Feeding your baby

Breastfeeding offers your baby the best start in life.

The information on this page is based on trusted guidance and resources to help you feed your baby with confidence.

You can find more helpful advice from:

How breast milk benefits your baby

Breast milk helps protect your baby from illness and supports their healthy development.

It contains antibodies that strengthen your baby’s immune system and help protect against a range of conditions, including:

Stomach bugs, vomiting and diarrhoea
Ear and chest infections
Kidney infections
Allergies such as cow’s milk allergy, asthma and eczema
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Childhood diabetes
Childhood obesity

Breast milk also changes as your baby grows, so it always meets their needs at each stage of development.

Breastfeeding supports your baby’s overall development. It can help with eyesight, and the natural sucking action helps your baby’s jaw and mouth grow and develop properly.

Benefits of breastfeeding for children and adults

The longer you breastfeed, the more health benefits your child may have as they grow.

Children and adults who were breastfed as babies are less likely to develop:

Obesity
High blood pressure
Heart disease

Human milk

“Human Milk – Tailor-Made for Tiny Humans” is an independent campaign created by parents. It explains how breast milk is specially designed to meet your baby’s needs and highlights the science behind breastfeeding.

Off to a Good Start

The ‘Off to a good start’ guide from the Public Health Agency explains why breastfeeding is beneficial for both mother and baby, and offers practical advice to help you get started.

It includes information on:

How breastfeeding works
Positioning and attachment
How to tell if feeding is going well
Expressing breast milk
Feeding babies who need extra care
Safe sleeping and breastfeeding
Managing common challenges
Combining breastfeeding with everyday life
Returning to work

Skin-to-skin contact

Holding your baby close in skin-to-skin contact is one of the best ways to bond after birth.

Newborn babies feel safe and comforted when placed directly on their mother’s skin. This contact also helps with breastfeeding and can calm and settle your baby.

Skin-to-skin contact is not just for newborns – it can continue to benefit older babies too.

Why skin-to-skin contact is important

There is strong evidence that holding your baby skin-to-skin after birth benefits both you and your baby.

Skin-to-skin contact can help to:

Calm and relax both you and your baby
Steady your baby’s heart rate and breathing, helping them adjust to life outside the womb
Encourage feeding and support digestion
Keep your baby warm and regulate their temperature
Support your baby’s immune system by passing on helpful bacteria from your skin
Release hormones that help with breastfeeding and bonding

You can watch a video from the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative to learn more, or visit their website for further information.

Read more about UNICEF’s Baby Friendly studies.

The first 1000 minutes

The first 1,000 minutes of your baby’s life are very important for their development.

Dr Nils Bergman, a specialist in newborn care and a strong advocate of skin-to-skin contact, explains why this early period matters and how close contact supports your baby’s health and wellbeing.

Attaching your baby to the breast

Helping your baby attach (latch) well to the breast is key to successful breastfeeding.

Good attachment:

Helps your baby get enough milk
Makes feeding more comfortable for you

A short video is available to show what good attachment looks like and how to position your baby.

How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk

This guidance is based on the Off to a good start publication.

Signs that feeding is going well include:

Your baby seems content and settled after most feeds
Your baby is able to latch on without difficulty
Your baby is healthy and gaining weight as expected
You feel comfortable and your breasts and nipples are not sore

In the first few days, you can also look at nappies:

Days 1–2: At least 2 wet nappies and 1 or more dirty nappies (dark, sticky poo called meconium)
Days 3–4: At least 3 wet nappies and 2 or more dirty nappies (green in colour)

From day 5 onwards:

At least 6 heavy, wet nappies each day
Around days 5–6, your baby’s poo will change to a soft yellow colour, with at least 2 dirty nappies a day
By days 10–14, your baby should have frequent, soft, runny yellow poos very day (at least 2 each day)

Evening feeding

It’s normal for babies to feed more often or for longer in the evening. Many babies need extra comfort and closeness at this time. This is normal behaviour and happens with both breastfed and formula-fed babies.

Taking your baby off the breast

If you need to take your baby off the breast, gently break the suction first by placing a clean finger into the corner of your baby’s mouth. This helps avoid discomfort for you.

How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk?

It’s common to wonder if your baby is getting enough milk, especially in the early days of feeding.

This short video explains the signs to look out for and can help reassure you that your baby is feeding well. It also highlights when to seek advice or extra support if you are unsure.

Increasing your milk supply

It’s normal to worry about your milk supply, especially in the early days of breastfeeding.

This short video explains simple ways to help increase your milk supply and build your confidence. It includes practical tips you can use as part of your daily routine, as well as guidance on when to seek extra support.

Breastfeeding twins or multiple babies

If you are expecting or feeding twins, triplets or more, there is extra support available to help you.

The Twins Trust offers helpful information, practical advice, and support for families with more than one baby.

Medications and drugs when breastfeeding

You may be told to stop breastfeeding when taking certain medications, but this is not always necessary.

