Good question, right? Here's the scoop. Iron is an essential nutrient that can help support your baby's brain development and learning skills. Babies are born with their own stores of iron and also get dietary iron from your breastmilk or baby formula. If you are breastfeeding, be sure to ask your pediatrician about iron supplements. Around the middle of their first year, your baby needs additional sources of iron in her diet, especially if she is breastfed. To help ensure your sweet pea is getting enough iron, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding your baby iron-fortified baby cereal or meat each day to meet their daily iron needs. Just two servings of Good Start^® baby cereal meets your baby's need for iron.

Breastmilk and formula are the main source of nutrition but, as your baby gets older, hard, dry stools are difficult for babies to pass and let's face it, aren't fun for any of us. Just remember that even some healthy babies go several days without pooping. Constipation is not caused by iron in your baby's formula, but could be due to a number of factors, including the intro of new foods or other changes in your routines. If your baby does have constipation issues again and again, definitely reach out to your doctor.

Antioxidants are nutrients that work in the body to help support a healthy immune system. Most well-known antioxidants are Vitamins A (from beta-carotene), C and E.

Even though they are just babies, we need to listen to this helpful advice from dentists:

• Take the bottle away from your baby before (yes, before… it's hard) she falls asleep.
• Try your best to wean your baby from a bottle by her 1st birthday.
• Be sure not to put juice or any sweetened drinks into their bottle.
• Clean your baby's gum and any cute pearly whites with a clean, soft washcloth or fluoride-free tooth and gum cleanser after each feeding.

You've come to the right place for info! If you're breastfeeding, freshly expressed or pumped milk can stay in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Bottles doesn't really need to be warmed – it can be given room temperature or even cold, its your choice Some babies may want it a bit warmer – so how do you warm it you ask? You can run it under warm (not hot) water or place it in a container of lukewarm/warm water. You can also use a bottle warmer but be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Just remember to always check the temp before giving that liquid gold to your baby. If your baby didn't want to finish the whole bottle, it's best to get rid of it within 2 hours after she finished feeding.

When feeding formula, it's best to prepare and feed a bottle right away. We know that's not always possible and you need to prepare ahead of time, but be sure to put those unused bottles in the fridge for up to 24 hours. After your baby starts drinking that formula, you need to get rid of any remaining left in the bottle within an hour. Once babies start drinking from the bottle, microorganisms from her mouth are introduced into the formula and you def don't want any of that growing!

With formula prep, be sure to follow the directions on the package. How to heat? Rule #1- no matter breastmilk or formula, never heat in the microwave. It can create hot spots, which can burn your little one's mouth and destroy delicate nutrients. When heating breast milk or formula , hold under warm water or place it in a container with lukewarm/warm water. Just remember to always test it before feeding your baby.

Feeding your baby before bed, then putting her to bed is fine of course. But letting her take her bottle to bed – not a good idea. Falling asleep with a bottle isn't a sleep habit you want to continue. She needs to be able to fall asleep without it because bottles filled with breastmilk, formula (or really any drink) can promote tooth decay.

Of course, we are here to help! It's a good idea to try to wait on introducing a bottle to your baby until you feel breastfeeding is going well (usually when she is around 4 weeks old). It's definitely best to wait for any bottle-feeding if there are any feeding problems, especially with that latch. Once you've got breast feeding down, a good start is feeding her breastmilk in a bottle once a day or every other day. You may encounter some resistance from your little one because she is used to just breastfeeding from you. Don't worry, though! If this is the case, call Dad in or another person who is able and willing to lend a hand. Since your baby knows your smell and very well knows when we are close by, you'll need to leave the room (or the house for a quick breath of fresh air) so someone else can try bottle-feeding. Just remember, everyone needs to be patient and calm and she'll get the hang of it in no time. It's best when she's not starving and a bit sleepy so she will be more willing to take it.

All routine formulas provide complete nutrition and can be used for supplementing breastmilk. Good Start^® Gentle powder formula is an ideal choice for when breastfeeding moms supplement because it is made with probiotics, good bacteria also found in breastmilk that support digestive health as well as 2'-FL HMO. 2'-FL HMO is a prebiotic oligosaccharide similar to one of the HMO components found in breastmilk. Good Start^® Gentle formulas are also made with 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed that is easy to digest. Formulas made with 100% whey protein partially hydrolyzed also promote softer stools –which may support a smooth transition to supplementing.

Yes totally! It's great that you've decided to keep breastfeeding when you return to work. Here are some helpful hints:

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed in March of 2010 is a federal law which requires employers to provide break times and a place (other than a bathroom) to express breast milk for the infant's first year of life. Some states have their own breastfeeding laws which meet or surpass the federal law while others don't have a law at all so an employee would refer to the federal law for protection. . Check out below and talk to your supervisor about a plan for you. For more information about your rights and this legislation, visit http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/workplace-law

Think about your baby when pumping. Look at her picture. Some women bring small items of their baby's clothes to touch and smell to encourage milk ejection reflex.

