Baby nutrition

Up to 6 months

Milk-only diet

Whether you choose to breastfeed, use formula, or a bit of both, milk provides all the nutrition your baby needs from birth until around 6 months old.

Breastfeeding – the best for your baby

Breast milk is free, natural and adapts to the changing nutritional needs of your growing baby. It also helps protect your baby from infections, because mum’s antibodies are passed into the milk. It’s convenient as it reduces the need to spend time sterilising bottles and other feeding equipment. In addition, breastfeeding helps the womb return to its normal size and burns calories, so it can help mums get back into shape more quickly after giving birth.

Bootle-feed

Some mums, however, find breastfeeding difficult. This may be because they are not producing enough milk to satisfy their baby. Advice and support is available from several organisations with trained breastfeeding counsellors.

Others want to let dad have a go at feeding or simply prefer to bottle-feed. From around 6 months, whether you breastfeed or use formula, you will start to notice that your baby needs more than milk to satisfy their hunger. It’s around this time that weaning on to solid foods begins.

How do I know when to start weaning?

Babies are ready to eat solid foods at different ages although generally weaning starts at around 6 months. If you are thinking of starting weaning before 6 months, it is best to talk to your doctor or pediatrician first.

Ready for solid food?

Some of the signs your baby might be ready to start solid foods include:

They can sit up
They want to chew and puts things in their mouth
They can reach and grab accurately
They appear to be still hungry after increasing milk feeds for a few days
They are showing interest in other people’s eating

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Baby nutrition

Up to 6 months

Milk-only diet

Breastfeeding – the best for your baby

Bootle-feed

How do I know when to start weaning?

Ready for solid food?

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Food preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Ironing

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Food preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Garment Care

Get inspired

Support

Food preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Garment Care

Get inspired

Support

Baby nutrition

Up to 6 months

Milk-only diet

Breastfeeding – the best for your baby

Bootle-feed

How do I know when to start weaning?

Ready for solid food?

Related articles

Food preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Ironing

Service

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