Birth to 6 Months
Tips and recommendations to raise and feed a safe and healthy baby
Babies know when they need to eat. Weight gain and growth are the best indicators that your baby is getting enough to eat.
| Age | Frequency of Feedings | Amount Eaten (per feeding) |
|---|---|---|
| 0-4 Months | Every 2-3 hours | 2 to 3 oz |
| 4-6 Months | Every 3-4 hours | 4 to 6 oz |
WIC recommends waiting until your baby is 6 months old to introduce solid food. Your baby’s doctor will let you know if it is safe to do so earlier.
For latching remember the Snuggle Poem: Tummy to mummy, Nose to nips,Flex the hips, To open the lips.
The baby’s head is free to tilt back slightly, so that the baby gets enough space to open wide and take the breast.
In the beginning, if your baby needs help latching, support your breast with the “C hold” or “U hold”
The baby’s head is free to tilt back slightly, so that the baby gets enough space to open wide and take the breast.
| Location | Fresh | Thawed |
|---|---|---|
| Room Temperature | Up to 4 hours | 1 to 2 hours |
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 days | Up to 24 hours |
| Freezer | Up to 6 months | Do NOT refreeze |
| Deep Freezer | Up to 12 months | Do NOT refreeze |
Letting your baby spend time on his or her tummy builds head, neck, and upper body strength. It also puts them in position to learn to crawl.
Expect changes in growth rate as your infant grows. It is common for infants to lose weight after birth, but they should gain it back by two weeks of age.
It is common for infants to spit up part of their milk.
Contact a doctor if spit up is dark green or has blood in it.
Contact a doctor if spit up is dark green or has blood in it.
Infants may pass one or more bowel movements a day. Sometimes they do not poop for several days. Hard, dry stools are a sign of constipation, which usually happens when infants do not get enough milk.
Washing hands helps prevent the spread of germs.
Immunizations protect your baby from diseases. It also helps protect communities and schools.
In the first 6 months, your baby should receive these immunizations:
Pacifiers are one way for a baby to self-sooth. If you are breastfeeding, it’s best to wait about 3 to 4 weeks – or until breastfeeding is going well – before offering a pacifier to help avoid nipple confusion. If your baby is fully bottle-fed, you can introduce a pacifier from birth.
Pacifier use after one year of age can lead to:
Make sure your baby sleeps on their back in an empty crib. Bedding, pillows, or stuffed animals can suffocate the baby.
Do not use: alcohol, cigarettes, vapes, illegal drugs, unprescribed medications, etc.
Secondhand smoke will hurt your baby. Using drugs will impair your ability to care for your baby.
For help quitting call
1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669.