{"id":94,"date":"2022-05-05T17:29:40","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T16:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oxfordhealth.local\/hvs\/?page_id=94"},"modified":"2026-07-15T11:18:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T10:18:05","slug":"feeding","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/0-1\/feeding\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeding your baby"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Our Baby Friendly accreditation<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2668 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/bfi_accred_white-on-cyan-other-file-types-available-on-request-300x155.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"178\" height=\"92\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/bfi_accred_white-on-cyan-other-file-types-available-on-request-300x155.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/bfi_accred_white-on-cyan-other-file-types-available-on-request-768x398.jpg 768w, https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/bfi_accred_white-on-cyan-other-file-types-available-on-request.jpg 869w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 178px) 100vw, 178px\" \/>Our health visiting service has been accredited as &#8220;Baby Friendly&#8221; with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative.<\/p>\n<p>Find out more about what that means for your care:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/babyfriendly\/about\/\">Learn more about the Baby Friendly initiative<\/a> (UNICEF)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/babyfriendly\/about\/standards\/\">Baby Friendly Standards<\/a> (UNICEF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2671 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/Happy-loved-baby-300x248.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"177\" height=\"146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/Happy-loved-baby-300x248.png 300w, https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/Happy-loved-baby.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 177px) 100vw, 177px\" \/>General information about feeding your baby<\/h2>\n<p>However you choose to feed your baby, new babies have a strong need to be close to their parents, as this helps them to feel secure and loved.<\/p>\n<p>When babies feel secure, they release a hormone called oxytocin. This acts like a fertiliser for their growing brain, helping them to be happy babies and more confident children and adults.<\/p>\n<p>Holding, smiling and talking to your baby also releases oxytocin in you, which helps you to feel calm and happy. Find out more about building a happy baby and helping you to feel more calm and happy:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/babyfriendly\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/04\/happybaby_leaflet_web.pdf#:~:text=When%20babies%20feel%20secure%2C%20they%20release%20a%20hormone,which%20helps%20you%20to%20feel%20calm%20and%20happy.\">Building a Happy Baby<\/a>\u00a0(UNICEF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There is growing evidence that skin to skin contact between you and your baby helps both of you in so many way. Find out more here:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Meeting baby for the first time\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0vzW9qPz3So?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Getting support<\/h2>\n<h3>A-Z countywide infant feeding support<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/groups\/infant-feeding\/\">Infant feeding support<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2585 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/01\/Helping-your-breastfed-baby-get-all-the-milk-they-need-232x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/01\/Helping-your-breastfed-baby-get-all-the-milk-they-need-232x300.png 232w, https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/01\/Helping-your-breastfed-baby-get-all-the-milk-they-need.png 449w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 174px) 100vw, 174px\" \/>Feeding your baby<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/start-for-life\/baby\/feeding-your-baby\/\">Feeding your baby<\/a> (NHS)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/leaflets\/title\/children-and-young-people-0-19-service-helping-your-breastfed-baby-get-all-the-milk-they-need\/\">Helping your breastfed baby get all the milk they need<\/a> (Oxford Health)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Breastfeeding<\/h2>\n<h3>General breastfeeding information &amp; support<\/h3>\n<p>Breastfeeding information in languages other than English:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/globalhealthmedia.org\/video\/?_s=breast%20feeding&amp;~1\">Breast Feeding videos<\/a> (Global Health Media)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/babyfriendly\/baby-friendly-resources\/foreign-language-resources\/\">Foreign language resources &#8211; Baby Friendly Initiative<\/a>\u00a0(UNICEF)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/babyfriendly\/about\/benefits-of-breastfeeding\/\">The benefits of breastfeeding &#8211; Baby Friendly Initiative <\/a>\u00a0(UNICEF)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLXc9Lskf-HanqowicDm-KbccvjrCS-DBk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"0\">Infant Feeding Team video playlist<\/a> (OUH)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Positioning and attachment<\/h3>\n<p>How to support your baby to position and attach to the breast:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/babyfriendly\/baby-friendly-resources\/breastfeeding-resources\/positioning-and-attachment-video\/\">Positioning and attachment video &#8211; Baby Friendly Initiative<\/a>\u00a0(UNICEF)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Expressing your breast milk<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative | Hand expression\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/K0zVCwdJZw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1048952527\">Expressing breast milk with a pump video<\/a> (Health Innovation Wessex)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How to know that your baby is getting enough milk<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/iyH-QBJq_wc?list=PLXc9Lskf-HanqowicDm-KbccvjrCS-DBk\">Four reliable signs your baby is getting enough milk<\/a> (OUH)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Feeding challenges<\/h2>\n<h3>Common breastfeeding problems<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org\/parenting\/food-nutrition\/5-common-breastfeeding-problems\">5 common breastfeeding problems<\/a> (UNICEF)<br \/>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2675 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-20-175650-211x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"167\" height=\"237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-20-175650-211x300.png 211w, https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-20-175650.png 414w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 167px) 100vw, 167px\" \/><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Slow growing babies<\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes babies grow more slowly. This can feel worrying.