Drink liquids – be sure to have a glass of water or 100% juice nearby as you pump. Drink lots of water throughout the day and keep nutritious snacks such as trail mix handy at your desk.

Dress for pumping – think of clothes to wear that will make things easier. Front-buttoning blouses will be easiest. Prints and light colors will help camouflage milk stains (oops!). Wear nursing pads that are absorbent and ventilate well.

That's a great question! It is important to feel confident that your baby is being well nourished. Newborns should receive at least 8-12 full nursing sessions in a 24 hour period and having at least 3-5 wet diapers and 3-6 stools per 24 hours by 5-7 days old. They may even have a stool after each feeding. Your baby should be back to his birth weight by 10 days old. Some things to watch out for while feeding:

You will able to hear sucking and swallowing.
Your baby should seem comfortable and content during nursing sessions.
Your baby should be totally relaxed, sometimes almost asleep (or asleep) after a full nursing session.
You should see your pediatrician 2-3 days after discharge from the hospital to assess breastfeeding progress and your baby's health. Be sure to ask any questions you may have!

Every woman has a different milk capacity that has nothing to do with the size of her breasts. A woman with small breasts can have more milk glands for breastfeeding than a woman with large breasts. The size of the breast is more related to the amount of fatty tissue that a woman has in her breast – which has nothing to do with breastfeeding.

You sure can! The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine recommends freshly expressed breastmilk to be stored in the refrigerator (40° F or 4° C) for up to 4 days and in a standard freezer (0° F or -18° C) for up to 6 months. Breastmilk should never be stored in the door of the refrigerator or freezer due to higher temperature fluctuations. Labeling the stored milk with a date is super important. You will want to use the oldest milk first whenever possible.

Sometimes that can happen – here are some common causes:

• Infrequent or delayed feedings
• Over-production of milk
• Poor or inefficient milk removal
• Supplemental feedings
• Rapid or sudden weaning
• Breast edema

Try these basic remedies:

• Relieve the pressure in your breast as soon as possible by either breastfeeding, hand-expressing your milk, or using a breastpump. If your breasts are too full for her to latch on, express a little milk by hand or pump.
• Breastfeed or pump every 2 hours to help you build a good milk supply while relieving the engorgement. Remember, your newborn baby should be breastfed at least 8 to 12 times per 24 hours.
• Take a warm shower or place a warm, wet cloth on breasts.
• If your baby doesn't breastfeed long enough to soften them, use a breastpump until both breasts feel comfortable.
• Use cold packs between feedings.
• If your hands and/or ankles are swollen due to retaining extra fluids, your breasts might also be swollen from retained fluids. Try pushing the excess fluid away from the nipple and areola. Do this by placing your fingers and thumb right at the neck of your nipple and press into your chest for about a minute. The nipple should become more elastic to allow either breastfeeding or pumping to be more effective.

The benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby outweigh all other formula alternatives. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that breastmilk be the primary source of nourishment for the first year of life.

Yes! We are here to help you plan for success. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first year or longer. Make an appointment with our certified lactation consultant for guidance and an individualized plan on getting ready to head back to work while continuing to breastfeed.

Nucleotides play key roles in many biological processes and are found naturally in breastmilk. They're the basic building blocks of DNA and RNA, which are found in all the cells in our bodies—including our immune cells. Nucleotides are added to all Good Start^® milk-based formulas to help support baby's growth and development.

We believe that breastmilk is the very best start a baby can have in life. Like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Good Start^® supports exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by safe and appropriate complementary foods, and continued breastfeeding.

Nope – not unless directed by your little one's pediatrician. Your breastmilk actually provides your baby with complete nutrition and hydration so no need for formula or water for about the first 6 months of life.

DHA is an omega 3 fatty acid found in foods such as tuna and salmon. It's also in breastmilk but the amount depends on what you are eating. Not a big fish eater? Be sure to talk to your doc about continuing with a DHA supplement.

Did you know that your baby gets the DHA she needs from you during pregnancy and when you are breastfeeding? Since the typical American diet is usually low in DHA, your doctor probably recommended a DHA supplement during pregnancy and breastfeeding (if not, be sure to ask about this! Most breastfeeding moms should be taking one). Be sure to also eat those food sources with DHA while pregnant and nursing to get it. If you are formula feeding, no worries - baby formula will provide DHA to your baby. Once your little one is eating solids, look for baby cereals and baby foods with added DHA.

Breastmilk is best for babies because it offers the nutrition your baby needs. But if you decide not to breastfeed, infant formulas provide DHA as well as the essential fatty acids (linolenic acid and alpha-linolenic acid).

