Food and Nutrition Guidelines - Barnsley Council Online

4. Babies 0-12 months
Helpful tips
There are a number of different brands of infant
formula milk available in the shops. All should
meet the legal standards for formula milk and
it’s up to you to decide which one to use.
In the past it was thought better to stick to one
brand, but there is no evidence to suggest that
changing brands does any good or any harm.
If you have any worries about the infant formula
milk you are giving your baby, ask your midwife,
health visitor or GP for information.
Using formula milk safely
Powdered infant formula milk must be
prepared as carefully as possible. It is not a
sterile product, and even though tins and
packets of milk powder are sealed, they can
contain bacteria such as Cronobacter sakazakii
(formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii) and,
more rarely, salmonella.
If the feed is not prepared safely, these bacteria
can cause infections.
The risks of using infant formula milks are
reduced if:
• Fresh bottles are made up for each feed
because it is impossible to destroy all the
bacteria completely.
• Feeds are made up using cooled boiled water
that is still hotter than 70°C. In practice, this
means using water that has been boiled and
left to cool for no more than half an hour.
(See Appendix I for instructions for making
up feeds).
• Bacteria can multiply rapidly at room
temperature and can even survive in the
fridge, so storing made up formula milk for
any length of time increases the chance of a
baby becoming ill and should be avoided.
• Any leftover milk should be thrown away
after an hour.
What types of infant
formula are there?
Milks that say they are suitable for
newborns (sometimes known as “first
milks”)
These milks are based on the whey of
cow’s milk and are more easily digested
than the other milks. Unless your doctor
or health visitor suggests otherwise, this
is the best type of infant formula for your
baby.
If bottle-feeding, first milk is the only
food your baby needs for the first six
months.
After six months continue to give first
milk as you start to introduce solid food.
When your baby is one year old, ordinary
(full-fat) cow’s milk can be given.
Milks that say they are “for hungrier
babies”
There is no evidence that babies settle
better or sleep longer if given these
milks. They are based on the curd of
cow’s milk and take your baby longer
to digest than first milks. They are not
recommended for young babies.
Milks that say they are for babies over
six months (sometimes known as
follow-on milks)
Follow-on milks are described as suitable
for babies from six months of age. It is
not necessary to move your baby on to
these milks. Follow-on milks should never
be used for babies under six months old
as they are not nutritionally suitable.
However, the labels can look very similar
to first milks so read them carefully.
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