The The Breastfeeding Network provides reliable factsheets on a wide range of medications and how they may affect breastfeeding. This can help you make informed decisions.

You can also get advice from:

Prescribing pharmacists in the Northern Trust
Infant feeding leads in maternity, neonatal and community services

View the Breastfeeding Support section for details on how to access this help.

Smoking and breastfeeding

Smoking is not recommended while breastfeeding. However, breastfeeding still provides important health benefits for your baby, even if you smoke.

To reduce your baby’s exposure:

Smoke after feeding, not before
Always smoke away from your baby

More information is available from the Breastfeeding Network.

Alcohol and breastfeeding

You can have an occasional small amount of alcohol while breastfeeding, but regular or heavy drinking is not recommended.

For more guidance, visit the Breastfeeding Network.

Breastfeeding and returning to work

It is possible to continue breastfeeding when you return to work.

Helpful resources include:

In the Northern Trust, breastfeeding staff and service users may be able to receive a return-to-work pack, which can include:

A cool bag and ice pack
A drinks mug
A breast milk storage bottle

Ask your health visitor for more information. Packs are subject to availability.

If you are a member of staff living outside the Trust area, you can email liz.hood@northerntrust.hscni.net for further details.

Breastfeeding Welcome Scheme

Babies should be fed whenever they are hungry. However, some mums may feel unsure about breastfeeding when they are out and about.

The Breastfeeding Welcome Here scheme encourages local businesses and public places to show they support breastfeeding. These venues display a sign to let families know they are welcome to breastfeed there.

Find out more about the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Scheme.

Responsive bottle feeding

Responsive bottle feeding means feeding your baby in a calm, attentive way that follows their cues.

This guidance is based on advice from UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative and First Steps Nutrition.

Feed your baby when they show early signs of hunger, such as moving their head, opening their mouth, or sucking their fingers. Crying is a late sign of hunger. Try to feed your baby before they cry.
Hold your baby close in a semi-upright position so you can see their face and interact with them during the feed. Try holding your baby on different sides during feeds.
Gently touch the teat against your baby’s top lip to encourage them to open their mouth, then guide the teat in gently.
Keep the bottle slightly tilted (more horizontal) to slow the flow of milk.
Watch for signs your baby needs a break, spilling milk out of their mouth, turning away, slowing down, or pushing the bottle away. Gently remove the teat or bring the bottle downwards to cut off the flow of milk.
Let your baby decide when they have had enough. Do not force them to finish a feed.

Read the UNICEF Bottle Guide to Responsive Bottle Feeding.

You can also read the Public Health Agency Guide to Bottle Feeding for more advice.

Formula feeding

All Northern Trust maternity, neonatal, health visiting and Sure Start services follow UNICEF Baby Friendly standards. This means we support all families to feed their baby safely, whether breastfeeding or formula feeding.

While breastfeeding is the best option for babies, we support parents who choose to formula feed so that every baby has the best possible start.

About Formula milk

Infant formula is usually made from cow’s milk.
It does not contain the same protective factors as breast milk.
Most formula brands are very similar, so it does not matter which one you choose.
You can use cow’s milk or goat’s milk formula, but speak to your midwife or health visitor before using soya formula.

Some specialist formulas claim to help with issues like colic, reflux or wind. There is limited evidence that these provide benefit, and some may not be suitable. Always speak to a health professional before switching formula.

There is no need to use follow-on formula. A standard first-stage infant formula is suitable for your baby’s first year.

From age one, most babies can move onto full-fat cow’s milk as their main drink. Ask your health visitor if you need advice on this.

Helpful guides:

Caring for your baby at night

The safest place for your baby to sleep is in their own clear, separate sleep space, such as a cot or Moses basket.

Safer sleep advice

Follow these key guidelines from The Lullaby Trust:

Always place your baby on their back to sleep
Keep your baby smoke-free, day and night
Use a clear, flat, separate sleep space
Breastfeed where possible, as this can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair

Bed-sharing safety advice

Whether bed-sharing is planned or unplanned, there are important risks to be aware of.

Do not bed-share if:

You or anyone in the bed has drunk alcohol
You or anyone in the bed smokes
You or anyone has taken drugs that make you sleepy
Your baby was born before 37 weeks or weighed under 2.5kg (5½ lbs) at birth

To reduce risks:

Keep pillows and adult bedding away from your baby
Make sure your baby cannot fall, become trapped, or get wedged
Do not have other children or pets in the bed

If any risks are present, it is safest for your baby to sleep in their own cot or Moses basket placed beside your bed.

Useful resources

A guide to safer sleep for babies

A guide to safer sleep for babies (PDF)
Caring For Your Baby at Night (UNICEF)
BASIS (Baby Sleep Information Source)
The Lullaby Trust – Safer Sleep Advice

Resources in other languages

UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative resources
Lullaby Trust publications
Global Health Media breastfeeding videos
La Leche League breastfeeding information