| Babies need to feed a lot in the early days. Your baby has many ways to tell you they are hungry. These signs are called feeding cues. Your baby is hungry when you see these feeding cues:
- Rapid eye movements
- Stretching, moving arms and legs
- Bringing hands to mouth
- Sticking out tongue and licking lips
- Sucking motions or sounds
- Rooting (opening the mouth, searching to suck, and sucking on contact)
- Turning head back and forth
- Soft cooing or sighing sounds
Your baby is full when:
- Your baby closes their mouth
- Your baby turns away from the bottle
- Your baby looks relaxed and calm
Following your baby's feeding cues will:
- Help feeding go well
- Help you get to know your baby
- Allow your baby to build trust, and allow parents to gain confidence
- Build a positive feeding relationship which supports child growth
Remember...
- Your baby should feed at least 8 times or more in a 24 hour day, until about 6 weeks of life.
- It is normal for some babies to have many feedings in a short period. They may sleep longer between feeds at other times. This is called cluster feeding. This is more common in the later afternoon or evening.
- Skin-to-skin contact lets parents learn baby's feeding cues.
- Crying is a late sign of hunger. A baby crying from hunger may be too upset to settle down to feed. Get to know your baby's early feeding cues.
- Your baby will have growth spurts. These happen at around 2 to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. Growth spurts typically last 2 to 3 days. Your baby may feed more often at these times.
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| If you have made the informed decision to give your baby formula, please see the information below on how to safely prepare, store and provide formula.
| Tips for feeding formula |
- If your baby is not breastfed, iron-fortified infant formula is the only food that should be given for the first 6 months. It should be used until your baby is 9 to 12 months old and able to eat a variety of food.
- Every baby needs a different amount of infant formula. Your baby may drink a little more or less than other babies. You can refer to the Guide to amount of infant formula to prepare daily to know approximately what you can expect.
- Do not put your baby to bed with a bottle.
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Watch for feeding cues and signs that your baby is full.
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Read the labels carefully and check the expiry date on all formula packages. Make sure cans are clean and have no dents.
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Speak with your baby's health care provider before changing infant formula.
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Never replace formula with 1%, 2%, skim milk, coffee whitener, condensed evaporated milk, or soy or rice beverages.
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| Types of formula |
| Type |
Cost |
Considerations |
| Ready to feed |
Most costly and convenient |
Does not require any mixing or water. |
| Liquid concentrate |
More expensive than powdered |
Needs to be mixed with clean sterile water**. |
| Powdered |
Least expensive* |
Needs to be mixed with clean sterile water**. |
* Powdered infant formula may contain bacteria. It is safer to use a sterile liquid infant formula to feed premature and low birth weight infants under two months of age and babies with weakened immune systems. **Always use clean and sterile water that has been boiled for infants less than 2 months of age. If the infant is born healthy and at term, you can stop boiling water after 2 months but remember to continue choosing water from a safe source. If the infant is born premature, low birth weight, or has a weakened immune system, consult their health care provider to know when you can stop boiling water. You can sterilize water by boiling it for two minutes on the stove top, or by using an electric kettle that can bring water to a bull rolling boil. See the “How to prepare water for formula feeding” and the “How to sterilize equipment for bottle feeding” sections of this webpage below to learn more. |
| How to sterilize equipment for bottle feeding |
| Follow these steps to keep your baby safe. Sterilize equipment until your baby is at least two months old. Electric kettles and dishwashers do not sterilize equipment. What you need: A large pot with lid, bottle brush and nipple brush, tongs, knife, fork, can opener, glass measuring cup, glass bottles (if possible), nipples, caps, rims, mixing jugs and any other equipment. If using a disposable system: Bottle holders, rims, caps, nipples and a roll of disposable liners. Throw out liners after one use. Throw out nipples when they become soft and sticky. *Note: If using disposable bottles sterilize only the nipples. Steps:
- Wash hands and counter with soap and water
- Wash all items in warm, soapy water
- Make sure holes in nipples are not clogged
- Rinse well
- Put clean items in a pot and fill pot with water
- Boil for 2 minutes and keep pot covered until items are needed
- Remove items with tongs and set on a clean paper towel
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| How to prepare water for formula feeding |
Select water from a safe source
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Choose unsoftened tap water, bottled water or well water to mix your baby's formula. However, none of these types of water are sterile.