It's important to have continuous conversations with your Doctor about your baby's diet, especially when those solid foods are more a part of their diet and breastmilk/formula naturally decrease. Look for baby cereal and baby foods with DHA to help your baby get DHA in their diet.

You've probably heard about it before but may not know exactly what it is. DHA is what we call a fatty acid (or lipid) that can be found in breastmilk and other foods such as fish. It's an important part of brain and eye development. During your last trimester of pregnancy, you are actually passing it on to your baby and even after she is born, if you are breastfeeding. You just need to make sure that you are eating foods rich in DHA (like fish) or continue taking your DHA supplement. If you are not breastfeeding, be sure to give her baby formula that has added DHA.

DHA helps support your growing baby's brain and eye development and it is an important part of your little one's healthy brain and eye tissues. More specifically, it's a major structural fat in the brain and retina of the eye as well as a key component of the heart.

Older-baby formulas are designed to provide additional nutritional support during the transition to solid foods. When your baby's too picky or too busy to eat, he may come up short on important nutrients, especially Iron. The AAP recommends avoiding cow's milk until your baby is at least one year old, because cow's milk doesn't have the proper balance of nutrients he needs.

Sterilization (boiling) of tap or bottled water and utensils is recommended. Your doctor will be sure to let you know if it's not required. If boiling water, bring to a rolling boil for 1 minute and cool to room temperature before preparing formula.

Your doctor might recommend a soy-based formula if:

Your baby has a hereditary or temporary lactase deficiency, which makes processing milk sugars difficult.

You want a vegetarian-based diet for your full-term baby.

In such situations, Good Start^® Soy is an excellent choice. It provides milk-free, lactose-free complete nutrition for baby's first year and is easy to digest —a combination that helps make feeding time a gentle, joyful experience for both you and your baby.

Experts recommend continuing to breastfeed for as long as possible. But some moms may choose to supplement with formula. Rest assured that this can also be a nourishing, nurturing choice for your baby.

If you decide to supplement, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises choosing an iron-fortified baby formula. Because your baby is tripling her birth weight and doubling her brain size in the first year of life, adequate iron intake is important for healthy growth and brain development.

To start supplementing with formula, check out our tips below:

• First talk with your baby's doctor about formula choices.
• Have your baby breastfeed for a shorter time at each breast.
• Offer your still-hungry baby a formula bottle. (Some parents find that baby may smell breastmilk on you, and she may be more receptive if Dad or someone else offers that first taste of formula.)

If your baby fusses and refuses the bottle, calm her down by returning her to the breast. Try again at the next feeding.

Good Start^® milk-based formulas are an excellent choice for supplementing. They are the only infant formulas with gentle Comfort Proteins^®, specially made using a unique two-step process that breaks down gentle whey proteins into smaller pieces. Formulas made with Comfort Proteins^® are easy to digest.

Nucleotides play key roles in many biological processes and are found naturally in breastmilk. They're the basic building blocks of DNA and RNA, which are found in all the cells in our bodies. Nucleotides are added to all Good Start^® milk-based formulas to help support baby's growth and development.

Good question! All healthy babies' digestive tracts contain different types of bacteria. Scientists have learned that the digestive tracts of breastfed babies appear to have more of one type of bacteria, called bifidobacteria. Good Start^® Gentle infant formula powders have B. lactis a type of bifidobacteriasimilar to the ones found in breastmilk. B. Lactis has been shown to help support the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and to help support the developing immune system. Breastmilk is the ideal source of nutrition and protection for your baby. Talk with your baby's doctor about all your feeding choices.

100% whey protein means that the only protein used is whey. Whey protein is a protein found in milk. Milk has two primary proteins: whey and casein.

Sure! Probiotics are good bacteria which, when consumed in adequate amounts, provide health benefits. These benefits vary, depending on the type and strain of probiotic. Some benefits include supporting the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract and supporting the developing immune system. Some probiotics are naturally found in breastmilk. For formula fed babies, there are infant formulas available which have probiotic ingredients added. Probiotics added to infant formulas are reviewed for safety and can be given to healthy babies starting from birth.

Hydrolyzed proteins are proteins that have been broken down into smaller pieces (peptides) similar to the way a baby's digestive system would break down the proteins. "Partially hydrolyzed proteins" are used in Good Start^® milk based infant formulas.

We have a variety of formulas for infants. Talk to your baby's doctor about which formula may be right for your baby.

Each product is stamped with a "best by" date in the format dd mm yy. For example, a best-by date of August 25, 2017 would be indicated as "25 AUG 17".

Codes indicate use by dates, product, place and time when the food was manufactured. An example of a code is: 12Feb17 450F 0821.

The 12Feb17 code indicates that the food is best used by February 12 of the year 2017. 450 identifies the product (Vanilla Custard Pudding).

F indicates the plant where the food was made. 0821 is the military time when the food was manufactured.