Baby Feeding & Weaning

Nobody warns you quite how much of early parenthood is just thinking about feeding. When did they last feed? How long did they feed for? Are they feeding enough? Why won't they latch? Why won't they take the bottle? Is that normal? Is this normal? Why is everyone on the internet contradicting everyone else?

Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding, combi feeding, or somewhere in the middle of figuring it out — this guide is for you. We've pulled together everything that actually matters: bottles, sterilisers, breast pumps, formula, and then the whole beautiful chaos of weaning when your baby turns six months and suddenly you're googling whether hummus counts as a finger food.

It's a lot. Let's take it one thing at a time.

Breastfeeding — What Nobody Actually Tells You

Here's the thing about breastfeeding that nobody properly prepares you for: it's a skill. For both of you. Your baby has never done it before, and despite what some people imply, you haven't either (or if you have, this baby is different to your last one). It can take days or weeks to establish, and the early days can be genuinely hard even when everything is technically "fine."

The benefits are well documented — antibodies, gut health, lower risk of certain infections — but the reality of doing it is messier and more demanding than any leaflet makes it look. If you're struggling, please reach out to a breastfeeding counsellor, an NCT helpline, or your health visitor. There's real help out there, and you don't have to just push through alone.

The practical stuff that actually helps

• A good latch makes all the difference. Pain during breastfeeding is usually a latch issue, not an inevitable part of the process. A midwife or breastfeeding support worker can help in hospital — ask while you're still there.
• Feed on demand in the early weeks. Newborns feed 8–12 times in 24 hours. That's roughly every 2–3 hours, including through the night. It's exhausting, but it's also how your supply gets established. Your body genuinely works on supply and demand.
• Nipple cream is not optional. Lanolin-based nipple cream or nipple balm kept beside every spot where you feed will save your sanity. A nursing pillow is similarly non-negotiable — it positions the baby correctly and stops your arms turning to jelly.
• Cluster feeding is normal. In the evenings especially, babies often want to feed almost constantly for a few hours. It feels like your supply is disappearing. It usually isn't. It's your baby topping up and building your supply for the next day.
• Growth spurts hit hard. Around 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months, your baby will suddenly want to feed more than usual. It lasts a few days. Ride it out, drink your water, and know it passes.

Formula Feeding — Choosing the Right Formula

Formula feeding gets a lot of judgment it doesn't deserve. Whether you've chosen not to breastfeed, weren't able to, or are topping up — formula is a completely safe, nutritionally complete way to feed your baby. In the UK, all infant formula is strictly regulated and nutritionally equivalent, so you don't need to agonise too much over which brand to choose.

The different types of formula explained

• Stage 1 first infant formula — suitable from birth and for the first 12 months. This is what the NHS recommends starting with. Based on whey protein, which is more easily digested by newborns. Most babies do perfectly well on this for the whole first year.
• Hungry baby formula — also called hungry milk. Based on casein protein, which takes longer to digest. The NHS doesn't recommend it as a default and it won't help if a baby is feeding frequently due to a growth spurt or because they need comfort rather than calories.
• Follow-on formula (Stage 2) — marketed for babies from 6 months. You do not need to switch at 6 months. Stage 1 formula is perfectly fine to continue throughout the first year.
• Anti-reflux formula — thicker formula designed to reduce posseting in babies with reflux. Needs to be prescribed or recommended by a GP or health visitor — don't swap to this without advice.
• Lactose-free formula — for babies with lactose intolerance (rare in infants, more common with older children). Again, speak to your GP first.
• Hypoallergenic formula — for babies with a confirmed cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Prescription only in most cases.

Popular UK brands include Aptamil, Cow & Gate, SMA, HiPP Organic and Kendamil. Ready-made formula in the small cartons is brilliant for nights out, travel, and the first few weeks when you can't face washing anything else — more expensive per feed but worth every penny when you've just got home from A&E at midnight.

Baby Bottles — Glass, Plastic, Silicone and Anti-Colic

If you'd told me before I had a baby that I'd spend 20 minutes researching baby bottles, I'd have laughed. But here we are. The bottle market is genuinely confusing, and if you end up with the wrong one for your baby, you'll know about it in the form of a very unhappy, very windy infant at 2am.