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Do not use mineral water, distilled water, carbonated water or softened tap water for formula preparation.
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Well water should be tested at least twice a year for bacteria and nitrates. For more information about well water testing go here, or contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 ext. 23806.
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Minimize lead exposure from tap water. Run your tap for approximately 2 minutes prior to drinking or cooking to flush stagnant water sitting in your plumbing.
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In the morning, it is helpful to use water for flushing toilets, bathing, showering, etc. before using for drinking and cooking.
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Bring water to a rolling boil, which means that entire amount of water should be forming large bubbles and churning vigorously.
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If using an electric kettle that is shutting off automatically too soon to achieve a full rolling boil, use a stove-top kettle or a suitable pan or pot instead.
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After the water has reached a rolling boil, it should be removed from the heat, allowed to cool naturally, without the addition of ice, and protected from recontamination during storage.
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Water should cool to a safe temperature for formula preparation (between room and body temperature) about 30 minutes after the boil.
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Prepared formula should be given or stored right after it has cooled.
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Boiled water can be stored in a covered sterile container for up to 3 days in the fridge or for 24 hours at room temperature.
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If travelling, boil water at home and measure the correct amount of cooled boiled water into a sterilized container.
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Boiling kills bacteria and other pathogens even if the water has suspended particles in it. If, however, settling or filtration is used on turbid (cloudy) water to improve how it looks, this should be done before boiling.
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Hot water readily causes burn injuries to skin. Always take great care when boiling water to avoid burn injuries from spillage or splashing.
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| How to prepare infant formula |
How to prepare infant formula
| Age |
Boiling water |
Sterilizing equipment |
| Infants less than 2 months |
Always use water that has been boiled. |
Always sterilize equipment |
| Healthy term infants 2 months and older |
It is optional to continue boiling water if formula will be consumed immediately. If preparing formula for later use, use boiled water and sterilized equipment. |
Always wash equipment in warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly and air dry of a clean surface. If bottle is being prepared for later use, it is recommended to use sterilized equipment. |
| Premature, low birth weight or weakened immune system infants |
Consult your health care provider to know when you can stop boiling water. |
Consult health care provider to know when you can stop sterilizing equipment. |
See the “How to prepare water for formula feeding” and the “How to sterilize equipment for bottle feeding” sections if you need to boil or sterilize equipment. Powdered infant formula
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Add the required number of scoops of powder to the boiled and cooled water.
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Pick up nipples, rims and caps with sterile tongs and put on bottles and then tighten with your hands.
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Shake bottle well.
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Cool bottle under cold running water.
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Drink immediately or put bottles in refrigerator and use within 24 hours
Liquid concentrate formula
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Add an equal amount of liquid concentrate formula to the boiled water. Be sure to measure carefully.
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Pick up nipples, rims and caps with sterile tongs and put on bottles and then tighten with your hands.
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Shake bottle well.
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Cool bottle under cold running water.
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Drink immediately or put bottles in refrigerator and use within 24 hours
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Tightly cover open can and put in refrigerator. Use within 48 hours.
Ready-to-feed formula
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Open with a sterile can opener.
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Pour amount of infant formula for one feeding into each bottle (use glass if possible).
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DO NOT ADD WATER.
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Pick up nipples, rims and caps with sterile tongs and put on bottles and then tighten with your hands.
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Tightly cover open can and put in refrigerator. Use within 48 hours.
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| Automatic formula dispensing machines are not recommended |
Automatic formula preparation machines for use at home are NOT recommended for the following reasons:
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The water that is used may sit formant for a long time. More bacteria may grow in this water.
