Help Center & FAQs

Here you'll find helpful advice and answers to parents' most common questions.

Formula Feeding

Can I alternate between breastfeeding and formula-feeding?

Many women supplement their breastfeeding with formula now and then, or while they're at work. It's best to wait until your milk supply is established and your baby is comfortable with breastfeeding. A good time to start is when your baby is around six weeks old.

Confused about which formula to use? Use our Formula Finder to determine which formula may work best for your baby.

How do I feed my baby a bottle?

Learning to feed a baby just takes a little time and practice. Start by making yourself calm and comfortable. Hold your baby on your lap with their head resting in the bend of your arm. Keep them in a semi-seated position, with their head slightly higher than their tummy. Tilt the bottle so that the nipple stays full. That way, your baby won't swallow air. Stroke the nipple against their lower lip or cheek. That should make them open their mouth. And remember to give your baby a chance to burp during and right after their feeding.

How do I know when my baby is full?

When formula feeding or breastfeeding, your baby may close their mouth, stop sucking or turn their head away when they're trying to tell you they're full.

When feeding your baby solid foods, your baby may also close their mouth and turn their head away when they've had enough to eat. Other indicators of fullness are a slowed eating pace and emphatic gestures, like pushing their food away or shaking their head.

How much formula should I feed my baby?

In the first few weeks, your baby may drink anywhere from 2-3 fluid ounces of formula about every three hours. In general, your baby will take in what they need to meet their body's demands. So don't be too concerned about fixed amounts. Instead, feed them when they're hungry. They'll let you know when they're finished. If they drink a bottle and still act hungry, they probably are. Offer them an extra ounce. Most babies do fine with 3-4 fluid ounces per feeding during the first couple months. Increase by about 1 ounce a month until they are drinking up to about 6-8 fluid ounces at 6 months of age.

Related: Baby Feeding Timeline

How should I warm my baby's formula?

If you want to warm a bottle that has been in the refrigerator, run warm tap water over the bottle or place the bottle in a pan of hot (not boiling) water. Do not submerge the bottle nipple or collar in the water. Shake bottle occasionally while warming. Warming time should be less than 15 minutes. Test the formula temperature before feeding; it should not feel warm or cold when dropped on your wrist - neutral is close to body temperature.

Once a bottle has been warmed, keep it for no more than one hour. Then discard it.

Don't warm Enfamil^® formula in a microwave. A microwave can overheat the product or cause hot spots and result in serious burns to your baby. In addition, microwave use may cause your baby's bottles and/or plastic liners to explode or burst during heating or after they are removed from the microwave.

Related: How to Make Baby Formula

Is it ok to re-warm prepared formula?

No. Re-warming formula increases the possibility of bacteria growth in the formula as it cools off after heating. Bacteria can be present in powder, in bottles, on your hands, or even introduced in other ways during formula preparation. Follow the safest procedures when feeding your baby.

How do I ensure that my child is getting enough milk?

Some babies do better with breastfeeding than others. An excited or hungry infant might be so eager that they don't latch on well. Or your baby might be satisfied by getting just a taste of milk and then stop nursing.

If your baby is a "sipper", try to keep him interested by singing or rubbing their back. Massaging your breast may help with milk flow. For additional breastfeeding questions, talk to your doctor or lactation consultant.

How do I know if I should use powder or liquid formula for my baby?

Many of our products are available in different forms to fit individual needs and preferences and most infants and toddlers can use the product forms interchangeably. When prepared according to label directions, all forms (powder or liquid) of the same product will provide the same nutrition to meet a child’s needs.

We offer our ready-to-use liquid formulas in convenient sizes. Our 2 fluid ounce Nursette^® bottles are wonderful for late night feedings, while several of our formulas come in re-sealable 8 fluid ounce Ready-to-Use plastic bottles which are terrific for when running errands or traveling.

How do I store my baby's formula and what are the steps for feeding time?

Once prepared, Enfamil^® powder formulas can be kept in the refrigerator (35-40° F or 2-4° C), covered, for up to 24 hours and Enfamil liquid formulas up to 48 hours. A prepared bottle can be kept at room temperature for up to a total of two hours. If you choose to warm the bottle, warming time should be less than 15 minutes and the bottle should be fed to your baby within one hour. Once your baby begins feeding from the bottle, discard any formula left in the bottle within one hour.

How often should I feed my baby?`

Don't set a strict baby feeding schedule, instead breastfeed your baby as often as they want at least 8-12 times every 24 hours during the first few weeks. You'll know how you're doing by how much weight they're gaining.

Milk Supply

To establish a good milk supply, you need to feed your baby frequently (8-12 times per day) in the first few weeks. Keeping up the frequency of feedings will keep telling your body to produce milk.

Tips: Ask yourself these questions to determine if your milk supply is sufficient:

Is my baby gaining weight?
Do they gulp and swallow when they feed?
Do they wet their diaper 6+ times and have at least one bowel movement per day?

Some Issues That May Affect Your Baby

Food Sensitivities

The things you eat and drink affect your breast milk and ultimately your baby. Some babies have food sensitivities or allergies that bring on colic-like symptoms like crying, fussing, frequent nursing, and stomach discomfort.

