Babies feeding

Information and advice on your baby's feeding.

We know that it can be stressful if your baby doesn't want to feed or seems unable to feed, and you'll be wondering if anything is wrong and what you can do. 

If your baby is happy, healthy and gaining weight try not to worry. Remember they have tiny tummies, so needing to feed little and often is their natural state! 

If you are having any problems with breastfeeding it's important for you to ask for help from your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist as soon as possible. We recommend you visit Children and Family Health Surrey for help and support around infant feeding, including when it's time to start introducing family foods. 

If you need expert advice and support please don't delay - call the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham advice line on 0000 0000 0000

See more information, advice and videos below.

Information from external websites

If you are breastfeeding, you could start by looking at these NHS Start4Life articles, with information ranging from how to breastfeed to breastfeeding challenges. 

The La Leche League offer lots of information on breastfeeding. 

Unicef has lots of useful breastfeeding resources. They also offer lots of helpful bottle feeding resources. If you are wondering if your baby is getting enough milk, have a look at the checklist how to tell if breastfeeding is going well from Unicef. It tells you what the signs are when breastfeeding is going well and when it's best to ask your midwife or health visitor for help. 

If your baby is bottle-fed the NHS Start4Life article gives bottle feeding advice. 

First Steps Nutrition offer helpful information on infant formulas. 

The NCT (National Childbirth Trust) has lots of clear and reassuring information on feeding including useful articles on 

The NHS has information on your baby's first solid foods, including when to start introducing solid foods, signs your baby is ready and what to introduce, when and how. 

NHS Start4Life also has a section on introducing solid foods, with expert NHS advice, helpful videos, tips from other parents and lots of simple recipes and ideas. 

Barnardo's Family Space has a helpful article on breastfeeding and another on solid foods and healthy eating 

Struggling and need to talk

Why not call the LLBD advice line? It is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) and provides support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old

The La Leche League offers telephone support from a La Leche League leader. If you can't find one in your area call their national helpline on 0345 1202918 (8am - 11pm 365 days a year). 

If your baby is having trouble breastfeeding, you can call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212. Funded by Public Health England, the line is open from 9.30am – 9.30pm every day of the year, and they can also offer support via web chat. Calls to the Helpline cost no more than calls to UK numbers starting 01 or 02 and are part of any inclusive minutes that apply to your mobile provider or call package. 

The NCT also has an Infant Feeding Line offering practical and emotional support with feeding your baby. Call: 0300 330 0700 (8am - midnight everyday including Bank Holidays) 

Face to face support 

You could also talk to your midwife or health visitor. 

Useful videos about feeding babies

If you are concerned about how much milk your baby is getting you might want to watch this NHS video. 

Have a look at these 10 top tips for introducing your baby to solid foods. 

If you need tips on looking after yourself, try tip 1 from the help with difficult behaviour section of the Families Under Pressure video collection. 

Helpful tools and apps

Start4Life Breastfeeding Friend chatbot 

Got a breastfeeding question? Use the Start4Life Breastfeeding Friend chatbot for fast, friendly, trusted NHS advice anytime, day or night. You can get it on: 

Baby Buddy is an award-winning mobile app, created by mums, doctors and midwives and recommended by Children and Family Health Surrey and the NHS. 

The app has lots of helpful information and videos about all aspects of being a new parent, including feeding. 

A web-based version is also available. 

The Healthy Surrey website provides parents and carers with advice and information on how to manage minor illnesses and injuries in babies and children. It includes clear guidance on when to seek help. 

Dad's check out the DadPad App, the essential guide for new dads, developed with the NHS. As a new dad you will feel excited, but you may also feel left out, unsure or overwhelmed. The DadPad can help by giving you the knowledge and practical skills that you need – including on feeding! 

The NSPCC recognise that all parents can come under pressure or stress from time to time. The Positive Parenting guide shares practical advice and tips for parenting techniques that work well for children of all ages – from babies to teenagers. 

Surrey's Family Learning and Adult Learning teams have developed a family wellbeing resource, with lots of tips on looking after yourself and your family during these challenging times. 

Online parenting guides

Surrey residents get free access to an online guide that include top tips from childcare, education and NHS health experts 

How to register 

Registration is quick and easy. Go to the OurPlace website and use the access code 'ACORN' to get your free guide. 

Access to the guide is unlimited with no expiry date, so you can return as and when you need and want to. Why not watch the Child and Family Health video to find out more. 

Local Support

National Childbirth Trust (NCT) 

Now more than ever, it's important for you to feel supported and connected to local parents. Some local NCT communities are hosting live online activities and meet-ups so you can feel connected without having to leave the comfort of your home. 

Visit the NCT website and scroll down to the find local activities and meet ups section. Type in your postcode to see what's happening in your local area. 

Parent and Infant Mental Health Service 

The Parent-Infant Mental Health Service, known as PIMHS, works with parents expecting a baby and with babies up to the age of one year. They are a small team of specialist health visitors, child psychotherapists and perinatal therapists. 

They support parents when they struggle to relate to or have any positive feelings about their babies. 

If you are expecting a baby or have a baby less than a year old and are finding it difficult to develop a positive relationship with your baby, the PIMHS team may be able to help. 

If you think you might need support from PIMHS talk to your midwife, health visitor or GP. They will make an assessment and a referral to the team if they think PIMHS is the right support for you. 

View the LBBD video for further information on PIMHS.