Powdered infant formula is not sterile, which means it may contain low levels of bacteria. When your baby is 12 months old, they can drink (dark blue label) cows’ milk instead of infant formula. Unless your midwife, doctor, dietitian or nurse gives you different advice, a stage 1 ‘from birth’ formula is the only type of formula your baby needs until they are 12 months (1 year) old. Never give tea, coffee, alcohol, fruit juice, cordial or fizzy drinks to your baby. Other drinksĭo not give other drinks to your baby. This can lead to serious illness or even death. They might also contain unsafe ingredients, or could be prepared in a way that allows harmful bacteria to grow. Homemade infant formula may not provide the right nutrients for your baby. Avoid homemade infant formulaĪvoid using any kind of recipe for homemade infant formula. Never feed infant formula that is past its ‘use-by’ date to your baby. The labels on follow-on formula can look very similar to infant formula, so read them carefully to avoid making a mistake.īefore buying formula, check the label for baby’s age and the ‘use-by’ date. These should only be given to babies aged 6 months and over but are not necessary for most babies. There are formulas labelled as ‘follow-on’ or stage 2. Your baby can stay on this same formula when you start to introduce solid foods at around 6 months and continue on it until they are 12 months (1 year) old. It should say ‘from birth’ or ‘0–12 months’. Use a stage 1 formula that is suitable for newborn babies. These formulas should only be used under the direction of a health professional. Special formulas are also available, such as HA (Hypoallergenic), AR (Anti-reflux) or lactose-free formulas, but most babies don’t need a special formula. These formulas can cost a lot more and may not provide any benefit over a cheaper standard version. Many formulas today contain extra ingredients, eg, ‘Gold’ formula. Most infant formula is made from cows’ milk that has been modified to make it suitable for babies. There are many formulas available which can make choosing one a bit confusing. Choosing infant formulaĬhoose a formula based on cows’ milk, unless your midwife, doctor, dietitian or nurse recommends a different type of formula for your baby. At around 6 months your baby will probably start eating some solid foods but will continue to need formula until 12 months of age. Formula is all your baby needs until they are around 6 months old. If possible, try to maintain some breastfeeding as well as using formula. Infant formula is made for babies up to 12 months old who are not breastfed. Things to consider when deciding how to feed your baby Feeding your baby infant formula When prepared cleanly and correctly, infant formula is a safe and nutritionally adequate food for a baby.Ĭleaning and sterilising feeding equipment If it is not possible to breastfeed a baby (or use expressed breast milk), then an infant formula should be used until the baby is 12 months old. For more information about breastfeeding, see or HealthEd Breastfeeding has benefits for mothers too. It provides a wide range of nutrients for healthy growth and development and helps protect your baby from illness. The Ministry of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding to around 6 months of age and continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary food up to two years of age, or beyond.īreast milk is the best food for babies. See the back of this booklet for more information. If you have not decided how you will feed your baby, it’s important to discuss this with your midwife, doctor or nurse first. You can pull out the guide and leave it where you can easily see it (eg, on the fridge). There is also a Quick reference guide in the middle that has the key points from the booklet. This booklet is for parents who must, or have decided to, use infant formula to feed their baby.
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