Plastic bottles

The most common type and the cheapest. Modern plastic baby bottles in the UK must be BPA-free by law, which addresses the main safety concern of previous generations. The downside is that plastic scratches over time, and scratches harbour bacteria — so replace them regularly if you notice scratching, and check the teats frequently.

Glass baby bottles

Glass baby bottles are growing in popularity, and honestly, we get it. No plastic leaching, much easier to sterilise thoroughly, and they last for years — so the higher upfront cost evens out. They're heavier, which matters when you're washing up at midnight, and they can obviously break if dropped — though most glass bottles come in a silicone sleeve that helps with this.

Silicone baby bottles sit between the two — lighter than glass, more durable than plastic, very easy to clean. Worth considering if you want to move away from plastic but aren't ready to commit to glass.

Anti-colic bottles — do they work?

Anti-colic bottles are designed to reduce the amount of air your baby swallows during a feed, which in theory reduces wind and the discomfort that comes with it. Brands like Tommee Tippee, MAM, Dr Brown's and Philips Avent all have their own versions — vented bases, valves, angled designs and so on.

Do they work? Honestly: for some babies, yes, significantly. For others, not noticeably. If your baby is particularly gassy or colicky, they're absolutely worth trying before you reach for anything stronger. The wide-neck anti-colic bottles are also designed to more closely mimic a breast, which is particularly helpful if you're combi feeding.

Teat flow rates

Sterilising — How to Do It and When to Stop

Sterilising is one of those things that sounds more complicated than it is. Until your baby is 12 months old, their immune system isn't developed enough to cope with the kind of bacteria that can build up in bottles and teats — so everything that goes in their mouth needs to be sterilised.

Methods of sterilising

• Electric steam steriliser — the easiest and most popular option. You fill the base with water, put bottles in, press a button, and in about 8 minutes everything is sterilised. A good electric baby bottle steriliser will keep contents sterile for 24 hours as long as you don't open the lid. The clear winner for most families.
• Microwave steam bags — a brilliant travel option. Quick, no electricity needed, takes up virtually no space. Just add water and microwave. You can reuse each bag around 20 times.
• Cold water sterilising — you use sterilising solution tablets dissolved in water. Takes 30 minutes, but you can add items throughout the day. Less common now but still a solid option, especially when travelling.
• Boiling — perfectly effective, just less convenient. Boil bottles and teats in a pan for 10 minutes. Note that this does wear teats out faster — replace them more regularly if you boil.

When can you stop sterilising baby bottles?

The NHS guidance says you can stop sterilising at 12 months. At that point, normal washing-up in hot soapy water (or a dishwasher on a hot cycle) is sufficient. Many parents carry on longer for peace of mind, which is absolutely fine — it just stops being strictly necessary once the immune system matures.

Breast Pumps — Manual vs Electric

If you're breastfeeding and want any flexibility at all — an evening out, a feed done by someone else, going back to work, or just building a freezer stash — you'll want a breast pump. The question is which type.

Manual breast pumps

Hand-operated, silent, no electricity required, and much cheaper than electric options. Great for occasional use — if you only need to express a few times a week, a manual pump is perfectly adequate. The downside is that it's tiring to do for long stretches, and expressing the same volume takes longer than with an electric pump.

Single electric breast pumps

Express one side at a time. Faster than manual, but if you're expressing regularly or returning to work, expressing one side at a time adds up to a lot of time over a week. Good as a starter pump if you're not sure how much you'll need it.

Double electric breast pumps

The one you want if you're planning to express regularly. Express both sides simultaneously, cutting your expressing time in half. A decent double electric breast pump will have multiple suction levels, a quiet motor (important if you're at work or trying not to wake the baby), and ideally be rechargeable rather than mains-only.

Wearable breast pumps (hands-free)

These sit inside your bra and express discreetly while you get on with other things. The technology has improved massively in the last few years — the Baby Buddha pump and similar products now express comparable volumes to traditional pumps. They're more expensive, but for busy parents or those returning to work, the hands-free aspect is a genuine game-changer.

What to look for in a breast pump

• Flange size — the part that goes over your nipple. Most pumps come with a standard size, but getting the right fit makes a huge difference to both comfort and volume expressed. Your nipple should move freely in the tunnel without areola being pulled in.
• Suction levels — you want multiple settings to find what works for you. More suction is not always more effective.
• Closed system — means milk can't get into the motor. Important for hygiene and for sharing pumps.
• Noise level — a quieter pump is more discreet and less likely to wake a sleeping baby during a night express session.

