Free 2026 Baby Feeding Guide: Breastfeeding, Pumping & More

What is inside the Baby Feeding Guide?

The guide follows three main paths: feeding at the breast, expressing breast milk and formula feeding. It also makes room for families who use a combination of methods or need additional feeding support.

Inside, you will find:

• Breastfeeding basics: getting started, latching, feeding positions and recognising when to ask for help.
• Lactation and milk supply: colostrum, your milk coming in, cluster feeding and common supply questions.
• Pumping breast milk: choosing a pump, understanding settings, checking flange size and planning a routine.
• Everyday feeding preparation: product checklists, cleaning pump parts and organising expressed milk.
• Breastfeeding challenges: engorgement, sore nipples, blocked ducts and mastitis.
• Bottle feeding and formula: choosing supplies, understanding formula options and combination feeding.

You do not need to read it all in one sitting. Start with the question on your mind today.

Meet the feeding experts behind the guide

We created the guide with professionals who support families through different feeding experiences:

• Kristen Allen, RDN, LDN, CLC, CBS: a paediatric dietitian and certified lactation counsellor, and founder of The Lactation Mentor.
• Cassandra “Cassie” Colwell, RDN, IBCLC: a paediatric dietitian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, who contributes the pumping section.
• Erin Moore, MSN, CPNP, CLC: a paediatric nurse practitioner and certified lactation counsellor, and founder of Baby Feeding Coach, who contributes the formula-feeding section.

Their contributions sit alongside a personal introduction from MammaBump founder Charlotte Bann, who shares her own experience of learning to feed her baby and finding a routine that worked for her family.

Breastfeeding basics: latch, positions and feeding cues

Breastfeeding is something you and your baby learn together. Feeling unsure at first does not mean you are doing it wrong.

The guide walks through getting comfortable, bringing your baby close, positioning their nose near your nipple and allowing space for a wide mouth before attaching. It also introduces breastfeeding positions including cross-cradle, laid-back, football hold and side-lying.

There is no single position that suits every feed. Your comfort, recovery and your baby's ability to attach all matter.

Persistent pain, pinching or nipple damage deserves support. A lactation consultant can observe a feed and help you work out what needs adjusting.

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

Look at the overall picture: how your baby feeds, wet and dirty nappies appropriate to their age, and their weight and growth over time. Your midwife, child health nurse or paediatric clinician can help you interpret these signs.

Cluster feeding means your baby wants several feeds close together. It can be part of normal newborn feeding and does not, by itself, show that your milk supply is low. If your baby is unusually sleepy, feeds poorly or has fewer wet nappies than expected, seek prompt advice.

Understanding lactation and breast milk supply

Lactation is the process of making breast milk. In the early days, your milk changes from colostrum to transitional milk and then mature milk. Colostrum is already milk; you do not need to wait for the larger volumes that people describe as milk “coming in”.

If you have been searching for how to increase milk supply, start by understanding what is happening during feeds. Effective milk removal helps support production, but latch, milk transfer, pump fit and individual health factors can all affect the picture.

One pumping session is not a complete measure of your milk supply. Equally, adding extra pumping after every feed is not automatically helpful: it can create more demand than you need.

The guide explains the foundations of supply and when personalised lactation support can help. You deserve a plan that considers your baby, your body and your day.

Choosing a breast pump that fits your routine

Some parents pump occasionally. Others express while returning to work, share bottle feeds with a partner or rely on exclusive pumping. Those situations can call for different setups.

Before choosing a breast pump, consider:

• How often you expect to pump and whether you want to express from both breasts at once.
• Where you will use it and whether you need to move around.
• Comfortable flange sizing and adjustable settings.
• Cleaning, replacement parts, charging and storage.

Would a wearable breast pump suit you?

A wearable breast pump sits inside your bra, giving you a hands-free option for expressing milk. It can be useful when you want more flexibility during your day.

The Luna® Wearable Breast Pump, featured in the guide, has a tubing-free design, adjustable pumping modes and suction levels. It is designed to fit inside a supportive bra.

Your response to a pump is individual. Comfort and effective milk removal matter more than choosing the strongest suction setting.

Why flange size matters

The flange is the part of the pump that sits against your breast. Its tunnel needs to fit your nipple comfortably. Painful rubbing, pinching or too much surrounding tissue being pulled in can be signs to reassess your fit.

Measure both nipples, follow your pump's sizing guide and check how the fit feels during use. Your two sides may need different sizes, and your needs can change over time.

For Luna users, explore the Luna® flange insert fit pack and its sizing guidance.

Pumping breast milk: building a manageable routine

A useful pumping schedule starts with why you are expressing. Replacing feeds while away from your baby is different from collecting milk for an occasional bottle.

The guide discusses matching your pumping routine to your feeding goals, understanding changes in output throughout the day and getting support if you are exclusively pumping.

Keep the practical basics close:

• Choose comfortable settings and check your flange fit.
• Follow your pump's instructions for assembly and cleaning.
• Clean milk-contact parts after use and let them dry fully before storage. Follow guidance on sanitising, especially for premature babies, babies under two months or those with weakened immune systems. See the CDC's breast pump cleaning advice.
• Seek help with ongoing pain or concerns about milk removal.

You do not need a freezer full of milk to prove that feeding is going well. Your routine should serve your family's needs.

Breast milk storage: making expressed milk easier to manage

Once you have expressed milk, a simple storage routine can make the next feed easier.

Use clean containers suitable for breast milk, label them with the date and leave room for expansion if freezing. Store milk towards the back of the fridge, where the temperature is more consistent.

How long can breast milk stay in the fridge?

For Australian readers, the Australian Breastfeeding Association lists up to 72 hours at 5°C or colder for freshly expressed breast milk. Thawed milk and milk your baby has already started drinking have different limits. Follow the full breast milk storage guidelines, and ask your care team about additional precautions for premature or unwell babies. Guidance may differ by country.

If you prefer reusable containers, MammaBump's silicone breast milk storage bags are designed for fridge and freezer storage. Follow their cleaning and use instructions each time.

For milk that leaks during a feed, the guide also features breast milk collectors. These collect leaking milk; they serve a different purpose from a breast pump.

Engorgement, blocked ducts and mastitis: when to get help

Breast fullness, tender areas and feeding discomfort can feel worrying. Engorgement and localised inflammation can affect feeding; mastitis is inflammation of breast tissue and sometimes involves infection.

Mastitis symptoms can include a painful, hot or swollen area of the breast, skin colour changes, fever, chills or feeling unwell.

Continue feeding according to your baby's needs, avoid extra pumping beyond what is needed, and get help with attachment or expressing difficulties. A covered cold pack can help relieve discomfort between feeds.

See a doctor if symptoms are worsening or not improving within 12–24 hours, or sooner if you feel very unwell. Read the Australian Breastfeeding Association's mastitis guidance.

Bottle feeding, formula and combination feeding

Your feeding journey may include breast milk, formula or both. It may also change as your baby grows and your circumstances change.

Combination feeding means offering both breast milk and formula. If maintaining breast milk supply is one of your goals, a lactation professional can help you plan how feeding and expressing fit together.

The guide's formula chapter explores formula types, bottle selection, preparation and questions to discuss with your baby's healthcare professional. Always follow the formula manufacturer's preparation instructions and current local health guidance.

You do not have to follow someone else's feeding journey. Getting the support your family needs matters.