Newborn feeding

Feeding your baby is a time when you can express love and caring by holding, touching, talking or singing. Hold your baby close when feeding to help them feel secure.

Your baby will give you cues when they are hungry:

• roots or turns head when cheek is stroked
• opens mouth and searches
• smacks lips
• makes sucking movements
• puts hand in mouth
• moves body in a way that looks like squirming
• cries (the last cue)

Hand hygiene

Whether you are breastfeeding or formula feeding, hand hygiene is important to prevent germs from spreading to your baby or your baby's milk or formula.

Hand hygiene is washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub.

Perform hand hygiene before:

• picking up your baby to breastfeed or formula feed
• preparing to pump breastmilk
• preparing to mix formula

Forms and worksheets

Chart your baby's breastfeedings and diapers

Chart your baby's formula feedings and diapers

Questions to ask when breastfeeding worksheet