Baby feeding guide

58 guides · Breastfeeding, formula, weaning and more

Feeding your baby is one of those things that looks simple from the outside and can feel anything but once you are in it. Whether you are breastfeeding, formula feeding, or figuring out solids, these guides pull together NHS and WHO-sourced advice so you have a reliable place to start. You know your baby best — these are here to support you, not add pressure.

Breastfeeding

• Breastfeeding latch and positioning: getting it right — Step-by-step guidance on latch, positioning holds and feeding frequency.
• Breastfeeding support: where to get help — Free breastfeeding help, helplines, lactation consultants and online resources.
• Foods and herbs that support milk supply — Evidence-based guide to foods traditionally linked to milk supply.
• Breastfeeding support and the Stillberaterin — The role of a lactation consultant and how to find qualified support.
• Breastfeeding support: finding help and knowing your rights — Breastfeeding support organisations, IBCLCs and your statutory rights.
• Breastfeeding support and workplace rights — What the PUMP Act covers and how to pump at work.
• Cluster feeding: why it happens and how to get through it — What cluster feeding is, why babies do it and how long it lasts.
• Breastfeeding when you go back to work: expressing, storage and your rights — Expressing schedules, milk storage and your legal rights at work.
• Keeping breastfeeding going when you return to work — How to maintain supply and manage expressing when back at work.

Expressing and storing milk

• Best breast pumps UK 2026: types and what to consider — Manual and electric breast pumps, how to express and milk storage rules.

Formula feeding

• How much formula milk does your baby need? — Amounts, frequency, safe preparation and signs your baby is getting enough.
• Baby formula safety standards and how to choose a formula — How infant formula is regulated and what the safety standards mean for parents.
• Formula shortage: practical steps when your usual formula is unavailable — Safe substitutes and what to avoid when your formula is unavailable.
• Infant formula regulation and options: an overview — A thorough guide to formula standards, types, safe preparation and storage.

Bottle feeding

• Bottle feeding basics: how to feed your baby safely — Positions, sterilising, making up formula, responsive feeding and leftover milk.
• Combination feeding: mixing breast and bottle — How to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding using expressed milk.
• Moving from breast to bottle or cup: a step-by-step guide — How to gently transition your baby from breastfeeding to a bottle or cup.

Starting solids and weaning

• When to start solids: weaning around 6 months — Signs of readiness, safe first foods and textures.
• Baby-led weaning vs purees: how to choose — How to choose between baby-led weaning and purees for starting solids.
• Baby finger foods: safe first options at 6 months — Safe first textures, foods to avoid and choking safety guidance.
• Khichdi, ragi and traditional weaning foods — When and how to introduce traditional Indian weaning foods safely.
• Starting solids: NHMRC guidance — When and how to introduce solid foods per Australian infant feeding guidelines.
• Congee as a baby first food — How traditional Chinese rice congee works as a first weaning food.
• First foods for babies: what to give at the start of weaning — What the NHS recommends as the best first foods and how to prepare them.
• Baby-led weaning: a practical guide for starting solids — Signs of readiness, safe first foods and gagging guidance.
• Baby-led weaning: a practical guide for starting solids — Everything parents need to know about starting baby-led weaning.
• Starting solids: traditional first foods and modern approaches — The Japanese weaning progression and modern evidence-based approaches.
• Brei and starting solids: the traditional approach to weaning — The three-Brei vegetable puree method used in Germany.
• Introducing spices to babies: when and how to start — How to safely introduce cumin, turmeric and coriander from six months.
• Pastina, soft vegetables and Mediterranean weaning foods — Traditional Mediterranean weaning foods including pastina and olive oil.
• Baby first foods: soft grains and broths — Introducing soft porridges, grains and broths as baby first foods.
• Traditional first weaning foods from around the world — How families around the world introduce solid foods to babies from 6 months.

