Replacing Milk Feedings with Solid Food – When and How?
How much solid food should you offer your baby at the beginning?
Short answer: When introducing solid foods for the first time, try offering 1–2 teaspoons of food once a day.
In more detail:
At first, your baby might have only a small taste and probably won’t swallow much. As your baby grows, you can increase the amount according to your baby’s appetite and signs. By 12 months, your baby should be eating around 3 small meals a day, plus breastmilk or infant formula.
from the website of Raising Children Network in Australia (raisingchildren.net.au)
When does a baby usually replace a milk feeding with a “solid” food meal (during weaning)?
Short answer: It is different for every baby, but usually around the 9th month.
In more detail:
If solid food replaces breastmilk and/or infant formula too quickly, babies can miss out on important nutrition. If you have any concerns about your baby’s feeds or weight, talk to your midwife, child and family health nurse, lactation consultant or GP.
Does your baby still need breast milk or formula when they start eating solid foods?
Short answer: Yes, absolutely. Breast milk and/or formula remain the baby’s main source of nutrients and hydration until 12 months of age.
In more detail:
When you start introducing solids, breastmilk or infant formula should still be the main source of your baby’s nutrition. Over the next few months, your baby will start having more solids and less milk or formula. The rate that this happens varies among babies.
By around 9 months, babies have generally developed enough chewing and swallowing skills to move from having milk before solids to having milk after solids.
Here are signs that your baby is getting enough nutrition from both solids and breastmilk or formula during this time. Your baby:
- has plenty of wet nappies – at least 6-8 wet cloth nappies or 5 very wet disposables in 24 hours
- is alert and mostly happy after and between feeds
- is gaining weight at about the right rate – your child and family health nurse will weigh your baby at your regular check-ups.
From 12 months, solids should be the main source of your baby’s nutrition:
- If your baby is breastfed, you can keep breastfeeding for as long as you and your baby like.
- If your baby has infant formula, they don’t need formula after 12 months.
from the website of Raising Children Network in Australia (raisingchildren.net.au)
* Most of these materials are sourced from original English-language sources. The translations were created with the help of Google Translate and ChatGPT. For the most complete and accurate information, please always refer to and verify the original source first.
Check the latest information on the topic yourself
Cited Sources
- raisingchildren.net.auIntroducing solids: why, when, what and how
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