Tip: Lay off the spicy foods or gassy foods like cabbage, garlic, onions, broccoli, and caffeine. If removing the food item doesn't stop the symptoms, talk to your baby's doctor about the possibility of colic.

Nipple Confusion

Bottles and pacifiers feel different to your baby than a breast does. Introducing these things can confuse them and make them not want to nurse.

Tip: Be sure that breastfeeding is well established before offering a pacifier, or bottle-feeding them.

Sucking Difficulties

Tips: If your baby is a “sipper,” try to keep them interested by singing or rubbing their back. Massaging your breast may help with milk flow. For additional breastfeeding questions, talk to your doctor or lactation consultant.

Related: Baby Feeding Timeline

I've noticed that prepared Enfamil® powder formula is lighter in color than the ready to use and concentrated liquids. Why?

Liquid products appear darker and thicker than those prepared from powder. These differences may be due to the heat sterilization that the liquids undergo during manufacturing and also the emulsifier ingredients in our liquid products.

Is it okay to give my baby a pacifier?

Bottles and pacifiers feel different to your baby than a breast does. Introducing these things can confuse them and make them not want to nurse.

Be sure that breastfeeding is well established before offering a pacifier, or bottle-feeding them.

Should I change my diet if my baby is having feeding issues?

The things you eat and drink affect your breast milk and ultimately your baby. Some babies have food sensitivies or allergies that bring on indications of colic - like crying, fussing, frequent nursing, and stomach discomfort.

Lay off the spicy foods or gassy foods like cabbage, garlic, onions, broccoli, and caffeine. If removing the food item doesn't stop the issues, talk to your baby's doctor about the possibility of colic.

Should I use Enfagrow® PREMIUM™ Toddler Transitions® as a milk substitute, or in addition to milk?

As older infants move away from infant formula or breast milk as a sole source of nutrition, this product provides complete nutrition as they transition into toddlerhood.

Enfagrow NeuroPro™ Toddler Nutritional Drink - Natural Milk has 24 nutrients for healthy growth, such as calcium and vitamin D. It also has DHA to help support healthy brain development and dual prebiotics designed to help support digestive health.

What are the benefits of formula-feeding my baby?

Formula not only meets your baby's basic nutrition requirements, it also provides the nutrients your baby needs for their growth and development. Formula-feeding also allows other family members or friends to feed and bond with your baby, and for you to have a little break. And some parents just feel more comfortable with formula-feeding.

When should I start giving my child Enfagrow® products, like Enfagrow® Toddler Transitions™ or Enfagrow® Toddler Next Step®?

Each of our products is designed for children in a specific age range.

Enfagrow® Toddler Transitions® Soy and Enfagrow® Toddler Transitions® Gentlease® are formulated to be introduced at 9 months. Enfagrow® Toddler Next Step® is designed for toddlers 1-3 years of age. This milk drink is a nutritious complement to an older toddler's diet, which now includes more solid foods and varied choices. It has 19 nutrients for growth, such as calcium, vitamin D and zine, to help fill the gaps in your toddler's diet. Like Enfagrow® Toddler Transitions™, Toddler Next Step also has DHA and Natural Defense® Dual Prebiotics® Blend.

Why are storage instructions different for your liquid and powder formulas?

Liquid formulas are commercially sterile and, once opened, can be refrigerated at 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 48 hours. Powdered formulas, however, cannot withstand the high temperatures necessary to make them commercially sterile. In order to maintain high quality, infant formula prepared from powder should be refrigerated and used within 24 hours.

Why can’t I find Enfamil PREMIUM® in stores anymore?

We began phasing out our Enfamil PREMIUM® Infant in the winter of 2017 due to the launch of Enfamil® NeuroPro™. Enfamil PREMIUM Infant will be available until stock has been depleted.

Enfamil PREMIUM® Gentlease® powder was phased out in February 2018. When we launch Enfamil® NeuroPro™ Gentlease® Ready to Use Liquid in the late summer or fall of 2018, we will no longer have a Ready to Use option for Enfamil® Gentlease® Infant Formula or Enfamil PREMIUM® Gentlease® Infant Formula. Gentlease and Enfamil PREMIUM Gentlease Ready to Use Liquids will be available until stock has been depleted.

Will switching from Enfamil PREMIUM® to Enfamil NeuroPro™ cause any issues for my infant?

We would expect your little one to tolerate the Enfamil PREMIUM® and NeuroPro™ versions of the same product equally well.

At Enfamil, we are dedicated to giving the millions of babies and toddlers that rely on our formulas the best start in life.

We are currently experiencing increased demand for many of our brands. We recognize that the inability to find your favorite brands, in the format you are accustomed to, can be worrisome. We want to reassure parents that we have ample supply across the Enfamil family of brands to meet the needs of babies who rely on our formulas. We have increased production and continue to work with all of our distribution channels to ensure availability of product where you want it. Should you need assistance in finding the formula you need, please reach out to our Customer Service team 1-800 BABY-123 (222-9123).