Feeding your baby
Find out more about feeding your baby, including breastfeeding, bottle-feeding and introducing solids on the Kent Baby website.
Some families may need more specialist infant feeding support. Your midwife, health visitor or another health professional, such as your GP, can refer you into the Specialist Infant Feeding Service.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding has long-term benefits for mums and their babies. Breast milk adapts to the changing needs babies have as they develop and helps to prevent tummy bugs and childhood obesity. It's recommended that babies are given breast milk until they are 6 months old.
Breastfeeding can be challenging in the beginning since it's new for both mums and babies. If you are looking for breastfeeding support, no matter what stage of the breastfeeding journey you’re in, Beside You is here to help every step of the way.
Healthy Start scheme - get help to buy milk, food and vitamins
With the Healthy Start scheme you get a free prepaid card which is reloaded with money every 4 weeks to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. The card also entitles you to free vitamins.
You could qualify for the Healthy Start scheme if you're on benefits and are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have children under 4. If you're under 18 and pregnant you automatically qualify even if you are not on any benefits.
Find out more about the Healthy Start scheme
Introducing solid food
Introducing your baby to solid foods, also referred to as weaning or complementary feeding, starts when your baby is around 6 months old.
For NHS advice, helpful videos, tips from other parents, and lots of simple, healthy weaning recipe and meal ideas go to the weaning pages on the Start for Life website.