So you’re going to be a grandparent - congratulations! 

Naturally, you want the very best for your new grandchild. You would like to pass on advice and the benefit of your wisdom to the new mum. Mum is going to breastfeed and perhaps you don’t know an awful lot about it - when your children were small many mums bottle-fed. 

Lots of babies are bottle fed and turn out ok, so what is so good about breastfeeding? 

It’s true that artificial milk (formula) is adequate – but it has lots of disadvantages compared with mum’s breast milk. 

• Babies fed formula milk are at greater risk of developing eczema, asthma and other allergies, and are more likely to suffer with ear infections and diarrhoea. 
• Formula feeding increases Baby's risk of more serious illnesses like diabetes and some cancers. 
• Formula-fed babies are more likely to be obese as they get older. 
• Formula-fed babies may have an increased risk of cot death. 
• Formula milk is harder to digest and gives Baby foul smelling bowel movements. Baby is more likely to suffer constipation. 
• Bottle-feeding is expensive – milk, bottles and teats, steriliser, bottle bag – they all add up. 
• Breastfeeding requires no special equipment and costs nothing. 

Advantages of breast milk for baby:

Breast milk has exactly the right amount of each nutrient baby needs. (Research finds new nutrients in breast milk all the time, and then these have to be added to the artificial milks on the market). Breast milk is produced on a demand and supply system. There is always milk ready when baby is hungry or thirsty. Breast milk, and especially the first milk, colostrum, has lots of infection-fighting agents to help baby’s immune system. 

Advantages of breastfeeding for mum:

• Breastfeeding is free and it is convenient – no need to pack bottles or find somewhere to warm them when mum goes out. Breastfeeding can quickly calm a fussy baby. 
• Breastfeeding helps mum and baby bond and is enjoyable. There is the sense of satisfaction in Mum feeding Baby from her own body. 
• Breastfeeding makes the womb return to its normal size quickly. Mum gets her figure back faster and can lose the weight she put on in pregnancy without dieting. 
• Breastfeeding reduces mum's risk of getting menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. Breastfeeding delays the return of mum's periods. 
• Breastfeeding is the perfect way for mum to relax. Sitting or lying down to breastfeed ensures she gets enough rest.

Why are babies demand fed instead of being fed four hourly? 

Breast milk is easily digested so baby will need to feed quite often – usually at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Before babies are born, they will have been fed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the past nine months, straight to the blood stream. Before birth they never had a full or empty stomach so don’t know what it feels like. So it’s not unusual for babies to want to feed frequently for a little while, to learn that they need to ask for food. Most babies will have a ‘cluster feeding’ session. This may last four hours, commonly in the evening, and is sometimes mistaken for colic. This is designed to give the baby higher fat but lower volume food for a slightly longer sleep at night. It is normal. 

Baby needs to feed when he shows hunger signs i.e. waking up and looking around (sucking his lips, waving his fists, sucking his hands and eventually crying, are late feeding cues!) The feeding action of a comfortable well-attached baby on the breast causes mum’s body to make more milk. The more the baby feeds, the more milk will be on tap!

How long should baby’s feeds last? 

Feeds don’t need to be timed. Baby should be left at the breast until he comes off himself. Then he can be winded and offered the other breast (some babies want to feed on both sides at each feed, others don’t). Long feeds will not hurt mum’s nipples if baby is latched on properly. Baby suckles on the breast itself and breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt. 

Shouldn’t baby be starting solids soon? 

Breast milk is all the food baby needs in his first six months. Baby will be getting ready for first tastes of solid foods once he is sitting unsupported, taking food from your plate and feeding himself – this usually happens around six months or later. Giving any solids or drinks (including formula milk) before six months is linked with later health problems. Introducing solid food early will result in breast milk being replaced by less nutritious first foods and baby gets fewer of mum's antibodies. See the ABM leaflet Weaning your Breastfed Baby onto Solid Foods for further information on ways to go about weaning to solids. 

Can I give baby a bottle so mum can rest? 

Baby should not be given a bottle or a dummy in the first few weeks while breastfeeding is being established. Sucking on a plastic teat is a very different action to breastfeeding. Baby could get nipple confusion and have problems breastfeeding. There are some suggestions for other ways of helping mum below. 

How can I help with my new grandchild? 

There are lots of ways you can help with the baby: cuddling, winding, bathing, and taking Baby out for a short walk. Any offers of help with housework, making a cup of tea or a meal will probably be gratefully accepted. 

Encourage Mum to be comfortable feeding her baby in your company. Don’t make her sit in a bedroom or other private place for feeding - it will make her feel left out of things. Mum will be able to breastfeed without “exposing herself”. 

One of the best ways to help is to support mum in her decision to breastfeed. Nearly all women are physically capable of breastfeeding but breastfeeding can sometimes be a struggle without accurate information and without support from close family. If mum has a problem, help her to solve it (if necessary with help from a breastfeeding counsellor, midwife or health visitor). 

Be careful not to undermine mum’s decision to breastfeed by suggesting that baby is given a bottle. If you can support mum and help her self-confidence, she will be able to give your grandchild the love and care he needs and give him the best possible start by breastfeeding. 

An excellent way of showing your support would be to give mum a gift subscription to the ABM which will include an introductory Breastfeeding Information pack and regular breastfeeding magazines. Send mum’s details and a cheque for £25 (payable to ABM) to our address below or you can join online via our website. If your credit/debit card requires you to join in your own name, just drop us an email and we can put the membership in mum’s name instead.

Download this page as a leaflet, along with others, on our leaflet download page