Government of New Brunswick
feed-infant

 

Nutrition is important to your child’s health. How and what you feed your child during their first three years of life is very important. Good nutrition can boost mental and physical development and reduce the risk of chronic disease throughout your child's life.

Make an Informed Decision About Feeding Your Baby

Deciding how you are going to feed your baby is a very important decision and there are a lot of things to consider. 

  • Learn the facts about breastfeeding and infant formula and
  • Discuss your thoughts, feelings, concerns and questions with your family and your health care provider.

Decide what’s right for you and your family. Whatever you decide, your health care providers will give you the information and support you need.

 

Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed babies, but just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Like many skills you will learn as a new parent, breastfeeding takes time and practice.

  • Breast milk has antibodies and immune factors that protect your baby’s health.
  • The longer you breastfeed, the more you protect your baby’s health.
  • Breastmilk adapts to your baby’s growth and nutritional needs.
  • Breastfeeding protects your health too. It reduces your chances of getting postpartum depression, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis.
  • Breastfeeding strengthens the bond between you and your baby.
  • If you breastfeed at some feedings and give formula at other feedings, you will make less breastmilk.
  • Birth control is compatible with breastfeeding. Talk to your health care provider about it.
  • Breastfeeding parents have the right to be accommodated in the workplace to breastfeed.
  • Breastfeeding is natural, but it may take time to learn.
  • The decision not to breastfeed can be difficult to reverse or change.
  • Infant formula does not contain all the same elements as human breast milk, and therefore cannot support a baby’s overall health and development in exactly the same ways as breast milk.
  • Infant formula does not protect your baby against ear, chest and stomach infections.
  • Infant formula increases the risk of chronic disease such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and some childhood cancers.
  • Infant formula increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
  • You need to plan time to sterilize equipment and prepare the infant formula.
  • Mistakes can be made during formula preparation and can cause harm to your baby.
  • There is a risk of contamination during manufacturing and processing.
  • Infant formula is expensive.

If you made an informed decision to feed your baby with formula, consult this brochure to know how to prepare it safely.

 

Last updated July 2023