Feeding in the First Year

 why feeding in the first year matters 

Your baby needs nutrition for the rapid growth of her body, brain, nervous and immune systems. Babies’ nutritional needs are 3-4 times greater than an adult’s, and so frequent feeding is essential early on, gradually settling into a routine by around six months. And then of course it’s all change when solids are introduced! Breast milk is the gold standard for nourishment, immune protection and long-term health, but feeding choices feel pressured for many women for many different reasons. Any and all breastfeeding is beneficial, and combination feeding offers flexibility and partner involvement. What matters most is responsive feeding - being attuned to your baby’s cues, offering closeness, eye contact, touch and voice. Eye contact with your baby stimulates the growth of more brain cells. These early experiences build trust, support emotional self-regulation, and lay the foundation for a healthy appetite.
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why everything goes in their mouth 

From 6-12 months, babies start to explore the world with their mouths - an ideal stage to introduce solids and build feeding skills. This is no coincidence; this time period is exactly the time when babies are developmental ready to self-feed ... the sensitive window. Some babies take to solids quickly, others more gradually. Self-feeding supports hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and independence. Try to take time to sit down and eat something alongside your baby, and notice how your baby watches you intently whilst you’re eating. They are learning from you how to eat. Self-feeding allows for more sensory exploration, whilst spoon-feeding can boost amount of food eaten, helping your baby get the nutrition they need. A mix of both can work well … expect mess, but also joyful learning.
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helping your infant enjoy food and feeding

Introducing solids is a sensitive window for developing chewing, sifting lumps, organising the food in the mouth, swallowing and coordination with the breath, The more practice your baby gets, the more confident she will become. Offering a variety of tastes, textures and colours keeps curiosity high and helps prevent fussy eating later in the early years. Stay attentive, offering reassurance with smiles and praise. Even if you feel worried, try not to show it, as this easily influences your baby. Worries, stress and anxiety keep a baby from feeding well. This is true for most of us, but at this age, babies are highly attuned to their caregiver’s mood. Stressed parents ... stressed babies. Celebrate all the small wins - feeding should feel like fun.

 when feeding becomes difficult

It is likely to feel very stressful if your baby becomes ill, and refuses to feed well. Illness, discomfort or digestive issues often disrupt feeding progress, and babies may revert to milk only, refuse to eat solids, or lose confidence with solids. As a result, it can be a challenge to re-establish solids after illness. As soon as you can, following the illness episode, offer familiar foods, be attentive to their cues, gently persist and offer smiles and praise of reassurance. Understand that it may take some weeks to restore the feeding skills learned to date, but do stay with it. Persistent difficulties, with dropping weight centiles deserves professional support.
Let's Talk
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nourish yourself as well as your baby 

Feeding babies is demanding, leaving little energy for your own needs. Yet eating well and taking breaks supports both your wellbeing and your baby’s experience. Keep healthy food within reach, eat regularly, and accept support when its offered. Remember - mindful care isn’t about perfection, but about being present and compassionate with yourself, especially when things feel tough.
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 my support 

I can support challenges such as: 

  • Bottle aversion
  • Cow’s milk allergy and food allergies
  • Food refusal or reluctance to eat solids
  • Growth faltering or iron deficiency anaemia
  • Limited or delayed feeding skills
  • Lack of progress with solids
  • Vegetarian and vegan weaning

Together we will: 

  • Explore your challenges and goals
  • Create a practical, step-by-step treatment plan
  • Focus on key nutrients such as calcium and iron
  • Review supplements
  • Build feeding skills to support a healthy, varied diet
  • Strengthen your own confidence and skills as a parent
Infant Feeding Support info