Combi Feeding — Breastfeeding and Bottles Together

Combi feeding (combining breast and bottle) is more common than people realise, and a lot less complicated than some make it sound. You might be breastfeeding but topping up with formula at night for better sleep, or giving expressed milk in a bottle so your partner can do a feed, or gradually transitioning from breast to formula.

The main thing to know: introducing a bottle too early (before 4–6 weeks) can sometimes cause nipple confusion and interfere with establishing breastfeeding. Once your supply is well-established, most babies switch comfortably between breast and bottle. Using a wide-neck, slow-flow teat helps with this because it more closely mimics the effort of breastfeeding.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with combi feeding. It can extend how long breastfeeding continues by taking some of the pressure off the primary feeder — which is good for everyone.

Weaning — When and How to Start Solid Foods

Weaning is one of those milestones that somehow manages to be both exciting and terrifying. The NHS recommends starting at around 6 months — not before 17 weeks under any circumstances, and ideally waiting until your baby shows the signs of readiness alongside their age.

Signs of readiness for solid foods

• Can sit up with minimal support and hold their head steady
• Has good hand-to-mouth coordination — can pick something up and bring it to their mouth
• Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex — doesn't automatically push food out with their tongue

Note: waking more at night, watching you eat, and chewing their hands are not signs of readiness. They're normal baby behaviours at any age.

Purees vs baby-led weaning (BLW)

The debate that fills every parenting forum. Here's the reality: both work, and most families end up doing a combination of the two anyway.

Purees: You make (or buy) smooth, mashed food and feed it to your baby on a spoon. Great for ensuring they actually eat something in the early stages, and easier to control textures as you progress. Weaning books by Annabel Karmel, Ella's Kitchen and others have brilliant recipe ideas for every stage. The downside is the prep time and the washing up.

Baby-led weaning: You offer appropriately-sized soft finger foods and let your baby feed themselves from the start. Promotes independence, develops hand skills, and means everyone eats the same dinner (in theory). The downside is the absolute mess — and the fact that it can be genuinely terrifying watching them gag (which is normal and different from choking, but that distinction is easier to read than to witness in real time).

Our honest take: Do both. Start with a few spoons of puree at lunch, offer some soft finger foods at dinner. Let your baby explore at their own pace. Don't stress about volumes in the early weeks — milk is still their main nutrition until around 9–12 months. Solid food before one is primarily about exploration, texture, flavour and learning to eat — not calories.

First foods to try

• Soft-cooked vegetables: sweet potato, broccoli, carrot, courgette, peas
• Soft fruits: banana, avocado, ripe mango, peach
• Baby rice or porridge made with breast milk or formula
• Soft-cooked pasta or rice
• Plain, full-fat yoghurt (cow's milk is fine in food from 6 months, just not as a drink until 12 months)
• Toast fingers or rice cakes with a thin smear of unsalted butter

Allergens — the big one

The guidance on allergens has changed significantly in recent years. The NHS now recommends introducing the top allergens early — from around 6 months — rather than avoiding them, as early exposure actually helps reduce the risk of allergy developing. The top 14 allergens include:

• Peanuts (as peanut butter — not whole peanuts, which are a choking hazard)
• Tree nuts, eggs, dairy, wheat, fish, shellfish, sesame
• Soya, lupin, celery, mustard, sulphites, molluscs

Introduce one new allergen at a time, offer it in the morning so you can monitor for any reaction throughout the day, and don't introduce a new one on a day when your baby is unwell. Most babies have no reaction at all.

