Formula feeding your baby

Formula milk, at its best, can only replace most of the nutritional components of breast milk. It is just a food, whereas breast milk is a complex living nutritional fluid containing anti-bodies, enzymes, long-chain fatty acids and hormones, many of which simply cannot be included in formula.

Any breastfeeding is valuable, and we support mothers to help their baby receive as much breast milk as they can. Although experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women so formula provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow.

Supporting you with formula feeding

Before you go home, our team will ensure that you know how to make up a feed and to sterilise equipment, and will show you safe techniques to give a bottle feed. If you haven’t been shown please ask.

You can also find useful information about formula feeding on the NHS Choices website.