From the early days of a milk only diet, to the messy stage of introducing solid foods, there are lots of new things to learn and do as you feed your new baby, helping him to grow and develop into a strong, independent toddler.

While you were still pregnant, you probably thought about how you would feed your new baby. If it is not your first baby, you may choose to stick with whatever worked for you the last time - either breastfeeding or bottle feeding. If it is your first time to become a Mum, you may have chatted to your friends or your own Mum, read some books or asked lots of questions at your ante-natal class.

Whatever your situation, it is worth remembering that breastfeeding on demand remains the ideal way to feed healthy full-term babies. Human milk provides optimum nutrition for growth and development. The first 4-6 months are a period of very rapid growth, particularly for the brain, and the composition of breast milk is ideally suited to meet those needs.

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