Before birth:

• Breast milk is the ideal food for your baby. It contains the optimal nutrients for every stage of your baby’s development. It also contains antibodies that can protect the child from illness. However, some mothers prefer to use bottle-feeding or cannot breastfeed. Breastfeeding is generally recommended, but it is of course up to you whether you want to breastfeed your baby or give him or her breast milk substitutes (bottle feeds). If you have any questions about breastfeeding and formula feeding or need help making a choice, it is best to speak to your midwife.
• If you do not have any previous experience in breastfeeding, you can ask your midwife for more information on this topic before birth. You can take part in breastfeeding preparation courses where parents-to-be can learn everything about breastfeeding. This can increase the chances of breastfeeding going well later on. If you give birth to your baby in a hospital, you will also receive professional breastfeeding advice from the midwives there routinely.
• If you decide to bottlefeed, the midwife can give you helpful tips on how to prepare a bottle correctly and check the right temperature.

0-4 months: Breastfeeding/bottle feeding

• In the first 4 months, your baby should only receive liquid food – ideally breast milk since it contains the best nutrients.
• You may not have lactation immediately. It can sometimes take a few days after birth for the milk to come in. This is not a cause for concern, but please talk to your midwife to be safe. To stimulate milk production, it is best to start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. The longer you wait, the more difficult it can be to start breastfeeding. Close skin contact with your baby also stimulates milk production. Your midwife or professionals at the hospital will be happy to support you with further helpful tips.
• In the first few days after birth, it is important to breastfeed your baby as often as possible – the approximate guideline is 8-12 times a day. The more frequently you put your baby to your breast, the more milk production will be stimulated and the more routine breastfeeding will become for you and your baby.
• Breastfeeding works well when you are not feeling any pain and your baby can suckle as easily as possible. The right position for breastfeeding is therefore very important for both of you – it is best to hold your baby slightly bent in your arms or lay him or her on its side next to you. A positive and relaxed atmosphere is also important for breastfeeding. Some mothers also find it easier to breastfeed when they are alone with their child. Try to find a place where you can sit or lie down comfortably and quietly. There are also special breastfeeding pillows and chairs available to help you find a comfortable breastfeeding position. Don’t hesitate to ask your midwife if she can guide you in the first few days after birth.
• Please remember that for the first 4 months, breast milk alone is normally enough to feed your baby. Although the amount of breast milk may decline during a feed and throughout the day, it is usually sufficient for your baby – it is specifically adapted to your baby’s needs. The hind milk (the milk that comes at the end of the breastfeeding process) contains a lot of energy and protein and can therefore compensate for a reduced amount of milk.
• Encourage your baby to finish feeding on one breast first and only switch to the other side when there is no more milk in the first breast. This will encourage your baby to drink the high-energy hind milk.
• In the first 2 months, it is recommended that you feed your baby according to his or her cravings. Signs of hunger may include your baby opening its mouth and moving its hands to its mouth. Crying can also be a sign of hunger, but your baby will usually give you other hunger signals before crying. If your child is bottle-fed, you can also feed your baby according to its needs. However, please note that your baby does not have to finish the whole bottle.
• If your baby was born prematurely or had a very low birth weight, you should talk about feeding with your pediatrician, midwife or lactation consultant.

4-8 months: Introduction of solid food

• Please note that the time at which an interest in solid food develops is different for every baby. However, you should not start offering solid food before the age of around 4 months and no later than 6 months.
• When introducing solid foods, start with puréed meals and only gradually switch to chunky foods.
  
  → Offer your baby small portions first. Even if your child does not want to try the new food at first, it may help your baby to just look at the unfamiliar food to get used to it slowly.
  
  → The new food may irritate the baby at first; the baby may grimace, turn away, or spit out the food. This is completely normal. Give your baby small breaks and show that you understand  and do not want to overwhelm him or her. If the baby cries or screams, you should not continue feeding under any circumstances. In this case, you can stop the feeding time and try again later. If the child continues to show resistance or discomfort, the baby should be given a little more time with the introduction of the purée.
  
  → You can offer your baby new flavors when you notice that he or she is getting along well with the purée.
• Remember that the environment during mealtime can have a decisive influence on your baby’s eating behavior. Try to create a positive and relaxed atmosphere and a pleasant routine. It is best if you stick to regular mealtimes and can arrange to get the family to sit down together at least once a day to eat. Your child should have their own fixed seat.
  
  → Make sure your child is in a comfortable feeding position. This can be on your lap or on your arm. As soon as your child is able to sit, you can place them in their high chair. Initially, it may be useful to provide back support with a cushion.
  
  → Don’t forget that you are a role model! Children learn by imitating other family members. A relaxed, shared meal is a good role model situation for your baby.
  
  → Stay in contact with your baby during feeding. Pay close attention to their signals when they are full and do not want to continue feeding (e.g. turning away, shaking their head, showing disinterest).
  
  → The room should be well-lit during feeding.
  
  → Reduce background noise in the room, for example by turning off the TV/radio etc.
  
  → Make sure that there are no distractions (no toys etc.) during the meal.
• Be happy with your child when he or she tries something new and encourage him or her to do so.
• Distraction and defensiveness can be signs that your child is overwhelmed by the situation. You should then interrupt the feeding situation at an early stage to avoid stress for you and your child. Try to feed your child again at a later time. If your child regularly refuses food, please seek professional advice.

From 8 months: Solid food

• From this age, your child should be able to sit in a high chair without support.
• Between around 7 and 11 months, you should allow your child to eat with their fingers. Place the food close to your child so that they can explore the food with their fingers. You can also arrange the food in a child-friendly, creative way, for example by making/cutting out fun shapes. You can also give your baby a plastic spoon as soon as he or she can hold it – remember that it can take children different lengths of time before they can eat with a spoon.
• There should be some time between meals. Make sure that your child does not eat too many snacks in between so that he or she is not full before the actual meal starts.
• At night, your child usually needs a little less food.
• Set clear eating rules and set limits if your child shows inappropriate eating behavior. For example, you can put the food away after 10-15 minutes if your child is just playing with it or stop the meal if your child is throwing food around. Your child may eat slowly in general – so make sure you don’t clear the food away too early. If possible, the meal should be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
• Make sure that other caregivers never feed your child under pressure or duress! Everyone who feeds your child should adhere to the basic rules you have set for eating.
• If you are worried or feel stressed, your child will sense this too. Please take good care of yourself. By doing this, you will be able to help your child to approach the topic of eating in a relaxed and confident manner.