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When the water is heated, it is not hot enough to kill bacteria that may be in powdered formula. This is important if your baby is premature, of low-birthweight or has a specific health condition and requires water to be boiled prior to preparing formula.
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| Storing prepared formula |
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If travelling for more than 30 minutes store bottles with an ice pack in a cooler or thermal lunch bag. Store formula in a refrigerator when you reach your destination.
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Do not use prepared formula if it is unrefrigerated for more than a total of 2 hours.
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Formula should be used within 24 hours from the time it was made, as long as it is kept in the refrigerator.
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| How to bottle feed baby |
- Watch your baby for early feeding cues.
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Wait for baby to open their mouth
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Tip bottle slightly so there is no air in the nipple
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Always hold your baby close in an upright position, hold baby skin-to-skin as often as possible
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Watch your baby swallow and allow baby to rest (babies often need a break and you should allow them)
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Burp your baby as needed
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Stop feeding when your baby shows signs of being full
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Keep your baby upright for at least 30 minutes after feeding
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Throw away what your baby does not want to drink within 2 hours
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| How to warm your baby's bottle |
| Place the bottle of formula in warm water for 15 minutes. Shake the bottle to heat evenly. Check the temperature by putting a few drops on your wrist. Never microwave your baby's bottle. This creates "hotspots" that may burn your baby's mouth. |
| Guide to amount of infant formula to prepare daily |
| The amount of formula to feed is different for every baby. Follow the signs that tell you when your baby is full or hungry.
| Age |
Approximate amount of formula in each bottle in ounces and millilitres |
Approximate number of feedings per day |
Approximate amount of formula per day in ounces and millilitres |
| Birth |
½ to 2 oz or 15 to 59 ml |
6 to 10 |
14 to 22 oz or 410 to 650 ml |
| 2 weeks |
2 to 4 oz or 59 to 118 ml |
6 to 10 |
16 to 26 oz or 470 to 770 ml |
| 1 month |
2 to 4 oz or 59 to 118 ml |
6 to 8 |
17 to 29 oz or 500 to 860 ml |
| 2 months |
2 to 4 oz or 59 to 118 ml |
5 to 7 |
22 to 35 oz or 650 to 1030 ml |
| 3 months |
5 to 6 oz or 148 to 177 ml |
5 to 7 |
24 to 39 oz or 710 to 1150 ml |
| 4 months |
5 to 6 oz or 148 to 177 ml |
5 to 7 |
20 to 37 oz or 590 to 1090 ml |
| 5 months |
5 to 6 oz or 148 to 177 ml |
5 to 7 |
22 to 39 oz or 650 to 1150 ml |
| 6 months |
6 to 8 oz or 177 to 237 ml |
4 to 5 |
17 to 35 oz or 500 to 1030 ml |
| 7 months |
6 to 8 oz or 177 to 237 ml |
4 to 5 |
16 to 35 oz or 470 to 1030 ml |
| 8 months |
6 to 8 oz or 177 to 237 ml |
4 to 5 |
17 to 37 oz or 500 to 1090 ml |
| 9 months |
6 to 8 oz or 177 to 237 ml |
3 to 4 |
10 to 30 oz or 300 to 890 ml |
| 10 months |
6 to 8 oz or 177 to 237 ml |
3 to 4 |
10 to 31 oz or 300 to 920 ml |
| 11 months |
6 to 8 oz or 177 to 237 ml |
3 to 4 |
11 to 33 oz or 330 to 980 ml |
| 12 months |
6 to 8 oz or 177 to 237 ml |
0 to 3 |
0 to 21 oz or 0 to 620 ml |
Note: This table is a guide for the approximate amount of infant formula to prepare. The infant's appetite should be the guide for how much infant formula to offer. Adapted from Manual of Clinical Dietetics 2000, Institute of Medicine 2005, and World Health Organization 2004/2006. For information on infant formula recalls please visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website. |
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| The way a baby sucks on a bottle nipple or pacifier is very different from how a baby sucks at the breast. For this reason it is best to not introduce any bottles until after breastfeeding is going well. This is usually about 4 to 6 weeks after your baby is born. Giving your baby a bottle before breastfeeding is going well can affect breastfeeding/nursing including building up your milk supply. Paced bottle feeding The way a baby sucks on a bottle nipple or pacifier is very different from how a baby sucks at the breast. For this reason it is best to not introduce any bottles until after breastfeeding is going well. This is usually about 4 to 6 weeks after your baby is born. Giving your baby a bottle before breastfeeding is going well can affect breastfeeding/nursing including building up your milk supply. Paced bottle feeding is when you control or pace the flow of milk to be like breastfeeding/nursing. It also helps your baby keep breastfeeding/nursing behaviours while they feed from the bottle. Here is how to pace feeds:
- Hold your baby in an upright position, supporting their head and neck with your hand.
