Breastmilk is the natural food for babies and the only food babies need for the first six months. After six months, breastfeeding is recommended for two years and beyond along with nutritious solid foods.

Some women have challenges breastfeeding, particularly in the early days. We want you to be successful!

In-Home Support

Public Health Nurses are available for phone or in-home breastfeeding support for families living in Renfrew County. To speak with a Public Health Nurse please:

• call: the Family Health Intake Line at 613-735-9774 (direct line) or 1-800-267-1097 ext. 589 (toll-free); or
• email: familyhealth@rcdhu.com

Parent Child Wellness Clinics

RCDHU is now offering by appointment Parent Child Wellness Clinics. Spend one-on-one time with a Public Health Nurse and get support as well as answers to your questions about feeding, sleeping, crying and other parenting inquiries. Clinics are open to families with children age zero to transition to school.

Clinic locations:

• Pembroke (RCDHU Main Office) – Parent Child Wellness Clinic
• Renfrew (RCDHU Office) – Parent Child Wellness Clinic
• Arnprior (EarlyON® Centre) – Parent Child Wellness Clinic

For more information and/or to schedule an appointment:

• call: the Family Health Intake Line at 613-735-9774 (direct line) or 1-800-267-1097 ext. 589 (toll-free); or
• email: familyhealth@rcdhu.com.

Petawawa Centennial Family Health Centre Breastfeeding Clinic

In-person and phone appointments available with a Nurse Practitioner, Heidi Krebsz. Appointments are available to anyone in Renfrew County.

To book an appointment please call: 613-687-7641.

Health811

Connect with a registered nurse day or night for free, secure and confidential health advice.

• Call: 811 or TTY 1-866-797-0007 and ask to participate in the breastfeeding program; or
• visit: www.ontario.ca/Health811.

Breast Pump Rentals & Loans

Killaloe – Community Resource Centre

• Call: 613-757-3108 or 1-888-757-3108
• Loan

Pembroke – Mulvihill Drug Mart

• Call: 613-735-0161
• Rent or buy

For breast-pump rentals in the Ottawa area please see: http://www.ottawabreastfeeds.ca/.

Resources

• 10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed your Baby
• 10 bonnes raisons d’allaiter votre bébé
• Breastfeeding Matters
• L’allaitement, ça compte

For personal or medical reasons, some families make an informed decision to use formula.

If you have decided to formula feed your baby and need information on how to prepare it safely, see our Food Safety page.

Resources

• Safe Formula Prep video (BFI)
• (Français) Vidéo Préparer en toute sécurité des préparations pour votre bébé (IAM)
• Safely Preparing Formula for your Baby tip sheets (BFI)
• (Français) Fiches conseils – Préparer en toute sécurité des préparations pour votre bébé (IAM)

Your baby is ready to start solid foods at about six months of age. Your baby does not need teeth to start eating solid food.  You will know your child is ready when they:

• hold their head up steadily
• can sit up and lean forward
• open their mouth wide when you offer food
• swallow food instead of pushing it out
• can let you know when they are full (e.g., turns head away)
• can pick up food and try to put it in their mouth

To learn more about introducing solid foods:

• call: the Family Health Intake Line at 613-735-9774 (direct line) or 1-800-267-1097 ext. 589 (toll-free); or
• email: familyhealth@rcdhu.com.

Resources

• Feeding Your Baby: A guide to help you introduce solid foods (English and French)