Babies : Feeding Your Baby

Your newborn will initially need milk every 2-3 hours. You will have the option of breastfeeding or bottle feeding your baby and then as they get bigger they will move on to solid foods. See below 5 saving money tips on feeding your baby:

• Breastfeeding Tips:
  • Breastfeeding is the cheapest way to feed your baby. As per the Australian Breastfeeding Association (http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au), breastfeeding also offer many other benefits;
    • Breast milk contains everything needed for the baby’s first half-year of life
    • Breast milk satisfies both hunger and thirst; extra water is not needed
    • Breast milk increases a baby's resistance to infection and disease
    • Breast milk lessens the risk of allergy and food intolerance
    • Breastfeeding is convenient – it is always there when you need it and no heating is required
    • Breast milk is fresh, clean and safe
    • Breastfeeding helps create a close and loving bond with your baby
  • Expressing milk
    • Enquire at your local hospital as some have a hire arrangement where you can hire express pumps for a period of time. This may be worth trying before you buy a pump yourself.
  • Soothing sore breasts or nipples
    • Some cheaper alternatives include:
      • Putting frozen chux on your breasts to cool engorged breasts, sore nipples and / or treating mastitis. Wet a chux so it is damp and lay it flat in the freezer. When you need it, you can pull out the cloth and place it in the bra to relieve the breast.
• Bottle Feeding
  • Purchase larger bottles to begin with. If you purchase smaller bottles to start with, it means that you will need to purchase larger bottles in 2-3 months when the baby is consuming more milk. Look for bottles with 250ml plus capacity. In addition purchase 6 bottles to cover a days worth of feeding.
• Formula
  • Supermarkets aren’t necessarily the cheapest source of formula powder. Scout around and find a shop that gives you the best deal on your formula. You may find that a chemist is cheaper.

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