{"id":326,"date":"2026-04-29T10:36:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T09:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/infant-formula\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T10:37:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T09:37:37","slug":"infant-formula","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/infant-formula\/","title":{"rendered":"Infant Formula"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you decide to formula feed your baby, we are here to support you.&nbsp;The following information will help you to do so as safely as possible and will help you and your baby to&nbsp;form a close and loving relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your Midwife, Health Visitor and Family Nurse should always be the first point of contact and support if you are experiencing any feeding issues. Don&#8217;t hesitate to ask for help, your Midwife, Health Visitor and Family Nurse are all trained to the very high standards of Unicef UK Baby Friendly and are there to support you with where you are&nbsp;in your feeding journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Responsive bottle feeding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is best for just you and your partner to feed baby in the early weeks. This will help baby to feel safe and secure, get used to your way of feeding and enable you to form a close loving bond with your baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Offer feeds when your baby shows early signals of being hungry. If your baby is upset, try to soothe her before you offer a feed. Skin contact is great for calming babies at any time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hold baby close to you, in a slightly upright position and look into baby\u2019s eyes and talk gently to her. This will help calm and reassure her<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gently rub the teat above baby\u2019s top lip to encourage her to open her mouth and poke her tongue out. Place the teat into front of baby\u2019s mouth allowing her to draw it further in<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allow just enough milk to cover teat and pace the feed to meet baby\u2019s needs, gently removing it if baby appears to want a break<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offer frequent breaks throughout the feed sitting baby upright to help bring up her wind<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Never force baby to take a whole feed as she will know when she has had enough<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Discard any left over milk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This information is also available as a video: <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1025191808?share=copy\">How to make up formula feed on Vimeo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1025162536?share=copy\">How to bottle feed on Vimeo<\/a> and a leaflet <a href=\"https:\/\/publichealthscotland.scot\/media\/19537\/formula-feeding-how-to-feed-your-baby-safely-in-english.pdf\">Formula feeding<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.firststepsnutrition.org\/parents-carers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">First Steps Nutrition<\/a>&nbsp;offers unbiased, up to date and evidence based information on formula milks. They also have a range of resources which are free to access and download.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Parentclub website <a href=\"https:\/\/www.parentclub.scot\/articles\/formula-feeding\">Formula feeding | Parent Club<\/a> has lots of information to support formula feeding, including how to make up formula feeds and how to sterilise your feeding equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The safest way to make up formula feeds is to use a kettle.&nbsp; If you have formula preparation machine, the following information will help to ensure feeds are made up safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><div class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-host wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover\"><a class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine.png\" data-wpcp-wp-lb-image=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-674\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine.png 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine.png\" data-fancybox=\"wpcp-wp-img-674\" class=\"wpcp-lightbox-trigger wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon wpcp-position-top-right wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover wpcp-global-lightbox-icon wpcp-lightbox-icon--global wpcp-lb-icon-style-default\" data-wpcp-lb-icon-source=\"global\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" data-thumb-src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2024\/02\/Finding-the-formula-Infographic-3-test-temperature-of-prep-machine-300x300.png\" data-wpcp-lb-single=\"1\"><span class=\"wpcp-icon-container\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"><path d=\"M17.6585 16.025L14.2437 12.6198C15.1716 11.3338 15.6121 9.7613 15.4871 8.1819C15.362 6.60251 14.6795 5.11847 13.5607 3.99351C12.936 3.36206 12.1916 2.86066 11.3709 2.51845C10.5502 2.17623 9.66952 2 8.77995 2C7.89039 2 7.00969 2.17623 6.18899 2.51845C5.36829 2.86066 4.62395 3.36206 3.99919 3.99351C3.36594 4.61649 2.86312 5.35871 2.51992 6.17708C2.17673 6.99545 2 7.87365 2 8.76068C2 9.64772 2.17673 10.5259 2.51992 11.3443C2.86312 12.1627 3.36594 12.9049 3.99919 13.5279C5.11957 14.6901 6.62279 15.4103 8.23285 15.5562C9.84291 15.7022 11.4517 15.2641 12.7639 14.3224L16.1788 17.7275C16.3849 17.9034 16.6473 18 16.9186 18C17.1899 18 17.4523 17.9034 17.6585 17.7275C18.1138 17.16 18.1138 16.5925 17.6585 16.025ZM5.59278 12.0523C5.16258 11.6298 4.82094 11.1263 4.58774 10.5709C4.35455 10.0156 4.23446 9.41951 4.23446 8.81744C4.23446 8.21536 4.35455 7.6193 4.58774 7.06394C4.82094 6.50859 5.16258 6.00503 5.59278 5.58257C6.01644 5.15359 6.52144 4.81292 7.07838 4.58039C7.63532 4.34786 8.23308 4.22811 8.83687 4.22811C9.44066 4.22811 10.0384 4.34786 10.5954 4.58039C11.1523 4.81292 11.6573 5.15359 12.081 5.58257C12.5112 6.00503 12.8528 6.50859 13.086 7.06394C13.3192 7.6193 13.4393 8.21536 13.4393 8.81744C13.4393 9.41951 13.3192 10.0156 13.086 10.5709C12.8528 11.1263 12.5112 11.6298 12.081 12.0523C11.6573 12.4813 11.1523 12.822 10.5954 13.0545C10.0384 13.287 9.44066 13.4068 8.83687 13.4068C8.23308 13.4068 7.63532 13.287 7.07838 13.0545C6.52144 12.822 6.01644 12.4813 5.59278 12.0523Z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For any information regarding<strong>formula milk recalls<\/strong>, please visit the FSA website\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.food.gov.uk%2Fsearch%3Fkeywords%3D%26filter_type%255BFood%2520alert%255D%3DFood%2520alert&amp;data=05%7C02%7CYvonne.Fairholm%40nhs.scot%7Cf49abd711db240ae584708de632478ce%7C10efe0bda0304bca809cb5e6745e499a%7C0%7C0%7C639057205789661869%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=BRDeoz1aYEjGu%2Bi88E7pE%2FbhV5spfs1alVK%2BNkbIgsU%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Search Results | Food Standards Agency<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0or contact your health provider<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you decide to formula feed your baby, we are here to support you.&nbsp;The following information will help you to do so as safely as possible and will help you and your baby to&nbsp;form a close and loving relationship. Your Midwife, Health Visitor and Family Nurse should always be the first point of contact and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":500,"parent":0,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/featnorm.php","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-326","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header.jpg",1920,298,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header.jpg",1920,298,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header.jpg",1920,298,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header-300x47.jpg",300,47,true],"large":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header-1024x159.jpg",1024,159,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header-1536x238.jpg",1536,238,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header.jpg",1920,298,false],"post_slider_thumbnail":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2022\/07\/header-1520x236.jpg",1520,236,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"NHS Lothian","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/author\/nhs-lothian\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"If you decide to formula feed your baby, we are here to support you.&nbsp;The following information will help you to do so as safely as possible and will help you and your baby to&nbsp;form a close and loving relationship. Your Midwife, Health Visitor and Family Nurse should always be the first point of contact and","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=326"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":800,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/326\/revisions\/800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/feedingyourbaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}