Search

In the first year of life, milk plays a crucial role in your baby’s diet. In fact, it’s the only food you will give your baby in the first months. In this chapter, you’ll find everything you need to know about which milk to give your newborn or older baby.

Health professionals the world over recommend that babies be fed breast milk exclusively for the first six months of life. The Canadian Paediatric Society, Dieticians of Canada, and Health Canada all echo this recommendation. Once babies have started eating solid foods, it is recommended that……

The thick, yellowish milk that comes in the first few days after birth is called colostrum. Colostrum is very rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals—just what your newborn needs. It supplies large amounts of white blood cells and antibodies that protect your baby from infections. It also cleans…

Pregnancy hormones prepare the breasts for breastfeeding. Milk production begins at the end of pregnancy, which is why some women experience some leaking during this time. Whether your baby is born on his due date or earlier, there will be milk for him.

Breast milk composition changes throughout the breastfeeding period to adapt to your baby’s needs and age.

Before handling expressed milk, make sure your hands, breast pump and accessories are clean. Breast milk refrigerates and freezes well. You can keep freshly expressed breast milk or milk taken from the refrigerator at room temperature for 4 hours.

It is recommended to give iron-enriched commercial infant formulas to babies who are not breastfed, until the age of 9 to 12 months. To date, there is no proof that one brand is better than another.

Diluting commercial infant formula requires care and certain precautions. It is important to avoid mistakes so as not to contaminate the milk with bacteria. Never use hot tap water to prepare infant formula.

Cow’s milk should not be given to a baby under 9 months old. It contains too much protein and too many minerals for the baby’s kidneys to handle. Cow’s milk does not provide the necessary elements for your baby to develop properly.

You will further find information on how to breast-feed, express milk, use a breast pump and wean your infant. Information on breast milk, how it is produced and how to get milk production off to a good start can be found under Mother's milk.