Being pregnant is a time filled with so many feelings – excitement, maybe a little worry, and a whole lot of love for the little one growing inside you. You want the very best for your baby, and that’s completely natural. Sometimes, though, things like alcohol, smoking, or drugs can get in the way of that.
Life isn’t always easy. Maybe you’re dealing with stress, or you’ve been using these things for a long time. It’s okay. You’re not alone, and support is available.
Your baby is so small and delicate. When you drink alcohol, smoke, or use drugs, they go right to your baby. This can make it hard for them to grow strong and healthy. It can even lead to problems that last a lifetime. And that’s the last thing any mom wants.
Drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy is not safe. It can cause birth defects, learning problems, and other health issues.
Smoking, including vaping or e-cigarettes, can cause your baby to be born too early or too small. It can also cause breathing problems and other health issues.
Street drugs and misusing prescription drugs are very dangerous for your baby. They can cause birth defects, learning disabilities, and even miscarriage (when a baby dies before birth) or stillbirth (when a baby dies in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy). Even some over-the-counter medicines can be harmful, so always check with your doctor.
Imagine holding your healthy baby in your arms, knowing you gave them the best possible start. That’s a powerful feeling.
Sometimes, the strongest thing you can do is ask for help. It doesn’t mean you’re weak; it means you care.
You don’t have to change everything at once. Even cutting back a little bit makes a difference.
Choosing to protect them from harmful substances is one of the most loving things you can do. You’re giving them the gift of a healthy start, and that’s something to be proud of. You’ve got this.
National Cancer Institute. SmokefreeTXT. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from
https://smokefree.gov/tools-tips/text-programs/quit-for-good/smokefreetxt
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2015). Give your baby a healthy start. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from
https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/Give_Your_Baby_a_Healthy_Start_English.pdf
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Find Treatment. Retrieved March 21, 2025 from
https://findtreatment.gov/
Author: Amanda Hojnacki
Continue to nurse on-demand, about 4-6 times in 24 hours.
Babies may experience a growth spurt around 6 months of age and may feed more often.
Offer breast milk in a cup.
24-32 oz. per day of infant formula.
Offer formula in a cup.
Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.
Continue to nurse on-demand, 3 or more times per day.
16-24 oz. per day. Offer in a cup.
Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.
Continue nursing on-demand, at least 4 times in 24 hours.
If your baby seems less interested in nursing after you introduce solids, try nursing before you offer solids.
Offer breast milk in a cup.
24-32 oz. per day.
Offer formula in a cup.
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Plain iron-fortified infant cereals.
Plain rice or pasta.
Baby crackers, small pieces of bread, or soft tortillas.
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Plain cooked vegetables, mashed with a fork.
8-12 Tbsp. per day.
Peeled soft fruit in bite-size pieces.
Unsweetened canned fruit.
4-8 Tbsp. per day.
Finely ground, chopped, or diced meats, poultry, eggs, fish, or cooked mashed beans.
Cottage cheese or mild cheese.
Thinned, smooth peanut or nut butter.
Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.
As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.
To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.
Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.
Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:
To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.
Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.
Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker. Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.
Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.
All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.
Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.
Nurse your baby on-demand, at least 7-9 times in 24 hours.
When your baby starts teething, they may want to nurse more often.
25-45 oz in 24 hours.
Your baby needs about 4-6 oz of iron-fortified formula every 3-4 hours.
Your baby may start to feed on a schedule. Instead of focusing on fixed amounts, let your baby tell you when they have had enough.
Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.
Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.
Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.
They often happen at these ages:
2 to 3 Weeks
6 Weeks
3 Months
6 Months
Breastfeed 8-12 times in 24 hours to help your newborn stay healthy.
Nurse on-demand and when your newborn shows signs of hunger, such as sucking on hands or smacking lips.
In the first few days, newborns need 2-3 oz. of iron-fortified infant formula every 3-4 hours.
By the end of the first month, your newborn needs about 4 oz. every 4 hours.
Feed on-demand and when your newborn shows signs of hunger.