Help Center & FAQs

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

Infant Feeding & Nutrition

Are there any foods I should avoid feeding my one-year-old?

Although most toddlers can eat from the family menu, there are still a few things to watch out for—choking hazards, for one. Cut their food into small pieces to guard against choking. Make sure your baby is seated and supervised at all times while eating. And check with your child's doctor to learn what foods your child should continue to avoid.

Does my baby need vitamin supplements?

Babies generally get excellent nutrition with formula.

If your baby is breastfed, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving them a vitamin D supplement, as breast milk typically has very low levels of this nutrient. What's more, infants don't get sun exposure like adults do, to produce vitamin D naturally.

Your breastfed baby may also need an iron supplement, if your baby is born premature, or with low birth weight, or has low iron levels. Talk to your child's doctor before adding any vitamin supplement to their diet.

As your baby becomes a toddler (and a picky eater), you may want to ask your doctor about vitamin supplements to be sure they're getting all the nutrition they need.

Related: Toddler Food Guide and FAQ

How do I know if my baby is still hungry?

If your baby is still hungry, they may cry, act restless, suck on their fists, smack their lips, or open their mouth while feeding.

Look for these signs to help you determine whether your baby is full: closed lips, turned head, decreased or discontinued sucking, spitting out the nipple, falling asleep, or increased interest in their surroundings during feeding.

How to tell if baby is tired or hungry?

As a new parent, it may be challenging at first to translate what your baby is trying to tell you. Are they hungry? Are they tired? Over time, as you become more aware of your baby's habits and personality, determining their needs will become easier. Every baby's personality is different, but there are common cues to look for if you're not sure whether they're hungry or tired.

If your baby is hungry, they will most likely become fussy or restless. Their cries may also sound different. Hunger cries tend to be shorter and lower-pitched. If they're tired, they may rub their eyes, or clench their fists.

Related: Weaning Your Baby

Is my baby ready for cow's milk?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you wait until your baby's first birthday before giving them whole milk. Although cow's milk is fine for older children, it doesn't meet the nutritional needs of your baby during their important first year. For example, milk doesn't have the iron your baby needs. Plus, it's hard for their body to process.

Related: Infant Nutrition No-no's

What are the different kinds of routine Enfamil® formula, and what are their benefits?

Enfamil® NeuroPro™ Infant is an innovative, non-GMO* formula that has NeuroPro; a fat-protein blend of MFGM and DHA previously found only in breast milk in amounts supported by clinical research.

Enfamil® Enspire™ is our closest formula to breast milk and is designed to provide complete nutrition for babies through 12 months. It has immune-supporting Lactoferrin, a key protein also found in colostrum and breast milk. It also has brain-building MFGM and Omega-3 DHA.

*Ingredients not genetically engineered. For more information, visit enfamil.com/nonGMO.

Are there any foods that my baby can't have?

Babies should not have honey until their first birthday. This includes any foods baked with honey. Honey can cause botulism, a serious type of food poisoning.

Cow's milk should also be excluded from your baby's diet until after their first birthday. Cow's milk is too low in iron and vitamin C and too high in protein, sodium, potassium, and chloride for your baby's health and developing kidneys.

You should also avoid giving your baby tea and solid foods that can be choking hazards.

Related: Infant Nutrition No-no's

How can I be sure my baby is getting enough nutrition if she spits up a lot when she eats?

Adding rice cereal to infant formula increases the calorie content and changes the balance between protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Enfamil A.R.™ infant formula is nutritionally balanced and more convenient than mixing baby rice cereal with infant formula. And, Enfamil A.R. is clinically proven to reduce frequent spit up. It has added rice starch which allows the formula to become thicker in the stomach.

Related: Why Do Babies Spit Up

How do I know when my baby is full from eating solid foods?

Your baby will exhibit certain behaviors once they're full. They may close or refuse to open their mouth, turn their head away or shake it. At the start of feeding, your baby may finish small portions quickly and accept more eagerly, but eating at a slower pace or pushing food away are indicators that they've had enough.

Is it true that babies aren't supposed to have honey?

Yes, babies should not have honey until their first birthday. Honey can cause botulism, a serious type of food poisoning.

Related: Infant Nutrition No-no's

My baby keeps grabbing food off my plate. Is she ready for solids?

Their eyes may be ready for solid foods, but their system is another story. Until about four to six months, most babies can only handle breast milk or formula. At around this time, your baby's head control and swallowing abilities may be ready for some iron-fortified baby rice cereal. Until then, keep your dinner out of arm's reach.

Related: Introducing Solid Foods

When my baby starts solids, how much should I give them?

For the first four to six months, breast milk or formula will give your baby all the calories and nutrients they'll need. When their digestive system and chewing abilities seem up for the challenge, check with your baby's doctor about giving them some iron-fortified rice cereal. A few spoonfuls at first, then a couple of tablespoons several times a day. It's generally best to introduce one new food at a time about one week apart, to watch for allergic reactions.

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.

Why does an infant's diet need more fat than a toddler's?

Babies do need a higher fat diet than children. Fat provides about half the calories in breast milk. Fat provides a concentrated source of calories to help fuel the rapid growth and development of the first year of life.

Related: Dietary Fat and Toddlers

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).