Weaning Equipment — What You Actually Need

The weaning industry wants you to buy everything. Here's what you genuinely need:

The real essentials

• A highchair — your baby needs to be able to sit upright and supported to eat safely. A freestanding highchair with a harness, footrest and easy-clean tray is ideal. The good highchairs grow with your baby well into toddlerhood. Check it has an adjustable footrest — feet dangling makes sitting upright harder for babies.
• Soft-tip weaning spoons — Baby weaning spoons should be very shallow and have a soft silicone tip to protect gums. Chubby handles help when your baby starts to self-feed. Get at least 6 — you will use them all every single meal.
• Suction bowls and plates — a bowl or plate with a strong suction base is not optional, it's load-bearing. The moment you put a normal bowl in front of a 7-month-old, it will be upturned within 30 seconds. Suction weaning plates and bowls with sectioned compartments make meal times so much more survivable.
• Bibs — waterproof ones with a pocket — see the section below. This is not the place to use fabric bibs.
• A mat for the floor — or just accept that the floor will be covered in food for approximately the next two years. A wipeable mat under the highchair is genuinely life-improving.

Things that are nice but not essential

• A baby food processor or blender — useful if you're making lots of purees, but a fork and some elbow grease works fine for most soft foods
• Silicone ice cube trays for batch-cooking and freezing purees — genuinely useful if you get into batch cooking
• A weaning book — highly recommend for recipe ideas and guidance on texture progression, but everything is also online

Bibs — Dribble Bibs, Coverall Bibs and Personalised Baby Bibs

Bibs come in two completely different phases, and the type you need for each is different. Most parents figure this out the hard way.

Phase 1: Dribble bibs (0–6 months+)

Newborns dribble a lot, posseting babies dribble even more, and teething babies are basically a small moisture-generating machine. Dribble bibs are small, soft, and go round the neck to keep outfits dry. You need more than you think — at least 10–12 if your baby is a drooler — because you'll be changing them multiple times a day.

The bandana-style dribble bibs are currently everywhere and they do double duty — absorbent enough for dribble and cute enough that you don't feel like you're covering your baby's outfit with a bib. Bamboo ones are particularly soft against skin that might be getting a bit rashy from constant moisture.

Personalised baby bibs with the baby's name are a lovely gift — practical, used constantly, and a much more useful gift than another toy. Embroidered name bibs in a set of three make a brilliant addition to a baby shower gift or a hamper.

Phase 2: Weaning bibs (6 months+)

Once weaning starts, you need a completely different type of bib. The small dribble bibs you've been using are completely inadequate for the level of destruction a 7-month-old can achieve with a bowl of puree. You need:

• Coverall bibs with long sleeves — waterproof baby bibs with sleeves (sometimes called smocks or long-sleeve bibs) cover your baby's entire front and arms. They wipe clean with a cloth or can go in the washing machine. This is the single most useful piece of weaning kit you can buy. Get two or three so you always have a clean one.
• Pocket bibs — silicone bibs with a trough at the bottom that catches fallen food. Brilliant for BLW because you can scoop dropped food back onto the tray and offer it again. They also wipe completely clean in seconds and last for years.

Common Feeding Problems — Reflux, Colic and Cow's Milk Allergy

If feeding feels hard, you're probably not doing anything wrong — some babies just come with feeding challenges built in. Here are the most common ones and what actually helps.

Reflux

Reflux is when stomach contents come back up into the oesophagus — sometimes all the way up as a posset or vomit, sometimes silently (silent reflux). Signs include arching during or after feeds, excessive crying especially after feeding, poor weight gain, and general misery.

For mild reflux: keep baby upright for 20–30 minutes after a feed, use a slow-flow teat if bottle feeding, feed smaller amounts more frequently. If things aren't improving, see your GP. There are medications (like infant Gaviscon and ranitidine) that can make a significant difference.

Colic

Colic is defined as crying for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, in a baby under 3 months. The honest truth: nobody knows exactly what causes it, and there's no magic fix. What sometimes helps: winding more frequently during feeds, anti-colic bottles, white noise, movement (swaying, driving, pushchair walks), and the passage of time — colic typically improves significantly by 3–4 months.

Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA)

CMPA is more common than most people realise — it affects around 2–7% of formula-fed babies and a smaller percentage of breastfed babies (who react to cow's milk protein in their mother's diet). Symptoms can include skin rashes, eczema, digestive issues (vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation), and significant distress after feeding.

If you suspect CMPA, speak to your GP rather than trying to self-diagnose. An exclusion diet (removing dairy from your diet if breastfeeding, or switching to hypoallergenic formula) is the main treatment. This should be done with medical support so you can confirm the diagnosis and ensure nutrition is maintained.

Many babies outgrow CMPA by 12–18 months — it's not necessarily a lifelong condition.