Baby Feeding Guide: Breastfeeding, Formula & Starting Solids

Newborn Feeding Basics

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Breastfeeding

Feed on demand, 8–12 times per 24 hours. Each feed 10–20 min per breast. Cluster feeding in evenings is normal and builds supply.

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Formula

1–3 oz every 2–3 hours at birth, increasing to 3–4 oz by 1 month. Never dilute formula — it can cause dangerous electrolyte imbalances.

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Combination feeding

Breast milk and formula can be combined safely. Introduce the bottle by 3–4 weeks to prevent bottle refusal, but after breastfeeding is well-established.

Starting Solid Foods (2024 AAP Guidelines)

The 2024 AAP updated its solid food guidance significantly. Here's what's current:

Start at 6 months — not before 4 months. Baby needs to sit with minimal support, control their head, and show interest in food.
Iron-rich foods first — iron stores deplete at 6 months. Prioritise meat, poultry, beans, lentils, and iron-fortified cereals.
Introduce allergens early — peanuts, eggs, and other top allergens should be introduced between 4–11 months, not avoided. Early introduction reduces allergy risk by up to 80%.
No honey before 12 months — risk of botulism.
No added salt or sugar — baby kidneys cannot handle excess sodium.
It can take 20+ exposures for a baby to accept a new food — keep offering without pressure.

Baby-Led Weaning vs Purees

Both approaches are evidence-based and safe when done correctly. Many families combine both (baby-led weaning with spoon-feeding of purees).

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Baby-Led Weaning (BLW)

Soft finger foods from 6 months. Builds fine motor skills, oral motor development, and a positive relationship with food. Requires the gag reflex to be working — gagging is normal, choking is different.

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Purées

Traditional approach: smooth purees at 6 months, progressing to lumpy textures by 8 months and finger foods by 9 months. Advancing textures on schedule is critical — texture-averse toddlers often had delayed texture progression.

Feeding Articles & Guides

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Breastfeeding: Latch, Supply & Challenges

Feeding · 15 min read

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Formula Feeding: Complete Guide

Feeding · 12 min read

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When to Start Solid Foods

Feeding · 8 min read

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Starting Solids: 2024 AAP Guide

Feeding · 12 min read

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Baby-Led Weaning vs. Purees

Feeding · 9 min read

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start solid foods?

The AAP (2024) recommends starting solid foods at around 6 months — not before 4 months. Signs of readiness: sits with minimal support, good head control, shows interest in your food, and has lost the tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food out.

How do I introduce allergens?

Introduce the 9 major allergens (peanuts, eggs, milk, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame) one at a time between 4–11 months. For peanuts specifically, the LEAP trial showed introducing peanuts before 11 months reduces peanut allergy risk by 80%. Give a small amount, wait 15 minutes, then observe for 1–2 hours.

How much should my baby eat when starting solids?

Very little — that's normal! At 6 months, solid food is practice, not nutrition. Most nutrition still comes from breast milk or formula. Start with 1–2 teaspoons once a day, increasing gradually. By 12 months, most babies eat 3 small meals and 1–2 snacks.

What foods should I avoid in the first year?

Avoid: honey (botulism risk), whole cow's milk as main drink (okay in cooking), added salt or sugar, high-mercury fish (shark, swordfish, king mackerel), raw sprouts, large chunks of hard foods (choking), and unpasteurised products.

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Baby Feeding Guide — From Newborn to Table Foods