Breastfeeding an infant exclusively for about the first 6 months of life provides ideal nutrition and supports the best possible growth and development.

If your infant is weaned from breastmilk before 12 months of age, he will need iron-fortified infant formula, not cow’s milk.

Breastfeeding can continue for 12 months or as long as you and your baby wish to continue.

Iron-fortified infant formula is an appropriate substitute for breastmilk for feeding the full-term infant during the first year of life.

Do not add cereal or other foods to your baby’s bottle.

The longer your infant sucks, the more breastmilk your body will make. Feeding your baby on demand is the best way to stimulate the milk. To increase or maintain your milk supply when you are away from your baby, you can manually express breastmilk or use a breast pump.

Babies have periods when they grow very fast. At these times, it may be necessary to feed your baby more often to give your milk production a chance to adjust to your baby’s needs. Frequent feedings help establish milk supply and prevent your breasts from getting too full.

Babies have periods when they grow very fast. As your baby’s appetite increases, you will need to prepare and offer more infant formula.

If your baby is crying more than usual or seems to want to eat all the time:

• Is she positioned in a semi-erect, comfortable position for feeding?
• Is the formula prepared correctly? Has too much water been added?
• Is the bottle nipple too firm? Is the nipple hole too large?
• Is the feeding environment too distracting?

During the early weeks of lactation, many babies nurse 10 to 12 times in 24 hours. In the first 2 to 4 weeks, infants should not be allowed to sleep more than 4 hours without breastfeeding.

Let your infant finish feeding at one breast before offering the other breast. The length of feedings should not be restricted, although 20 to 45 minutes provides adequate intake and allows you some time to rest between feedings.

Feed your baby when he seems hungry. Most babies will establish a pattern of 6 to 8 feedings about 3 to 5 hours apart. Work from your baby's own timing, instead of just deciding to feed at certain times whether he is hungry or not. You will soon be able to tell from your baby's crying and fussing what his needs are.

Don't worry about how much formula your baby takes at a single feeding; he will have times when he just isn’t hungry and other times when he takes more than you expect. Never force him to finish what is in the bottle. He is the best judge of how much he needs.

After the first few days, most babies, take 2 to 3 ounces of milk each day for each pound of their body weight. Most bottlefed babies want 6 to 8 feedings each day. For a 7-pound baby, this would mean 14 to 21 ounces of foimula a day (2 1/2 to 3 1/2 ounces in each 6 or 7 feedings.)

You might begin by offering 3 ounces in each bottle. When your baby begins to empty the bottle completely at 2 or 3 feedings a day, add an additional ounce to the bottle. Stay a little ahead of your baby and let him decide how much to take.

Carefully prepare formula as instructed and use these sanitary procedures:

• Wash your hands before preparing infant formula.
• Clean the area where infant formula is prepared.
• Clean and disinfect reusable bottles, caps, and nipples before every use.
• Wash and dry the top of the infant formula container before opening.

Discard any milk left in the bottle when your baby has finished eating. Do not reuse a bottle that has been started.

Cover and refrigerate open containers of ready-to-feed or concentrated infant formula. Powdered infant formula can be stored at room temperature.

Eat a variety of healthy foods. Eating well helps you stay healthy and the infant grow.

Drink liquids such as milk or juice when you are thirsty and drink a glass of water at every feeding.

Limit your consumption of drinks containing caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks) to two servings per day.

It is best to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. If you do drink, limit to less than 2 to 2 1/2 oz of liquor, 8 oz of wine, or 2 cans of beer per day (less for small women).