How long do I feed a baby formula or breastfeed?
A common question as your baby grows is “When is the best time to stop feeding our baby formula or the breast?”
Breast milk, or formula, should be your baby’s main source of nutrition for the first few months of life.
It is recommended babies shouldn’t be weaned before six months of age.
Once started on the road to introducing solids to continue milk feeding for as long as possible and to at least 12 months.
The WHO recommends not introducing solids until a baby is 6 months old, whereas it has previously been as young as 4 months, and exclusively breast (or bottle) feeding your baby until 12 months+.
Parents can be anxious and excited about introducing solids.
Excited, as it means a new phase in their babies life, but anxious as it can sometimes be daunting in knowing what to introduce and how much.
It is best to wait so the baby’s body is able to cope and breakdown the food and their immune system is prepared which is not before 17 weeks.
Once solids are introduced it is recommended to continue to feed your baby, either the breast or bottle, as long as the child and/or you would like to past the 12 months of age mark.
Even once they are eating more solids their intake of milk should still be the primary food still having between 600-800 ml/day.
