The choice you make in how you feed your baby is one of the most important ones you will make as a parent. A Public Health Nurse or Registered Dietitian can provide support to help you make an informed choice on feeding your child.
Healthy Eating at Every Stage
A positive relationship with food starts early in life with healthy eating habits. How you approach feeding and mealtimes is just as important as what you offer. Read on for feeding tips to support your child’s nutrition, feeding skill development and encourage a healthy relationship with food.
Check out the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health resources to learn more about Eating Well During Pregnancy and Feeding Your Baby 6-12 months.
Eating a variety of healthy foods during pregnancy helps you stay well and gives your baby the nutrients they need for a strong start. For more easy tips and information, visit the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) Eating Well During Pregnancy resource.
Learn more about Canadas Food Guide: Healthy Eating When Pregnant and Breastfeeding
Feeding Baby (birth to 6 months)
Breastmilk is the only food your baby needs for the first 6 months of their life. The longer you breastfeed, the more benefits you and your baby get.
It is time to start introducing solids at 6 months of age. Watch your baby for signs of readiness and aim for Iron rich foods first.
Feeding your baby is about more than food and nutrition. It is about exploring, sharing and getting to know and trust each other.
For more information check out Feeding Your Baby 6-12 months by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health.
Feeding Your Toddler/Preschooler
By 12 months, your child needs a variety of foods from the food groups. Establish a schedule of regular meals and snacks for your child. Breastfeed as long as you and your child want to continue.
Discover simple tips that make mealtime safe, enjoyable, and right for your baby's stage.
Infant Feeding and Nutrition Clinic
The Infant Feeding and Nutrition Clinic helps parents develop skills to feed their baby, child, or themselves.
One-on-one appointments can also support parents to make food choices that are best for their family.
Please note: The in-person Clinic is ONLY offered from our Lindsay and Port Hope office locations.
Breastfeeding Support
Breast milk provides essential nutrition and hydration for babies. It helps reduce the risks of childhood obesity, diabetes, infections, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It also supports brain and jaw development.
Making an informed decision about how to feed your baby is an important first step in your parenting journey. Breast milk is the only food your baby needs for the first 6 months. Around 6 months, babies start to eat solid foods, focusing on iron rich foods. Breastmilk is baby’s main source of food for their first year of life and recommended up to 2 years and beyond.
Formula Feeding
If you have made the informed decision to give your baby formula, please refer to the links below on how to safely prepare, store and provide formula.
Feeding Your Baby Formula
Infant Formula: What You Need To Know
Tip Sheet - Getting Ready to Make Formula
Tip Sheet - How to Prepare Ready-to-Feed Liquid Formula for Healthy Babies
Tip Sheet - How to Prepare Concentrated Infant Formula for Healthy Babies
Tip Sheet - How to Prepare Powdered Infant Formula for Healthy Babies
Tip Sheet - How to Bottle Feed Your Baby and Transport Formula
Health Canada: Important Notice Regarding Preparing and Handling Powdered Infant Formula
Select Water From a Safe Source
Guide to Amount of Infant Formula to Prepare Daily
All babies are different. The chart below is a guide. Your baby may eat more or less than the amount listed below. It is okay if your baby does not finish the whole bottle.
Follow baby’s signs of hunger and fullness.
|
Baby’s Age |
Amount of formula in each bottle 1 ounce = 30 mL |
Number of bottles in 24 hours |
Total Formula in 24 hours |
|
Birth – 7 days |
Watch for cues of hunger and fullness. Expect baby to eat small amount at a time. Baby will need to be fed often. |
||
|
1 - 2 weeks |
2 - 3 ounces (60 – 90 mL) |
6 - 10 |
14 – 26 ounces (420 - 780 mL) |
|
2 – 8 weeks |
3 – 5 ounces (90 – 150 mL) |
5 - 8 |
17 – 35 ounces (510 – 1050 mL) |
|
2 – 5 months |
4 – 6 ounces (120 – 180 mL) |
5 - 7 |
20 – 39 ounces (600 – 1170 mL) |
|
At around 6 months, your baby will start to eat solid foods. Once baby begins to eat more solid foods, the amount of formula they drink will be less. |
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|
6 – 8 months |
4- 8 ounces (120 – 240 mL) |
4 - 5 |
16 – 37 ounces (480 – 1110 mL) |
|
9 – 12 months |
When your baby is 9 – 12 months old, you can start replacing formula with pasteurized 3.25% (homogenized) milk as long as they are eating iron-rich foods at most meals. As your baby eats more solid foods, they will begin to drink less formula/3.25% milk. By 12 months of age, your baby needs 16 ounces (500 mL) of 3.25% milk per day. |
||
|
12 months and older |
Infant formula is not needed for most healthy babies after 12 months. Offer 2-3 cups (500 – 750 mL) of 3.25% milk each day as a part of meals and snacks. |
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Feeding Cues - How Do I Know If My Baby Is Hungry?
Babies need to feed a lot in the early days. Your baby has many ways to tell you they are hungry. These signs are called feeding cues.
Your baby is hungry when you see these feeding cues:
Your baby is full when:
Following your baby's feeding cues will:
Remember...
Automatic Formula Dispensing Machines Are Not Recommended
Automatic formula preparation machines for use at home are NOT recommended for the following reasons:
For information on infant formula recalls please visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
Need for more information for your growing family?
Check out these resources
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