP, or the Breastfeeding Helpline.
Left untreated blocked ducts may lead to mastitis with flu-like symptoms. If you have flu-like symptoms it is essential you contact your Doctor for treatment to prevent further complications.
Storing Expressed Breast Milk
When expressing breast milk:
- Wash hands with soap and water before starting.
- Ensure hands are dried with a clean towel.
- Place expressed breast milk into a sterile container with the date. Breast milk can be stored in the fridge or freezer.
The table below shows the length of time breast milk can be stored.
|
|
At room temperature (26°C or lower) |
Storage in the fridge (5°C or lower) |
Storage in the freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Freshly expressed (into a sterile container) |
6-8 hours If fridge is available store there instead |
No more than 72 hours (3 days) Store at the back where it is the coldest |
|
|
Previously frozen (thawed in fridge) |
4 hours or less or until the next feed |
24 hours |
Do not refreeze |
|
Previously frozen (thawed in warm water) |
Throw away at the end of feed |
4 hours or until next feed |
Do not refreeze |
|
Infant has begun feeding |
Throw away at the end of feed |
Throw away at the end of feed |
Throw away at the end of feed |
Your baby can have expressed breast milk cold, warm or at room temperature.
Warming expressed breast milk:
- Place the bottle in a container of warm water.
- Leave standing in warm water for about 2 to 4 minutes until warm.
- Squirt a few drops of milk on the inside of your wrist. If the milk feels warm and not hot, it is okay for your baby.
- Do not use the microwave or stovetop to heat up expressed breastmilk. This can cause hot spots, which may burn your baby’s mouth. Microwaving expressed breastmilk can reduce its nutritional quality.
Infant formula
If breastfeeding is not possible, use an infant formula until your baby is 12 months of age.
- Infant formulas are suitable for all babies (0-12 months). The use of a follow-on formula (labelled for infants aged 6-12 months) is not necessary.
- Special formulas are not needed unless recommended by your health professional.
- Follow the instructions on the infant formula tin on how to make the formula.
- Changing from one infant formula to another is not recommended.
- After 12 months, you can give your baby full-cream cow’s milk instead of infant formula. Your baby can have infant formula cold, warm or at room temperature.
Warming up infant formula:
- Stand the bottle upright in a container of warm water.
- Leave standing in warm water for about 2 to 4 minutes until warm.
- Squirt a few drops of milk on the inside of your wrist. If the milk feels warm and not hot, it is okay for your baby.
Do not use the microwave or stovetop to heat up infant formula. This can cause hot spots and may burn your baby’s mouth.
Any infant formula left at the end of a feed should be thrown out. It is not safe to keep for later.
Cleaning and sterilising feeding equipment:
- All bottles and teats must be sterilised to kill germs and ensure they are safe to use.
- Bottles and teats can be sterilised by boiling (five minutes), microwaving (using a sterilising unit) or using a chemical solution (follow the manufacturer’s instructions).
Starting solid food
Babies do not need solid food before 4 months. At around 6 months, in addition to breastmilk or infant formula, babies need to start eating some solid food.
Keep breastfeeding or giving infant formula when solid food is introduced. Milk is still your baby’s main food and drink.
Signs that your baby is ready:
- They have good head and neck control and can sit upright when supported (such as in a high chair).
- They open their mouth when offered food. They can control their tongue and do not stick it out when given food.
If your baby is nearly 7 months old and is not showing these signs yet, talk to your Child Health Nurse.
How to start:
- Start with a small amount of pureed food on a spoon after your baby has had their breastfeed or bottle feed.
- It is normal for babies to cough or gag a little on food.
- Start with foods high in iron:
- Pureed meat (eg beef, lamb), chicken and fish, cooked tofu or legumes and iron enriched infant cereal.
- Then add different foods from each of the five food groups.
- Gradually vary texture from pureed to mashed, then minced and chopped as your baby gets older.
- Make food safer by cooking, chopping, mashing, and grating. Give nut pastes rather than whole nuts.
To help prevent food allergy, give your baby the common allergy causing foods before they turn one. These include egg, cow’s milk, wheat, soy, peanut, tree nuts, sesame, fish, and shellfish.
It is normal for a baby to refuse food at times, particularly when starting solids. Do not worry, just try again another time.
By around 12 months, most babies will be ready to eat family food. Trust that they will eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full.
Children under the age of 3 years are at risk of choking. Always stay with your baby when they are eating.
Resources
- Child Health and Parenting Service: 1300 064 544
- Tasmanian Parent Line: 1300 808 178
- Australian Breastfeeding Association
- Raising Children Network
- Department of Health Healthy Kids
Learn more about the Child Health and Parenting Service (CHaPS)
