This page aims to provide information and signposting to families in relation to breastfeeding and infant feeding. If you need further information, advice or if you are experiencing any difficulties with breastfeeding or feeding your baby, please make contact with Your Midwife, Health Visitor, Family Nurse, or GP in the first instance.
Parent Club
Parent Club has useful information on feeding your baby:
Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Support
Breastfeeding
The Breastfeeding Network offer a range of support groups which are open to any mum in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
For more information about Infant feeding support in NHS GGC please see Finding breastfeeding support | Parent Club and the interactive map here: Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland – Google My Maps
The National Breastfeeding Helpline – Helpline offers both telephone and web chat services Tel 0300 100 0212 open 24 hours per day.
You can access the same support in Polish or Welsh via the same number – 0300 100 0212 – press 1 for support in Welsh or 2 for support in Polish. Call 0300 456 2421 for support in Bengali and Sylheti.
It also offers support in British Sign Language. Users in Scotland can contact the helpline via contact SCOTLAND-BSL.
You can access the same support in Polish or Welsh via the same number – 0300 100 0212 – press 1 for support in Welsh or 2 for support in Polish. Call 0300 456 2421 for support in Bengali and Sylheti.
Information about Infant feeding support in NHS GGC can be found on the Parent Club Website please see Finding breastfeeding support | Parent Club and the Breastfeeding Friendly Scotland interactive map.
For Information about feeding when out and about continuing to breastfeed if going back to work, please go to Getting out and about while breastfeeding | Parent Club and Breastfeeding and returning to work | Parent Club. There is also a helpful leaflet below with more tips and information.
NHSGGC hosts the National Milk Bank for Scotland. Visit our pages for more information on the service and if you would be interested in become in breastmilk donor.
Breastfeeding In Neonatal Care: Your breastmilk is very important if your baby is born too soon, is very small or is sick. For more information on breastfeeding, or providing breastmilk for your baby if born too soon visit: RHCG – Neonatal infant feeding.
Formula Feeding
Public Health Scotland produce a helpful leaflet in a range of languages called Formula Feeding: How to feed your baby safely. The link for this can be found below.
The recommendations for formula fed infants is that a first infant milk (may be referred to as first stage formula or stage 1 milk) is recommended throughout the first year of life. There are no requirement to move onto a hungry baby milk, or follow on formula. It can be confusing as to which brand of first infant milk to buy for your baby due to the range available on the market. Please be reassured that by law, all Infant formula milks must have the same composition. This means that any first infant milk would be suitable and there is no need to buy more expensive brands of Infant milk. First Steps Nutrition Trust have published a range of very useful information: Infant milks for parents & carers — First Steps Nutrition Trust.
Once your baby reaches the age of 1 year, pasteurised whole milk and semi-skimmed cow’s milk can be given to them as their main drink as could pasteurised goats and sheep’s milk. For children aged 1-5 years use of growing up or toddler milks is not recommended. For more information please see Milks marketed for children — First Steps Nutrition Trust.
Responsive bottle feeding is a great for you or your partner to have time with your baby. Keeping you baby close by helps you to pick up their cues for feeding or attention, Learning your baby’s cues | Parent Club. During feeds, holding your baby close, looking into their eyes and talking to them gently helps they feel safe and secure. It’s important to also look out for signs during a feed that your baby is full so they are not getting too much milk. For more information, see Infant-formula-and-responsive-bottle-feeding.pdf. NHS Tayside has also developed a YouTube Video on responsive bottle feeding.
For further information and advice or if you have any concerns about formula feeding your baby, please speak to your health visitor, family nurse or GP.
General information and support for families
Happy Healthy Tots
NHSGGC health visiting and family nurse teams have launched the Happy Health Tots APP Happy Healthy Tots | Right Decisions
Information on how to download the app can be found here: Download the RDS App from the app stores | Right Decisions.
Parent Club
The Parent Club website has lots of excellent information on a range of topics for families
Global Health Media
Provides a range of videos for Breastfeeding English Language Videos – Global Health Media Project. These can be watched in English and also selected to be watched in a range of other languages.
Ready Steady Baby
Ready Steady Baby Your guide to pregnancy, labour and birth and early parenthood up to 8 weeks.
UNICEF
UNICEF have a range of useful resources for parents on infant feeding and relationship building, as well as information on overcoming common breastfeeding challenges. Printable resources in other languages are available.
First Steps Nutrition Trust
First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity that provides information and resources to support eating well from pre-conception to five years.
Starting Solids
Starting Solids has produced a range of helpful videos for when you are introducing solids foods to your baby at around 6 months Starting Solids – NHSGGC.
There are also a range of Starting Solids Sessions delivered face to face or online across NHSGGC. Further details can be found via the Happy Health Tots app.
Vitaman D
Information about our Vitamin D scheme including details of the free vitamin D supplements available to those who are breastfeeding, and children under 3 years within the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
Henry
The HENRY programme aims to support families of children aged 0-12 years and engage the whole family in adopting healthier eating and lifestyle habits. HENRY addresses a range of areas that are relevant to families including, but not limited to, parenting, well-being, self-esteem and confidence, portion sizes, healthy food swaps, getting active as a family, food groups, and food labelling.
Best Start Foods Benefit
Pregnant women and families who have children aged up to three years old on low income might be entitled to Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods – mygov.scot benefits. There are also a range of other benefits families may be able to access Children and family – mygov.scot.
Finances
Please speak to your Midwife, Health Visitor or Family Nurse if you are worried about money.
Booklets
- Off to a good start: All you need to know about breastfeeding booklet. Also available in other languages.
- Formula feeding: How to feed your baby safely Also available in other languages.
- Top Tips For Breastfeeding Out and About