Frequently Asked Questions - Breastfeeding



Our Expert Health Visitors have answered the following questions on Breastfeeding to aid parents of infants & children 0-5 years. Look through the questions listed below, or use our confidential online Health Visitor support service if you would like to ask your own question.


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Q My son is being breastfed at the moment and is also given expressed milk in a bottle in the night. He seems to suffer from a lot of wind in the mornings. This gives him a lot of discomfort, which results in him crying quite loudly. I have been giving him gripe water to try and relieve the wind in his bottles in the evening, this sometimes helps but can result in him having this problem later in the day. Please can you advise if there might be any other causes and what to avoid. health visitors response

Q My daughter has started to wake up during the night for food and has stopped sleeping during the day except for a few 20 min naps. She used to sleep for anything up to 10 hours but lately she goes down later, get up earlier and is feeding a lot more often. My wife can not meet her demands for food and we do not want to give her formula milk. Can we start to introduce a spoonful of baby rice a day to help her using breast milk? health visitors response

Q My 8mth old wakes around 5 times a night, I am still breastfeeding him and he falls asleep whilst feeding in his room at night, he has a bedtime routine but needs me to get him back to sleep through the night. I understand I need to get him going down by himself but i'm worried this a big change for him. I have tried to get him have a teddy or blanket as a comforter but he isn't interested? health visitors response

Q How can I stop my baby biting my nipples? She has recently grown two front bottom teeth health visitors response

Q I am breastfeeding and want to wean my baby onto cow's milk because it is more natural than formula milk. Can I do this without harming my baby? health visitors response

Q I have just stopped breastfeeding after 7 months. Can you advise on contraception and periods? I am currently on Microval since my baby's birth. health visitors response

Q My milk supply has stopped after 3 months, what can I do to get it back. health visitors response

Q My baby wants more regular feeds, when I make him wait he goes into fits of rage, when he has these angry episodes, is it all right for me to allow this or should I do everything for the baby to be contented?
health visitors response

Q I have had conflicting advice and I am not sure about hind milk and get the impression it might be a myth.Is this correct advice? health visitors response

Q My baby eats very small amounts at meal times Do you think that the reason for this be because she breast feeds during the night as well as during the day?
health visitors response