Milk and solids together

Milk stays the main food at first

Starting solids doesn’t mean starting to replace milk. When your baby first tries food, at around 6 months, breast milk or formula still gives them most of their energy and nutrients (NHS, AAP). The CDC calls breast milk the most important source of nutrition even after solids begin, and the NHS says babies still get most of their energy and nutrients from breast milk or first infant formula.

In the first weeks of solids, food is about learning: new tastes, new textures, and how to move food around the mouth and swallow. How much your baby eats matters much less. A few teaspoons or pieces of food is plenty to start.

So keep offering milk feeds just as before, and keep feeding on cue. See how much breast milk or formula for typical amounts before solids.

How the balance shifts, month by month

As food builds up, milk slowly steps back. Your baby leads this: there’s no need to cut feeds on a schedule.

Around 6 months

• Usual milk feeds, plus 1 meal, building to 2.
• Offer food at a time when your baby isn’t tired, and not when they’re very hungry.

7–9 months

• Your baby gradually moves toward 3 meals a day (NHS).
• Milk feeds may settle at around 4 a day, for example on waking, after lunch, after dinner and before bed (NHS).
• As a guide, formula-fed babies may need around 600 ml (20 oz) a day (NHS).
• Your baby may want less at each feed, or drop a feed altogether. That’s normal.

10–12 months

• 3 meals a day, plus milk feeds (NHS).
• Often about 3 milk feeds a day, such as after breakfast, after lunch and before bed (NHS).
• As a guide, formula-fed babies drink about 400 ml (13½ oz) a day (NHS). The AAP’s 8–12 month menu includes more: about 400–500 of the 750–900 calories a baby needs each day from breast milk or formula, which the AAP puts at roughly 24 oz (710 ml) a day of formula if you’re not breastfeeding.

Breastfed babies adjust their own intake as they eat more food (NHS). The CDC says to keep breastfeeding when you notice hunger signs, however often that turns out to be.

Milk before or after food?

Advice varies, and any of these can work. Pick what suits your baby.

• A little milk first (AAP): give some breast milk or formula, then small spoonfuls of food, then finish with more milk. This stops a very hungry baby getting frustrated.
• Food before a usual milk feed (NHS): your baby may not be interested in food if they’re full, but don’t wait until they’re too hungry.
• If your breastfed baby loses interest in nursing (CDC): try breastfeeding before you offer food.

Over the second half of the year, many families shift toward food first at meals, with milk feeds at their own times of day.

If you’re breastfeeding

• Keep going as long as you and your baby want. The AAP supports breastfeeding alongside food for 2 years or beyond, and the World Health Organization recommends up to 2 years or longer (NHS).
• Expressed breast milk can be mixed into food, such as infant cereal or mashed vegetables.
• Breastfed babies need vitamin D drops from birth, and in the UK the NHS adds vitamins A and C from 6 months. See how much breast milk or formula.

If you’re formula feeding

• First infant formula is all your baby needs for the whole first year (NHS). There’s no need to switch at 6 months.
• Follow-on formula isn’t needed: the NHS says research shows no benefit from switching to it at 6 months.
• Toddler milks and “growing-up” formulas aren’t suitable for babies under 12 months (AAP).
• Don’t put cereal or anything else in the bottle. The AAP says cereal in a bottle is a choking risk and can lead to too much weight gain. The NHS says bottles should hold only breast milk, formula or water.

Using milk in food

Milk can go into your baby’s food from the start:

• Mix infant cereal or oatmeal with breast milk or formula (AAP).
• Cow’s milk can be used in cooking or mixed with food from around 6 months, but not as a main drink until 12 months (NHS). See cow’s milk.
• Pasteurized full-fat dairy foods like plain yogurt and cheese are fine from around 6 months. Choose ones with no added sugar (NHS).

Iron from food matters more now

As food builds up, try to include foods that contain iron at most meals. The NHS suggests meat, fish, fortified cereals, dark green vegetables, beans and lentils, and the AAP suggests meat and iron-fortified cereals. Try beef, lentils, tofu, egg or iron-fortified infant cereal. See iron-rich first foods.

Other drinks from 6 months

• Water: offer sips from a cup with meals, up to 4–8 oz (120–240 ml) a day (AAP). See water for babies.
• Juice: babies under 12 months don’t need it, and the AAP says not to give it.
• Cow’s milk, goat’s milk and plant drinks are not suitable as a main drink before 12 months (NHS).

When to talk to your doctor

Talk to your pediatrician or health visitor if your baby seems to be refusing most milk feeds or most food, has fewer wet diapers, or you’re worried about their growth. The CDC suggests asking your baby’s doctor or nurse any time you have questions about how much milk they’re getting.

At 12 months

By their first birthday, food becomes the main source of nutrition. Breast milk can continue, and infant formula is no longer needed (NHS). See cow’s milk at 12 months and weaning from the bottle.

Where US and UK advice differs

• Milk or food first. The AAP suggests a little milk, then food, then more milk at the start. The NHS suggests offering food before the usual milk feed.
• How much formula near 12 months. The AAP’s 8–12 month menu includes roughly 24 oz (710 ml) a day of formula if you’re not breastfeeding. The NHS gives lower guides: about 600 ml (20 oz) at 7–9 months and about 400 ml (13½ oz) at 10–12 months.
• Water with meals. The AAP gives up to 4–8 oz (120–240 ml) a day from 6 to 12 months. The NHS suggests sips with meals from an open or free-flow cup, without giving an amount.