- Feed your baby skin-to-skin if possible.
- Use a wide-based, slow-flow nipple.
- Touch your baby's upper lip with the bottle nipple until your baby opens their mouth wide.
- Tip bottle horizontally. Let your baby pull the nipple into their mouth so their lips close on the wide base of the bottle nipple.
- Keep nipple partially full as it will help your baby control flow better. Your baby will naturally swallow air during feeds.
- If your baby gets tense or gulps, stop feed. Stop the feed by tilting bottle down to stop flow but keeping bottle nipple in contact with your baby's lower lip. This way your baby can pull the nipple back into their mouth.
- Your baby will learn to take breaks and 3 to 5 second pauses on their own usually after the fourth or fifth suck and as needed.
- When you think your baby is nearly full, twist and remove bottle keeping the nipple lying on your baby's lip as described above. If your baby takes bottle again, let your baby feed for a short period (for example, 5-10 swallows) and repeat process. When your baby has had enough to drink they will not open their mouth when you try to give them the bottle. This is sign a baby uses to let you know they are full.
- Throw away any milk left in the bottle after the feeding.
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| How to do it:
- Starting at 6 months, you can start to help baby drink from an open cup by offering water at meals and snacks. You can also offer breastmilk or formula in an open cup at meals and snacks, but this “practice time” should not replace regular nursing/bottle feeding sessions.
- Continue offering breastmilk/formula on demand to ensure that baby get all the energy and hydration they need for their day as they learn how to eat solid foods and use an open cup.
- Around 9 to 12 months, you can begin offering homogenized (3.25% M.F.) cow milk in an open cup at meals and snacks.
- If bottle feeding, you can begin to transition baby from a bottle to an open cup for all fluids at around 12 months. At this age, homogenized cow milk, along with nutritious family foods, can provide all the energy and nutrients that your child needs to grow and develop.
- By the age of 18 months baby should not be using a bottle.
What type of cups to use:
- Introduce open cups first and once baby is able to drink from an open cup, you can introduce a straw cup. Drinking from an open cup or a straw cup, as opposed to a sippy cup, helps baby learn to drink like a big kid.
- Sippy cups and 360 cups are not recommended. The infant get water out of these cups by sucking. These movements don’t help them develop the skill of drinking from a regular cup.
- You can help your baby learn how to use an open cup by holding it against their mouth. Baby will use a familiar suckling pattern to “sip” the water. With time and practice they will be able to drink at their own pace.
Tips to wean from bottle:
- Wean gradually
- Use the bottle of least interest
- Offer breastmilk or formula in a cup before every bottle feeding
- Give an open cup instead of a bottle, one feeding at a time
- Establish a routine for mealtimes
- Tell your baby he or she is doing a great job
- Use only water in the bottle, for all other liquids use a cup
- Store bottles where your child cannot see them
- If you choose to use a sippy cup, fill it with water only
For more information on weaning baby from the bottle, Download our factsheet: Time for a Cup - Weaning baby from the bottle |
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