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Feeding your new baby is an important decision. Carefully consider breastfeeding versus formula feeding during pregnancy.
Please note: This information primarily focuses on nutrition for the healthy, full-term infant. Consult with a WIC Health Professional for more detailed and advanced information particularly for preterm, low-birth weight, or special needs infants or those with medical conditions.
There are two types of breastfeeding:
The longer a mother exclusively breastfeeds, the more benefits seen by mom and baby.
Breastfeeding is a supply and demand way to feed. The more often a baby nurses, the more milk mom will produce. Supplementing with formula may reduce milk supply for this reason. If mom offers formula instead of the breast for a feeding, the body will assume the baby did not need to eat and will start to produce less milk because the baby is eating less.
It is always important to feed babies ‘on demand’. This means letting them eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full—not by the clock or how much is left in the bottle.
It can be helpful to know what an average infant consumes each day:
| Suggested Feeding Guide: 0 – 12 months | ||||
| Age | Food | Portion Size | Feedings per Day | Feeding Tips |
| 0-6 months | Breast Milk | 8-12 feedings on demand. Gradual decline in feedings at 4-6 months. | Feed on demand. Refrain from watching the clock. |
|
| Iron-Fortified Formula | 2-3 oz (increasing to consume around 32 oz at 6 months) |
6-8 feedings | ||
| 6-7 months | Breast Milk | Gradual decline in feedings. Continue feeding on demand. | Feed on demand. Refrain from watching the clock. |
|
| Iron-Fortified Formula | 6-8 oz (consuming 24-32 oz) |
3-5 feedings | ||
| Grains Infant cereal, bread, crackers |
1-2 Tbsp | 1-2 times per day | ||
| Vegetables AND Fruit Plain, strained, pureed, mashed |
1-2 Tbsp of vegetables
1-2 Tbsp of fruit |
1-2 times per day for vegetables
1-2 times per day for fruit |
||
| Protein Eggs, meat, poultry, fish, cheese/yogurt legumes; Plain, mashed, pureed |
1-2 Tbsp | 1-2 times per day | ||
| 8-12 months | Breast Milk | Gradual decline in feedings. Continue feeding on demand. | Feed on demand. Refrain from watching the clock. |
|
| Iron-Fortified Formula | 6-8 oz | 3-4 feedings (6-8 oz each consuming 24 ounces) | ||
| Grains (Infant cereal, bread, crackers) |
2-4 Tbsp | 1-2 times per day | ||
| Vegetables AND Fruit (ground, finely chopped, diced) |
2-3 Tbsp of vegetables
2-3 Tbsp of fruit |
2-3 times per day for vegetables
2-3 times per day for fruit |
||
| Protein (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, yogurt, legumes; ground, finely chopped, diced) |
1-2 Tbsp | 1-2 times per day | ||
*Source: WIC Works Infant Nutrition and Feeding Manual.
Visit Feeding on Demand for more information on the signs of hunger and satiety (fullness).
Mothers who are breastfeeding can not see how much human milk their baby is getting and sometimes worry if they are getting enough.
These factors indicate a baby is likely getting enough milk:
Breastfeeding mothers also have indicators that the baby is likely consuming enough:
During growth spurts, baby may need to breastfeed more often. This does not mean that mom’s milk supply has decreased! The growth spurts may occur at 2 to 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months and may last one to two days.
A breastfed baby should have 6 to 8 wet diapers in 24 hours. A breastfed baby may have a bowel movement once per day or once with each feeding.
Each baby will have its own schedule. During times of growth, baby may go several days to a week without a bowel movement; this is not constipation if the stool is soft when the bowel movement is made.
Breast milk contains the right amount of nutrients for your baby and the nutrients actually change as your baby grows and develops.
Iron-fortified formula is the next best choice after breastfeeding. Formula is made to be as close to breast milk as possible, but cannot provide the anti-viruses, anti-allergies, anti-parasites, antibodies, hormones, enzymes, growth factors, and more that is naturally found in breastmilk.
Formula is fortified with iron because it is very important for brain development and helps to prevent anemia. Anemia, or low iron levels, makes infants and children very tired and can lead to learning disabilities and behavior problems.
Please note: Low-iron formula is not recommended because it does not contain enough iron to prevent anemia and it is not the right treatment for constipation.
It is always important to feed babies on demand—not by the clock or how much is left in the bottle. Let them eat when they are hungry and stop when they are full. See Feeding On Demand for more information on the signs of hunger and satiety (fullness).
During growth spurts, baby may need to eat more often.
The growth spurts may occur at 2 to 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months and may last one to two days. Watch for signs of hunger and satiety (fullness) to decide if you should prepare more or less formula for feedings.
Baby should have 6 to 8 wet diapers in 24 hours. Formula fed babies will develop their own pattern of soiled diapers. Watch for your baby’s pattern.
Never give cow’s milk before 12 months. Why?
Wait until after 6 months to introduce water from a cup. Before 6 months always give formula or breastmilk if baby seems hungry or thirsty. Baby needs the nutrients.
Never give honey, syrup, kool-aid, pop, juice, or any sweetened drink to an infant.
Introduce baby food (solid foods) around 6 months of age when showing signs of readiness. Look for these signs to let you know the baby is ready:
See Feeding Guide: 6-12 Months for information on starting baby food once showing these signs of readiness.
Please note: WIC does not provide baby food until 6 months. At this age most babies are developmentally ready to try solids.
Source: AAP Policy Statement: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
This post was last updated on September 21st, 2022 at 11:22 AM
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