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Is your breastmilk enough?
Milk feeding whether breast, bottle or cup gives your baby all the important nutrients from birth to 6 months.
So, they do not need any other food and drink.
- From Birth to 6 Months: Just give your baby breastmilk. It's all they need to grow and be healthy.
- At 6 Months: Keep breastfeeding, but also start giving your baby some solid foods.
Responsive bottle feeding
Responsive bottle feeding is about paying attention to when your baby is hungry or full and feed them accordingly. Here are some simple tips for parents to practice responsive bottle feeding behaviours:
- Follow baby's lead: Let your baby decide how much to eat. Look for signs they are hungry (such as sucking on hands or becoming more awake), and signs they are full (like turning away from the bottle, stop sucking or falling asleep).
- Comfortable positioning: Keep your baby a bit upright while feeding. It helps them swallow and control how much milk they drink.
- Slow down the feed: keep the bottle horizontal or flat and let your baby to take breaks. This will give them time to realise when they are full. A well-paced bottle should take about 20–30 minutes.
- Quiet space: Feed your baby somewhere peaceful so they can eat without getting distracted.
Talk to your Family Doctor or Maternal, Child and Family Health Nurse for more support.
Common changes in feeding behaviour
As your baby grows, they may become more awake and easily distracted while feeding. Don't worry, this is normal and won't likely change. The good news is that your baby is able to drink better when they give it their full attention.
The average feeding time is still about 20–30 minutes, and it is common for babies to need milk from both breasts.
All babies at different ages and stages will also want more milk than usual from time to time. This can last a few days then your baby will usually go back to their normal feeding patterns. Your body is now adjusting to a sudden increase in milk supply.
You can get ideas on how to manage ‘Too Much Breast Milk’ in the 0-2 months feeding section.
Baby's sleep and breastfeeding
Babies often wake up at night. This is normal. It does not mean that your baby is ready for solids or needs formula milk.
What You Can Do:
- Give your baby breast milk at least 4-6 times in 24 hours.
- Create a calm feeding environment.
- Talk to your child and family health nurse or family doctor to check your baby’s growth and development
- Separate feeding from sleeping.
Read More on Sleep and Settling in the 4-6 months section
Bottle feeding your growing baby
Common changes in feeding behaviours
Your baby may want to hold their own bottle, but it is important to stay with your baby and look after them. Try to avoid prop-feeding your baby (this means using pillows, towels, or other objects to hold the baby's bottle).
Prop- feeding is not safe and can cause choking and ear infections. Always hold and support your baby during feeds for their safety and health.
Sleep
Waking up at night is common and does not mean that your baby needs to start eating solid foods.
What you can do:
- Follow the formula tin instructions when preparing your baby’s milk.
- Feed your baby in a quiet place.
- Give your baby solid foods around 6 months.
Breastfeeding and returning to work
Many mothers return to work while they breastfeed. It takes some organisation, time and flexibility.
Tips for Returning to Work:
- Talk to your workplace about how they can support your breastfeeding e.g. lactation breaks or expressing milk at work.
- Learn to express breastmilk and practice offering it to your baby in a cup or bottle.
- Plan to breastfeed your baby before you leave for work and then when you return home
For more information on expressing, storing and transporting your breastmilk check out the Australian Breastfeeding Association website or talk to a Lactation Consultant, Child & Family Health Nurse (CFHN) or Breastfeeding Support Clinic.