All feeding guides

• How often should a newborn feed? — Demand feeding, hunger cues, cluster feeding and what to expect early on.
• Signs your baby is hungry or full: feeding cues explained — How to read hunger cues, spot fullness signals and understand responsive feeding.
• Vitamin D for babies: who needs drops and when to start — Who needs vitamin D drops, when to start and breastfed vs formula-fed guidance.
• Water for babies: when to introduce it and how much — When babies can drink water and how much they need from 0 to 12 months.
• Introducing allergen foods to babies — How to introduce egg, peanut, dairy and more, one at a time.
• Foods to avoid giving babies — Salt, sugar, honey, whole nuts and choking hazards explained.
• Iron-rich foods for babies: why iron matters and what to serve — Why iron is essential and the best iron-rich foods during weaning.
• Fussy eating in babies: causes and gentle approaches — Why babies refuse food during weaning and what gentle strategies help.
• Baby gagging vs choking: what is normal and what is an emergency — How to tell the difference between gagging and choking on solid food.
• How much solid food by age: a guide from 6 to 12 months — How much solid food babies need and how portions grow alongside milk feeds.
• Cow's milk for babies: when it is safe and how to use it — When babies can drink cow's milk and why it should not replace milk before 12 months.
• Eggs for babies: when they are safe and how to serve them — When babies can eat eggs, which eggs are safe and how to serve them.
• Salt and sugar in baby food: NHS limits and what to watch for — Why babies need very little salt and sugar and how to read food labels.
• Dairy for babies: cheese, yogurt and fromage frais explained — Which dairy products are safe at which stage of weaning.
• Baby food textures: the progression from purees to finger foods — How baby food textures should progress from smooth purees to finger foods.
• Milk feeds when starting solids: how much formula or breast milk to give — How milk feeds change when a baby starts solid food and when to drop feeds.
• Drinks for babies: water, milk and cups — When to introduce water, what to avoid and how to move to a cup.
• Feeding schedule vs demand feeding: what the evidence says — Demand feeding versus scheduled feeding for babies aged 0 to 6 months.
• Introducing allergenic foods early: what the evidence says — Evidence from the LEAP trial on introducing peanut, egg and other allergens early.
• Fussy eating in toddlers — Why toddlers become picky eaters and what actually helps.
• Introducing allergenic foods early: the ASCIA approach — How and when to introduce the nine common allergens based on ASCIA guidelines.
• Introducing allergenic foods: the European approach — ESPGHAN 2017 guidance on early allergen introduction and timing.
• Iron-enriched congee for babies: recipes and age guide — Making iron-enriched congee for babies from 6 to 12 months.
• Olive oil and first seasonings for babies: when and how — How to safely add extra-virgin olive oil and mild herbs from six months.
• What to feed toddlers from 12 months — Portion sizes, foods to encourage and drinks to offer from 12 months.
• How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk — Reliable signs your breastfed or formula-fed baby is getting enough milk.

Frequently asked questions

Should I breastfeed or formula feed?

Either choice is a good choice. Breastfeeding is recommended by the NHS and WHO for the first six months, but formula is a safe, nutritious alternative if breastfeeding is not possible or not right for you. Fed, comfortable and cared for is what matters most.

When should I start weaning my baby?

Around six months, when your baby shows the three key signs of readiness: they can sit up with minimal support, they can hold their head steady, and they can pick up food and put it to their mouth. Age alone is not enough — look for all three signs together.

How much formula milk does my baby need?

In the early weeks, roughly 150 to 200 ml per kilogram of body weight per day, spread across 6 to 8 feeds. This changes as your baby grows. Your baby's own hunger and fullness cues are the best guide — a formula feeding chart by age gives you a useful starting point.

How do I increase my breast milk supply?

The most effective way is to feed more often or express between feeds, as milk supply works on a supply-and-demand basis. Skin-to-skin time, staying hydrated and getting as much rest as you can all help. If you are worried about supply, a breastfeeding support organisation or IBCLC lactation consultant can give you personalised guidance.

Can I mix breastfeeding and formula feeding?

Yes. Combination feeding — giving both breast milk and formula — is very common and works well for many families. It can take a week or two for your supply to adjust when you introduce formula feeds, so go gradually if you want to keep breastfeeding alongside it.

When should I introduce a bottle?

If you are breastfeeding and want to introduce a bottle, the NHS suggests waiting until breastfeeding is established, usually around four to six weeks. Introducing a bottle too early can sometimes affect latch and supply, though many babies manage both without difficulty.