

Drinking water for babies over 6 months does not need to be boiled first.įully breastfed babies do not need any water until they've started eating solid foods. Once your baby has started to eat solid foods (from around 6 months) you can offer them sips of water from a cup or beaker with meals. This type of formula is not needed, and there's no evidence that babies settle better or sleep longer after having it.

"Goodnight" milk is not suitable for babies under 6 months old.

Beaker cups professional#
You should only give your baby soya formula if a health professional advises you to. It's no less likely to cause allergies in babies than cows' milk formula as the proteins they contain are very similar. Goats' milk formula is not suitable for babies with cows' milk protein allergy. Goats' milk formula is available and produced to the same nutritional standards as cows' milk formula. Read more about the types of infant formula. Formula milkįirst infant formula is usually based on cows' milk and is the only suitable alternative to breast milk in the first 12 months of your baby's life.įollow-on formula is not suitable for babies under 6 months, and you do not need to introduce it after 6 months.įirst infant formula, follow-on formula or growing-up milks are not needed once your baby is 12 months old.Ĭows' milk can be introduced as a main drink from 12 months.

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies are breastfed for up to 2 years or longer.īreastfeeding up to 12 months is associated with a lower risk of tooth decay. It should continue to be given alongside an increasingly varied diet once you introduce solid foods from around 6 months. Breast milkīreast milk is the only food or drink babies need in the first 6 months of their life. Here's what to give to your child and when. Not all drinks are suitable for babies and young children.
Beaker cups how to#
It's important to choose the right kind of beaker or cup.Ī cup or beaker with a free-flow lid (without a non-spill valve) is better than a bottle or beaker with a teat as it will help your baby learn how to sip rather than suck.Īs soon as your child is ready, encourage them to move from a lidded beaker to drinking from an open cup. Drinks flow very slowly through a teat, which means the sugary substance will be in contact with their teeth for longer.įind out how to look after your baby's teeth. When using a bottle or trainer cup, do not put anything in it other than breast milk, formula milk or water, and do not add anything else (including sugar, cereals, baby rice or chocolate powder) to the feed.Ĭomfort sucking from a bottle on sweetened drinks causes tooth decay in young children. Once your baby is 1 year old, feeding from a bottle should be discouraged. It might be messy at first but be patient, your baby will gradually learn how to drink from an open cup. Using an open cup or a free-flow cup without a valve will help your baby learn to sip and is better for your baby’s teeth. Introduce your baby to drinking from a cup or beaker from around 6 months and offer sips of water with meals. Once your baby is eating plenty of solids several times a day, they may even drop a milk feed altogether. You should continue to breastfeed or give your baby first infant formula until they're at least 1 year old.īreastfeeding will continue to benefit you and your baby for as long as you carry on.Īs your baby eats more solid foods, the amount of milk they want will decrease.
