Formula

Informed decision making

Deciding how to feed your baby is one of the many very important decisions you will face as a parent/parents. The following information is meant to help provide the facts so you can make the best decision for you and your baby.

It is important to consider a feeding method that is:

Acceptable to you and baby
Feasible
Affordable (consider cost of formula over time)
Sustainable (can be continued for one year)
Safe

Breastfeeding is important for both you and your baby because breastfeeding:

Can help control your bleeding after giving birth
Reduces your risk of breast and ovarian cancer
Promotes bonding between you and your baby
Protects your baby from infections and illnesses
Promotes healthy brain development
Is convenient and available anytime
Changes to meet the needs of your growing baby

Babies who are not breastfed have a higher risk of:

Ear, chest, and stomach infections
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
Obesity later in life

Mothers who do not breastfeed have a higher risk of:

Breast and ovarian cancer
Osteoporosis
Postpartum bleeding

Reasons to give formula

There are times where it might be medically necessary to give formula to your baby. This decision should be made in consultation with a health care provider.

Feeding your baby formula

It is important to know that adding formula to your baby’s diet will decrease your milk supply. Once breastfeeding is stopped it may be difficult to start again.

If you are thinking of feeding your baby formula because you are having difficulty with breastfeeding, there are resources in the community that can help.

If you have made an informed decision to feed your baby formula, please review the following information on how to safely select, prepare, store and feed formula to your baby.

Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is committed to supporting all families with their feeding decisions.

For more information call 519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623 and ask to speak with a Maternal and Child Health nurse.