Bottle and formula feeding

However you feed your baby

Some parents bottle feed from the start, some move to it later, and many do a mix of breast and bottle. All of these are normal. If breastfeeding still matters to you, it is worth getting support early, as regular bottles can reduce your milk supply over time. Our breastfeeding page and the Australian Breastfeeding Association can help.

Choosing a formula

If you are not feeding breast milk, infant formula is the only safe alternative for the first 12 months. A standard cow's milk based first infant formula (stage 1 or starter) suits most healthy, full term babies from birth to 12 months, and every formula sold in Australia meets the same nutritional standard, so a dearer tin is not a better one.

You do not need to switch to comfort, anti reflux or hungry baby formulas if your baby is otherwise feeding well. Talk to your child and family health nurse or GP before changing. Toddler formulas are not needed and their tins can look very similar to first formula, so check the label.

Keeping it safe

Powdered formula is not sterile, so the two things that matter most are clean, sterilised equipment and fresh preparation. Make feeds up as you need them, or keep any made ahead at the back of the fridge and use within 24 hours, and throw away whatever your baby does not finish within an hour. The full step by step, including how to sterilise and the water to use, is set out in the picture guide below.

How much and how often

Feed your baby to their hunger cues rather than the clock. Newborns usually take around six to eight feeds over 24 hours, and the tin gives a guide to amounts, though every baby is different. Hold your baby fairly upright, hold the bottle yourself rather than propping it, and let them pause and stop when they have had enough. Bottle fed babies can be overfed, which is more likely when feeds are pushed to a schedule.

If you are worried about feeding or weight

Feeding worries are common and there is good help close by. Your child and family health nurse at the Community Health Centre on 02 6330 5677, or your GP, can check your baby's growth and feeding. You can also speak with a maternal child health nurse at Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436, 7am to midnight, seven days. In the early days after birth, the Maternity Unit on 02 6330 5210 is there day or night. In an emergency call 000.