Frequently Asked Questions

Q.  I am going to have to stop breastfeeding my 9 week old baby during the day as I have to go back to work.  My baby always seems hungry and I really don’t know which milk I should use.  Can you give me some advice please?

A.   For babies younger than 6 months that are being given bottle feeds, it is important that you choose an approved formula which is labelled ‘infant milk’ and is suitable ‘from birth’.    

Different numbering systems are used by different manufacturers of baby milks so it is important that you look at the packaging carefully to make sure the milk is suitable ‘from birth’.   

Q.  What is the Government Healthy Start Scheme? 

A. This is the new scheme from the Department of Health, which replaces the old Welfare Food Scheme.  It covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and started on 27th November 2006.

If you are 10 weeks pregnant or more, or if you have a child under 4 years of age, and if you get one of the benefits listed below, you will be eligible for the ‘Healthy Start’ scheme:-

• You or your family get Income Support, or
• You or your family get income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
• You or your family get Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual family income below £14,155.
• You also qualify for the ‘Healthy Start’ if you are pregnant and under 18, whether or not you are on benefits.

On the Healthy Start scheme, you receive vouchers that can be exchanged for cows’ milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables at participating retailers.

Q.  What should I do about my baby’s milk feeds when I am not at home?  Can I make up feeds in advance?

A.  We recommend that you prepare your baby’s feeds freshly whenever possible and that feeds should be used within one hour of preparation. The reason for this is that we want your baby’s milk feeds to be as safe as possible. Experts have found that milk feeds prepared in advance may be at risk of contamination with harmful levels of bacteria which can cause severe infection and illness.

We accept that being able to prepare milk feeds in advance is very convenient, and that there will be occasions when it is not possible to make up feeds freshly. 

The Department of Health and Food Standards Agency have issued advice on what to do if you have no choice but to prepare feeds in advance (perhaps if you take your baby to a day nursery that will not prepare feeds for your baby). They advise that if you need to take a made-up milk feed with you when you go out or if your baby goes to a childminder or nursery, you should make it up in the morning as normal, cool it by holding the bottle/beaker under a cold running tap, then put it in the fridge for at least one hour before putting in a cool bag with a frozen ice brick (feeds stored in a cool bag should be used within four hours). When you get to your child’s child care centre, you should take the feed out of the cool bag and put it straight in the fridge. Try to make sure the made-up feed is used on the same day you take it in, because it isn’t ideal to store feeds, especially for young babies. You should never store feeds for more than 24 hours.

Q.  When can I start weaning my baby and what are the best foods to give?

A.   For most babies, breast milk or infant milk provides all the nourishment a baby needs up to the age of 6 months, but if you think your baby needs solids before this time, ask your health professional for advice.  

Whatever you do, though, you should not introduce solids before the age of 17 weeks. Baby rice mixed with your baby’s usual milk, fruit or vegetable purees (why not try Bebivita Apple & Banana, William Christ Pears, Mixed Vegetables or Cauliflower & Potato) make good first weaning foods. These first tastes should be bland-tasting, smooth and gluten free.

As weaning progresses, try and give a wide variety of tastes - your baby is less likely to be a fussy eater later on if you do.  If a food is rejected at first, try it again another time as your baby may grow to like it.

Q.  My baby loves smooth baby foods but spits out any foods with lumps in.  What should I do about getting him to chew his foods?

A.  It is worth persevering with the lumpier foods as it is important that he learns to chew and this also helps with speech development.  If he does not like the lumps, you can try mashing the food with a fork before you give it to him and then gradually mash it less.  Another thing you could try is mixing some Stage 1 food with the Stage 2 lumpier food for a while until he gets more used to the lumps.

Q.  How much formula milk should I be giving my baby?  She is 9 months old.  And when can I start giving cows’ milk?

A.  Babies take less milk as they take more 'solid' foods, but generally it is assumed that babies of this age should be having the equivalent to 20fl.oz or about 600ml milk formula per day.

You should not give cows’ milk as your baby’s main milk drink until she is at least 1 year old.  You can use some cows’ milk in your baby’s foods before this though if you wish.