Infant feeding is the feeding of a child from birth to one year of age. California Department of Public Health has published a guide that presents recommendations based on evidence supporting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life followed by breastfeeding and the introduction of iron-rich complementary foods around age six months.
If cup or bottle feeding expressed breastmilk, donor breastmilk, or commercial formula, it is important to provide skin-to-skin contact and attend to infant hunger and fullness cues. Pacing the feeding and looking for cues means less chance of overfeeding, stomach discomfort, and spitting up.
The resources below provide information for infant feeding away from the breast, including introduction of solids. For more information on feeding at the breast/chest, see the Getting Started webpage. For information on donor milk, see the Milk Donation and Sharing webpage.
Getting to Know Your Baby: Learning about hunger cues and crying, CA WIC
Paced Bottle Feeding: CA WIC
Feed Me! 6-12 Months: Intro of solid foods, CA WIC
Baby Food for Me: CA WIC
Infant and Toddler Nutrition: CDC
Making Your Own Baby Food: University of Maine