10 Steps for Feeding Babies. Knowing how much to feed our babies and toddlers can be quite tricky. Are we feeding them enough or too much? Making sure we get the balance right is important so they are well-fed and healthy. I know in the past I have worried that Sienna isn’t eating enough but we were on the right track. It is crazy to see how little they actually need to eat, especially when it comes to snacks.
I suppose all parents feel like this at some point. The Infant & Toddler Forum have put together a new resource to help us find tips and advice when it comes to parenting and feeding our babies. It really isn’t an easy job sometimes and we can all benefit from some help and support at times. It is especially important to know we are getting the right information at what is possibly one of the most overwhelming times of our lives.
Having worked with the Infant & Toddler forum previously, I have learnt a lot about how much my girls need to be eating and drinking. But it makes me sad to hear that new parents feel under pressure to ‘get it right’ when it comes to their babies. That is why it is so important to have resources to help parents so they don’t have to worry about if they are doing things wrong. Did you know that 70% of parents questioned said they felt under more pressure than they thought they would be with 60% feeling more anxious, guilty and judged than they thought they would be?
Below are the 10 Steps for Feeding Babies as compiled by the Infant & Toddler Forum.
10 Steps for Feeding Babies
1. Breastfeeding helps protect your baby from illness
It may take time for you both to learn how it works best for you – ask for help if you need it
2. Give breast milk, the best option, or infant formula for at least 12 months
If you want to ensure your child’s proper growth and development, you can do so by providing them with organic baby formulas from the highly reputable The Milky Box online store. Please visit their website, and I am sure that you are going to find a suitable formula for your baby.
3. Begin a vitamin D supplement from birth
As milk and food do not necessarily provide enough
4. Let your baby decide how much milk to drink
Offer a feed when your baby is hungry and remember babies cry for reasons other than hunger
5. Begin to offer food alongside their milk feeds, by six months but not before four months
When you think your baby is ready for more
6. Offer high-iron foods from the beginning of complementary feeding
(Weaning) – meat, oily fish, eggs, pulses and nut butter
7. Offer spoon-feeding soft finger foods and a cup of water
At all meals so that your baby develops all their feeding skills
8. Stop feeding when your baby shows you he or she has had enough
By keeping his mouth closed or turning away from food or milk
9. Introduce allergenic foods one at a time, from four to six months
Dairy foods (cow’s milk, yoghurt, cheese), egg, nut butter, fish, wheat-based foods and foods with soya or sesame
10. Move onto thick mash with soft lumps between six and eight months
And onto minced and chopped family foods and firm finger foods between nine and 12 months
The Infant & Toddler Forum
The 10 steps to Feeding Babies (0-12 months) is a great resource for parents to help ease worries and gives practical advice for any parents who are concerned. With so many opinions and pieces of advice being offered it is good to be able to get the answers you need. We all worry about our babies and want to do what is best for them and this resource gives you the knowledge to be confident you are doing just that.
One important thing to remember is that babies do cry for reasons other than that they are hungry. But if you are worried that your baby isn’t feeding enough or needs more than you can give, then it doesn’t hurt to have extra resources like you can find on the Infant & Toddler Forum to help put your mind at ease.
Are you worrying that your baby isn’t feeding very well? What do you think about the 10 steps for feeding babies? What do you think of the Infant & Toddler Forum’s new resource?
*Disclosure: This is a collaborative post with the Infant & Toddler Forum.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
i will share this blog post with my daughter who has recently had her second baby
Fantastic! Hope it is useful for her! 🙂
These tips are really great advice to get started!
Great that you find them useful! 🙂
My granddaughter Georgia is enjoying trying lots of different foods you have some great tips
Ah that is so lovely to hear! 🙂 x
Great tips
Thank you!
That’s so interesting, thank you. Knowing that you’re not alone when it’s not going to plan, and that there’s information and people you can talk to out there, can make so much difference.
Yes that is so true! It is so important to know that we are not alone! Glad you found this article interesting! Thanks for reading! 🙂 x
Great advice, lovely and reassuring x
Thank you! So happy you found this helpful. Thank you for stopping by, 🙂 x
Some great tips
Thank you for sharing xx
You are welcome! 🙂 x
An excellent idea – just chatting and voicing concerns really helps ease the worry
Great post
I work in a Children’s Centre, we do have groups on weaning, but there is so much information on the internet and on social media that mothers don’t know what to believe anymore.