Breastfeeding is the normal way to provide infants with the nutrition they need. Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months, with continued breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond.
By learning about breastfeeding and getting support, most women can breastfeed successfully. However, there are some reasons why women can’t, or choose not to, breastfeed. Every woman needs to weigh the risks and benefits of this decision for herself and her baby.
Please feel free to use and distribute the infant feeding resources below.
Breastfeeding resources for healthcare professionals
Online learning modules for healthcare providers
- RNAO Breastfeeding E-Learning Course
- Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Breastfeeding Web Course - Best Start
- Baby-Friendly 101
- Breastfeeding E-Learning Modules Toronto Public Health
Breastfeeding fact sheets for patients
- Prenatal resources:
- Risks and Costs of Formula Feeding (informed decision-making) (PDF, 1 page, 218 KB)
- Early breastfeeding:
- Breastfeeding concerns:
- Sore, Cracked or Bleeding Nipples (PDF, 1 page, 221 KB)
- Blocked or Plugged Milk Duct (PDF, 1 page, 188 KB)
- Mastitis (PDF, 1 page, 102 KB)
- Overactive Letdown (PDF, 1 page, 138 KB)
- Other breastfeeding resources:
- How to Collect and Store Your Breastmilk (PDF, 2 pages, 157 KB)
- Birth Control While Breastfeeding (PDF, 3 pages, 288 KB)
Videos
- Hand Expression of Breastmilk (Video, 7:33 minutes)
Formula feeding resources for healthcare professionals
It’s important for families to have all the facts in order to make an informed decision regarding how to feed their baby. It’s also important to consider a feeding method that is:
- Acceptable to the patient
- Feasible
- Affordable (it costs about $1,600 a year to feed a baby formula, not including the cost of nipples and other supplies)
- Sustainable (it can be continued for one year)
- Safe
Formula feeding fact sheets for patients
- Baby’s First Days – Formula Feeding (PDF, 2 pages, 221 KB)
- Drinking Water and Nitrates
- How to Prepare Powdered Infant Formula: For Healthy-term Infants (PDF, 2 pages, 788 KB)
- How to Prepare Ready-to-feed Infant Formula (PDF, 2 pages, 992 KB)
- How to Prepare Liquid Concentrate Formula (PDF, 2 pages, 461 KB)
- Paced Bottle Feeding (PDF, 2 pages, 109 KB)
- Infant Formula - What You Need to Know (Booklet)
Baby-Friendly Initiative
Public Health supports and collaborates with our community partners including physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, and hospitals to support breastfeeding everywhere. See our Baby-Friendly Policy and Procedure.
Join a breastfeeding collaborative in your area
Are you interested in promoting breastfeeding and increasing breastfeeding rates in the community? There are breastfeeding collaboratives in Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph composed of healthcare professionals and interested community members. We welcome you to join the group in your area for quarterly meetings. Contact Wendy Lahey, public health nurse, at wendy.lahey@wdgpublichealth.ca for more information.