Breast milk
This is the best nutrition for your baby, and it is recommended that you breast feed for at least the first six months. Remember that starting your baby on solids doesn’t mean you need to stop breastfeeding. Breastfeed for as long as you and your baby want – you don’t need to stop at 12 months.
Infant formula
If you’re not fully breastfeeding your baby, infant formula is the only suitable alternative to breast milk for the first year. Infant or ‘Starter’ formula can be used right from birth. Most infant formulas are made from cow's milk and designed to match as closely as possible the nutritional composition of breast milk. Formula provides the energy, protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your baby needs for healthy growth and development. If, for whatever reason, you don’t fully breast feed your baby, carry on giving them infant formula for at least 12 months.
Follow-on formula
When your baby is six months old, you can use follow-on formula as it’s designed to be used along with solids, and it contains a little more iron than starter formula. However, if your baby is already established on a starter formula, then it’s fine to continue on this. It’s still suitable right through the first year.
Cow's milk
Our bovine friends might give us a lot of goodness, but it’s not suitable as a main drink for your baby until they’re 12 months or older. That’s because it contains too little iron, and doesn’t have the right balance of other nutrients that breast milk or infant formulas do. After 12 months, cow's milk can be given as a main milk drink but it is should be full fat until your toddler is two years old. Later on you can introduce reduced fat milk (light blue top) not trim milk (green top) from two years if your toddler is a good eater and has a varied diet.
Hydrolysed Formula:
This means that some of the proteins in the formula have been broken down and are more easily digested. If your baby is being formula fed and has a diagnosed allergy to cow’s milk protein or soy protein, the doctor will probably trial them on a hydrolysed formula.
Soy Formula:
These are based on soy proteins. Some parents who want to raise their baby on a vegetarian diet may opt for soy formula but it’s generally not a good idea to use them unless there’s a specific reason. Sometimes doctors suggest this for a bottle fed baby, who is over six months old and has a diagnosed cow’s milk allergy. Remember to only use soy formula on medical advice.
Goat's milk formula
This is formula made from goat’s milk instead of cow’s milk. The proteins in goat milk formula are very similar to those found in cow’s milk formula - for this reason it’s not suitable for a baby with a diagnosed cow’s milk allergy. Goats’ milk formula isn’t any better nutritionally; it’s just another option out there for parents.
Water
Fully breastfed babies normally don’t need any water until they start eating solids, but bottle-fed babies might need extra water, especially in hot weather. You can give your baby tap water, but if they’re under three months old make sure it’s boiled and cooled first. Beyond three months, use it straight from the tap. If you have bore or tank water supply, check with your council, as it may need to be boiled before use until your toddler is 18 months.
Bottled mineral water might not be suitable for babies due to its mineral content. If you do need to give your baby bottled water, for example on holiday, look for a type that is labeled as suitable for infant feeding. As with tap water, you’ll need to boil and cool it if your baby is younger than three months.
