Feeding Your Baby

When we discuss breastfeeding, this includes chestfeeding or body feeding. Region of Waterloo Public Health provides non-judgmental and confidential services. We do not discriminate based on race, age, religion, ability, marital status, sexual orientation, sex or gender identity.  

Baby Feeding Support

Public Health Baby Feeding Clinics are free and available to babies of any age. They offer one-on-one support with a public health nurse. Appointments are available in person, virtually or by telephone. Visit Public Health Baby Feeding Clinics to book your appointment. 
Visit our Online Prenatal Program page to enrol in free courses to help you build the skills for breastfeeding and other useful information you need after your baby is born.
If you have concerns about your baby’s health or feeding, contact your health care provider or Health811.

Breastfeeding

Breast milk has everything a baby needs and is the natural food for babies. The longer you breastfeed, the better it is for you and your baby. As your baby grows, breast milk changes to meet your baby's needs.  

The World Health Organization, Health Canada and the Canadian Pediatric Society agree: 

Babies need only breast milk for the first six months 
At six months, when baby is showing signs of readiness, age-appropriate solid foods can be introduced 
Continued breastfeeding for up to two years or longer is recommended

Learn more about infant nutrition from Health Canada. For more information on breastfeeding, watch our video series or visit About Breastfeeding.

Before your baby arrives

Learn about breastfeeding before your baby arrives.

Visit About Breastfeeding
Sign up for our free Online Prenatal Program
Talk with one of our nurses at the Public Health Baby Feeding Clinics
Learn about the risks of using different substances while breastfeeding
Check out Breastfeeding Supports in Waterloo Region for more options

After Your Baby Arrives

Right after birth, ask your health care provider to help you place your baby in skin-to-skin contact with you. Skin-to-skin has many benefits for breastfeeding.
- Skin-to-skin information
- Skin-to-Skin with Your Newborn video
Begin breastfeeding as early as possible after birth. Your baby is awake and ready to learn how to feed during this time. Breastfeeding early helps:
- Provide your baby small amounts of nutrient-rich milk called colostrum.
- Tell your body to make more milk.
Feed your baby often. Newborns have small stomachs and need to feed at least eight times in 24 hours.
Get help early to make sure feeding is going well. Visit us at the Public Health Baby Feeding Clinics.

Breastfeeding the older child

Continuing to breastfeed your child past six months old allows you and your baby to spend special time together. It also continues to provide nutrition and protection from illnesses for your child, as well as comfort and security as they explore and learn new things. 

As your baby grows, breastfeeding behaviours can change. Your child may take less time to feed, be more interested in things going on around them, choose different feeding positions or hold your breast while feeding.

Watch the Breastfeeding Your Older Baby video.

Weaning and introducing solids

Weaning is a natural process when your child begins to eat solid foods other than breast milk. At six months of age, when your child shows signs of being ready, you may start to offer other foods to meet their nutritional needs. As you introduce new foods, it is recommended that you continue to breastfeed.

There is no best time or way to stop breastfeeding and it is different for every child. Weaning is most successful when your child decides they are ready, but other reasons may occur that will prompt weaning. If possible, try to avoid weaning quickly or during a time of stress for your child.  

Here are some ideas that can help while weaning:

Make small changes in your daily routine
Don't offer your breast, but allow your child to breastfeed if they want to
Offer distractions
Delay breastfeeding if you feel your child can wait

For more information, read introducing solids or watch the Breastfeeding and Introducing Solids video. 

Breastfeeding supports in Waterloo Region

Formula feeding

If you cannot or you have made an informed decision not to feed breast milk to your baby, an iron-fortified artificial baby milk (formula) can be used for most babies. If you are considering formula, you should speak to your health care provider or talk with one of our nurses at the Public Health Baby Feeding Clinics.

Visit Health Canada for more information:

Introducing solids

You can begin offering your baby solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula when they are six months old and showing signs of readiness.

Your baby is ready to start eating solid foods when they:

Can keep control of their head
Can sit in a highchair
Show interest in food when others are eating
Open their mouth wide for food
Close their lips over the spoon
Swallow food in their mouth
Turn their body or head away when they are full

Talk to your health care provider before starting solid foods if your baby has eczema, a diagnosed allergy or a family history of allergies. 

Along with solid foods, you can continue to breastfeed for up to two years or more. 

Resources for more information

Feeding Your Baby in the First Year (Caring for Kids)
Infant Nutrition (Health Canada)
Feeding Your Baby: 6-12 Months (Ontario Dietitians in Public Health)

How to start solid foods

When your baby is showing signs of readiness for solid foods, start with iron-rich foods such as meat, meat alternatives and iron-fortified infant cereal. Learn more about introducing solid foods and safe feeding tips from Health Canada.

If you have questions about starting solid foods, contact Health811 to talk to a registered dietitian for free.

Introducing new foods and food allergies

After six months of age, there is no need to delay introducing common foods that may cause allergic reactions. Introduce one common food allergen at a time. Wait for two days and watch for signs of allergy before introducing another new food.

 Common food allergens include:

Eggs
Milk*
Soy
Fish
Shellfish
Wheat
Peanut
Tree nuts
Sesame

*Wait until your baby is nine to 12 months of age to introduce pasteurized, 3.25% MF, cow's milk.

Once the food has been introduced without allergy, continue to offer it regularly.

If your baby shows any signs of food allergy (rash, vomiting, swelling, etc.) stop feeding the food immediately and talk to your health care provider. It is important to get a proper diagnosis of a food allergy.

Call 911 if your baby has trouble breathing.

More on food allergies from Health Canada.