The Ultimate Guide to Baby’s First Foods and Supplements (Breastfeeding, Formula, and Everything In Between)
(Breastfeeding-centered, shame-free support for modern mothers)
Introduction: The Most Important Year of Nutrition
Your baby’s first year is a period of extraordinary growth.
Their brain triples in size, their gut microbiome is being imprinted for life, and their nutritional needs (per kilogram of bodyweight) are higher than at any other time.
Breastfeeding is the biological and ancestral norm, and when available, offers unmatched nutritional and immunological benefits.
But many mothers also need this reminder:
Not breastfeeding — or not breastfeeding exclusively — does not make you a bad mother.
There are many valid reasons why a feeding journey looks different from what we imagined.
This article blends Weston A. Price principles, ancestral nutrient wisdom, and functional nutrition to guide you through baby’s first supplements and baby’s first foods — whether breastfeeding, formula feeding, or combination feeding.
Why Weston A. Price Nutrition Is Powerful for Babies
Dr. Weston A. Price, a pioneering dental researcher, studied traditional cultures with some of the healthiest children in the world. Their diets consistently included:
nutrient-rich animal foods
organ meats
bone broths
raw or cultured dairy
fermented foods
cod liver oil
omega-3–rich seafood
healthy saturated fats
These foods supported wide dental arches, strong immunity, optimal development, and healthy microbiomes.
Today, we can apply this ancestral wisdom to support modern infants — especially when breastfeeding is not the sole food source.
Breastfeeding: The Optimal Start (When It’s Available)
Breastmilk offers:
DHA + essential fatty acids
immunoglobulins
living probiotics
hormones and growth factors
enzymes and stem cells
perfectly balanced macronutrients
If you are breastfeeding, nourish yourself with:
wild salmon, sardines, mackerel
egg yolks
grass-fed butter and ghee
bone broth
organ meats
cod liver oil
mineral-rich vegetables and roots
But many mothers experience:
low milk supply
latch difficulties
chronic mastitis
exhaustion or burnout
returning to work
medical or medication-related limitations
postpartum mental health needs
complex IVF or hormonal journeys
And in these cases, supplementation and nutrient-dense formula can help babies thrive just as beautifully.
If Breastfeeding Isn’t Your Story: You Still Deserve Nourishment, Not Shame
If you are formula-feeding or mix-feeding, your baby can still receive the ancestral nutrients that traditional cultures relied on for generations.
Below are the top supplements most babies benefit from, especially when not exclusively breastfed.
Baby’s First Supplements (0–12 Months)
1. Vitamin D3 for Babies
Breastmilk is naturally low in vitamin D, and formula-fed babies may still need additional support during winter or limited sun exposure months.
Recommended dose: 400–600 IU daily
Benefits: immune development, bone health, mood regulation
2. Infant Probiotic (Microbiome Support)
An infant-specific probiotic supports:
digestion
immune maturation
skin health
reduced colic symptoms
long-term microbiome resilience
Look for strains such as:
Bifidobacterium infantis
B. bifidum
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
3. Cod Liver Oil (Weston A. Price Essential)
Cod liver oil is one of the most nutrient-dense traditional infant supplements.
Benefits include:
natural vitamin A (retinol) for immunity
vitamin D
omega-3 DHA and EPA for brain development
Start with only a few drops daily and increase slowly as baby grows.
4. Colostrum (Optional Immune Support)
Particularly helpful for:
C-section babies
infants exposed to antibiotics
babies with eczema or digestive sensitivities
Use an infant-appropriate powdered form.
5. Trace Minerals (Food-First Approach)
Traditional cultures did not rely on fortified cereals or low-nutrient foods.
Instead, they introduced mineral-rich ancestral foods from the start:
bone broth
liver
egg yolks
slow-cooked meats
sardines
grass-fed butter and ghee
Baby’s First Foods (4–6+ Months)
Introduce foods by nutrient density, not sweetness.
1. Soft-Cooked Egg Yolk
Rich in choline, cholesterol, B vitamins, and DHA — essential for brain growth.
2. Liver
Nature’s multivitamin: vitamin A, B12, folate, choline, copper.
Freeze and grate into purees or mix into broth.
3. Bone Broth
Supports gut development and provides essential minerals.
4. Slow-Cooked Meats & Marrow
Highly digestible and deeply nourishing.
5. Well-Cooked Root Veggies
Sweet potato, pumpkin, carrot, beet.
6. Fermented Foods (Tiny Amounts)
Sauerkraut brine or kefir whey for microbiome diversity.
7. Healthy Fats
Babies need high dietary fat for brain and nervous system development.
Use ghee, tallow, egg yolks, fatty fish, coconut oil.
A Weston A. Price–Inspired Homemade Formula Option
When breastfeeding isn’t possible or requires supplementation, the Weston A. Price Foundation offers a nutrient-dense homemade formula made from raw milk, healthy fats, lactose, gelatin, minerals, and probiotics.
This formula:
resembles the macro & micronutrient profile of breastmilk
supports digestion + gut integrity
provides DHA, vitamins A & D, enzymes, minerals
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/formula-homemade-baby-formula/#gsc.tab=0
One-Click Baby Supplement Bundle (With Discount)
To simplify everything, I created a Fullscript collection containing all the supplements mentioned in this guide.
👉 https://us.fullscript.com/plans/dwall-baby-stack
This bundle includes:
vitamin D drops
infant probiotics
cod liver oil
trace mineral-supportive nutrients
optional colostrum
Your practitioner discount is automatically applied.
Final Thought—-Whether you breastfeed exclusively, formula feed, pump, mix-feed, or find yourself shifting along the way —
your feeding journey is valid.
Nourishment is not about perfection.
It’s about intention, ancestral wisdom, and meeting your baby’s needs with love.
Your child can thrive with the nutrients, foods, and support you choose — and you are doing an incredible job.
