HealthInfo Canterbury
Infant formulas
Infant formula is made for babies up to 12 months old who are not being breastfed. If possible, try to maintain some breastfeeding as well as using formula.
The Ministry of Health recommends that you just feed your baby breast milk until they're around six months old. Continue to breastfeed while you introduce appropriate foods until your baby is at least 12 months old.
If you can't breastfeed (or use expressed breast milk), then use an infant formula. When prepared cleanly and correctly, infant formula is a safe food that gives your baby all the nourishment they need.
You'll need to plan and organise well to formula feed your baby, to make sure you have what you need when you need it.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- KidsHealth – Formula feeding
Detailed information about choosing and preparing formula.
- Plunket – Formula feeding
Detailed information about formula feeding.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed October 2021.
SourcesReview key: HIUCB-33560
