Feeding and eating

If your child has additional needs visit our specific section for more support

Infant feeding

Young baby being held by a woman as they sleep wrapped up in a white fluffy blanket.

Feeding cues and signs of getting enough milk

Learn about your baby's feeding cues and the signs they've had enough milk. Each baby has their own feeding cues and escalation of feeding cues.

Mum sitting on sofa holding her baby whilst breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding advice

Breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed your baby. Your breastmilk contains nutrients and antibodies custom made for your baby to help them grow and fight off infections. There are many benefits to breastfeeding your baby. Any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial to your baby.

Baby swaddled in sling on the chest of parent

Bottle feeding advice

Bottle feeding refers to feeding baby milk with a bottle. Formula feeding refers to feeding a baby using formula milk. All bottle feeding advice will be relevant to formula feeding families, however formula feeding advice will only apply to formula feeding families.

A woman sitting down and smiling whilst looking down at the baby she is holding, which is wrapped in a blanket, in her arms

Responsive feeding

Responsive feeding is when a parent responds to their baby’s feeding cues as well as their own want to feed their baby. Learn more about the differences between responsive breastfeeding and responsive bottle feeding.

Baby in high chair playing with a pink bowl with orange spoon. Pieces of food are scattered across the highchair.

Weaning and introducing solid foods

Weaning is when you steadily introduce solid foods (also known as family foods) to your baby. Weaning may also be referred to as complementary feeding. The two main types of weaning are traditional weaning and baby-led weaning.

Mum and daughter preparing food while laughing together in the kitchen

Feeding and eating for additional needs

On this page you will find resources and support around feeding and eating for children with additional needs.

Find other pages on feeding and eating

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1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years
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Healthy eating

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health, and can help you and your child feel your best. A balanced diet means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions, and consuming the right amount of food and drink to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

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Feeding and eating for additional needs

On this page you will find resources and support around feeding and eating for children with additional needs.

Young girl brushing their teeth with their mum looking into the bathroom mirror

0-1 Years
1-5 Years
5-11 Years
11-19 Years
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Dental health

It's important to take care of your child's teeth. The best way to take care of their teeth is to brush them for 2 minutes, twice a day. They should also visit a dentist for regular check-ups and try limiting sugary drinks and sweets to mealtimes only.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's eating habits, a health professional in our team will be able to offer advice and support.

You can email ccs.bedsandlutonchildrenshealthhub@nhs.net

You can call 0300 555 0606

Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).

Or you can text:

07507 331456 if you live in Bedfordshire
07507 331886 if you live in Luton

Open Monday to Friday 9am to 4:30pm (excluding bank holidays).

Feeding and eating

Infant feeding

Find other pages on feeding and eating

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