<\/p>\n<p>If this happens, we will help you make a plan to give your baby more milk. You may also be asked to see a GP and offered extra feeding support.<\/p>\n<p>This leaflet tells you more:\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/leaflets\/title\/children-and-young-people-0-19-service-helping-your-breastfed-baby-get-all-the-milk-they-need\/\">Information for Parents Understanding Slow Growth in Breastfed Babies<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"nhsuk-care-card nhsuk-care-card--urgent\">\n                <div class=\"nhsuk-care-card__heading-container\">\n                    <h3 class=\"nhsuk-care-card__heading\"><span role=\"text\"><span class=\"nhsuk-u-visually-hidden\">Non-urgent advice: <\/span>Safety alert<\/span><\/h3>\n                    <span class=\"nhsuk-care-card__arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"nhsuk-care-card__content\">\n<p>Self-feeding pillows\/prop feeders present a risk of serious harm or death from choking or aspiration pneumonia.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/urgent-safety-alert-issued-for-baby-self-feeding-pillows\">Urgent Safety Alert issued for baby self-feeding pillows<\/a> (GOV.UK)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<h3>Mixed feeding<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/start4life\/baby\/feeding-your-baby\/mixed-feeding\/\">Mixed feeding<\/a>\u00a0(NHS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Formula and bottle feeding<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unicef.org.uk\/babyfriendly\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/04\/Infant-formula-and-responsive-bottle-feeding.pdf\">Infant formula and responsive bottle feeding<\/a>\u00a0(UNICEF)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/infantmilkinfo.org\/\">Types of infant milks on the UK market<\/a> (Infant Milk Info)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/start4life\/baby\/feeding-your-baby\/bottle-feeding\/\">Bottle Feeding<\/a> (NHS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2695 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/06\/Baby-sleep-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"135\" height=\"203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/06\/Baby-sleep-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/06\/Baby-sleep.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 135px) 100vw, 135px\" \/> \u00a0Sleep and night-time care<\/h2>\n<p>Sleep and caring for your baby at night:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lullabytrust.org.uk\/baby-safety\/safer-sleep-information\/safer-sleep-overview\/\">Safer Sleep overview<\/a> (Lullaby Trust)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lullabytrust.org.uk\/baby-safety\/safer-sleep-information\/co-sleeping\/\">Co-Sleeping<\/a> (Lullaby Trust)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-2694 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/06\/weaning-pic-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/06\/weaning-pic-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/29\/2026\/06\/weaning-pic.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/>Introducing solid foods<\/h2>\n<p>For guidance on introducing solid foods at 6 months:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/0-1\/solids\/\">Introducing solid foods<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h2>Financial help<\/h2>\n<p>Healthy Start food vouchers and vitamins:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthystart.nhs.uk\/\">Get help to buy food and milk<\/a>\u00a0(Healthy Start)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthystart.nhs.uk\/getting-vitamins\/\">Getting vitamins \u2013 Get help to buy food and milk<\/a>\u00a0(Healthy Start)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Returning to work<\/h2>\n<p>Please talk to staff at an Infant Feeding Support Hub, Well Baby Clinic or contact ChatHealth for advice.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/baby\/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding\/breastfeeding-and-lifestyle\/back-to-work\/\">Breastfeeding after returning to work<\/a> (NHS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Weighing your baby<\/h2>\n<p>Your baby will be weighed in the first 2 weeks to check they are back to their birth weight.<\/p>\n<p>After that, babies are weighed at check-ups at about 2, 3, 4, and 13 months.<\/p>\n<p>Babies are only weighed more if there are worries about their health or growth.<\/p>\n<p>Weighing too often can cause unnecessary concern. It is better to notice feeding, behaviour, and how your baby is growing.<\/p>\n<p>Older babies are weighed less often because they grow more slowly.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/baby\/babys-development\/height-weight-and-reviews\/baby-height-and-weight\/\">Your baby&#8217;s weight and height<\/a>\u00a0(NHS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Dummies and your child<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/laleche.org.uk\/dummies-and-breastfeeding\/\">Dummies and breastfeeding<\/a>\u00a0(LaLeche)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lullabytrust.org.uk\/baby-safety\/baby-product-information\/dummies\/\">Baby product information and dummies<\/a>\u00a0(Lullaby Trust)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Information for Dads, Partners and Grandparents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedadpad.co.uk\/\">The Essential Guide for New Dads<\/a>\u00a0(Dadpad)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/abm.me.uk\/breastfeeding-information\/grandparents\/\">Congratulations, you\u2019re going to be a grandparent \u2013 ABM<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Baby Friendly accreditation Our health visiting service has been accredited as &#8220;Baby Friendly&#8221; with the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1111,"parent":9,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-94","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94"}],"version-history":[{"count":160,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2782,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/94\/revisions\/2782"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1111"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oxfordhealth.nhs.uk\/hv\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}