Infant Feeding
Choosing how you will feed your baby is the first of many important decisions you will make as a parent. We want you to have all of the information you need to make an informed decision. Regardless of how you choose to feed your baby, we have support and resources to help you feed your baby safely.
Discover infant feeding support available within your community.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is recommended as baby’s first food by the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Dietitians of Canada, the Canadian Pediatric Society and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. For the first 6 months, breast milk is all your baby needs. At around 6 months, solids foods should be added to the baby’s diet while still receiving breastmilk. You can continue breastfeeding for 2 years and beyond.
Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mom and baby. Breastfeeding is free, convenient and environmentally friendly. It helps protect babies from many infections and illnesses, builds healthy eating habits, promotes proper jaw development and promotes healthy brain development. Breastfeeding helps mothers because it controls postpartum bleeding, decreases rates of breast and ovarian cancers and slows the return of your period.
To learn more about breastfeeding, see Best Start's booklet, Breastfeeding Matters.
Formula Feeding
If formula feeding is how you are going to feed your baby, we can help there, too, working with you on a feeding plan.
It is also important to know that there are some risks to formula feeding. These risks can include:
- Safety concerns and recalls to the formula itself
- For babies, there is an increased risk of ear infections, lung and breathing issues, diarrhea and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Also, later in life there are increased health risks such as overweight, obesity and chronic illnesses like diabetes.
- For others who do not breastfeed have a higher risk of health issues like postpartum bleeding, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
When you have all the information on formula feeding, you can talk to your health care provider for ways to reduce these risks for you and your baby.
To learn more about formula feeding, see Best Start's booklet, Infant Formula: What You Need to Know
Your infant feeding goals are important to us. Please don’t hesitate to call one of our Health and Well-Being Intake Nurses for support and information.
Breastfeeding in Our Community
Because breastfeeding is normal, local businesses want to show their support. Many businesses display the International Breastfeeding Friendly Place Logo to encourage your family to feel supported while nursing your baby, but also to demonstrate that you are welcome to breastfeed whenever and wherever.
Infant Feeding Support
Are you expecting a baby and would like support making an informed decision about how to feed your infant once they are born? Do you have a newborn or a baby and would like to receive infant feeding support from one of our specially trained nurses or dietitians? Call us today! Let's talk about your experience. Our staff provide assistance to both breastfeeding and formula feeding families.