Infant Feeding

How you feed your baby is an important decision. As a parent/caregiver you deserve to have all the information you need to make and informed decision.

An informed decision means you have had the opportunity to review evidence-informed information, and public health recommendations and is encouraged with the support of a trusted healthcare provider.

Skin to skin means that a caregiver is holding their baby against their bare chest. Skin-to-skin is encouraged no matter how you feed your baby. It is beneficial for breastfed and bottle/alternative method fed babies and caregivers.

Benefits:

  • Provides infants with extra warmth and promotes bonding.
  • Regulates infants heart rate and breathing.
  • Can be practiced by birthing and non-birthing parents, or any trusted caregiver. 
  • Feelings of safety, security, and support infants to adjust to the environment. 
  • Gives the caregiver/parent a sense of comfort and ease.
  • Increases milk supply for breastfeeding/chestfeeding families.

The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization recommend:

  • Breast milk only for feeding your baby from birth to 6 months
  • At 6 months, add iron-rich solid foods and continue breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond

10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed your Baby | Public Health Agency of Canada
Access breastfeeding support | Huron Perth Public Health

Extended breastfeeding gives your child significant health and developmental benefits, including:

  • Protection against infectious and chronic diseases
  • Support for improved brain development and social skills

Breastmilk or formula can be given by bottle as a supplementation or the primary method of feeding. There are many benefits to paced bottle feeding and it is recommended when you are bottle feeding your baby.

  • Allows the infant to be more in control of the feeding pace, which can also help reduce gas. 
  • Hold the baby in an upright position. 
  • Hold the bottle horizontally (at a 90-degree angle), so that the milk does not entirely fill the nipple. 
  • This method allows baby to take a few sucks and then get a break. Baby can more easily communicate if they want more, or to take a break. The caregiver can then more easily follow baby’s cues. 

For an example of paced bottle feeding see the link below:

Paced bottle feeding captioned | YouTube: Emerald Doulas

Commercial infant formula is the only appropriate alternative to breastmilk. It takes time and organization to ensure infant formula and bottles are prepared, sterilize, available and ready. For more information on safely preparing infant formula:

Infant Formula | City of Toronto

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper measurements when mixing formula. Using too much or too little powder or water can affect your baby's growth and health.

Once your child reaches 6 months of age, you can start introducing solid foods. By 6 months, babies need extra iron and other nutrients from solid food for healthy growth and development. Review the infant nutrition guides from Health Canada to learn more about feeding your child.

Signs of readiness for starting solids at around 6 months

  • Can sit up, hold their head steady and lean forward.
  • Open their mouth wide when you offer food.
  • Can pick up food and put it in their mouth.
  • Can let you know when they don’t want food by turning their head away.

More information about introducing solid foods

Healthcare provider information

Infant feeding education ideally begins before and continues during pregnancy, when an expectant family has time for questions, and is open to new learning.

As a healthcare provider, you can identify gaps in a family's knowledge about infant feeding, and ensure the family has the information they need to inform their unique infant-feeding plan.

Do you consider yourself a breastfeeding champion within your organization?

Do you want to keep in the loop with support and conversations about breastfeeding within the community?

Please reach out to askhpph@hpph.ca.

Huron and Perth area infant feeding support

A list of local infant feeding supports is located at Infant Feeding Clinics and Supports. Professional support, trained peer support, and encouraging family and community can all support a family in their breastfeeding journey.

 

Contact Us

Huron Perth Public Health

Huron Office
77722B London Road, RR #5, Clinton, ON
N0M 1L0

Perth Office
653 West Gore St., Stratford ON N5A 1L4
Toll-free 1-888-221-2133
askhpph@hpph.ca