Milk feeds when starting solids: how much formula or breast milk to give
Starting solid foods is one of the most exciting milestones in a baby's first year. It is also one of the stages where parents tend to have the most questions about milk. How much formula should a baby still be having? Does starting solids mean cutting back on breastfeeds? When do milk feeds start to reduce on their own? The reassuring answer is that there is no sudden switch. Milk remains the cornerstone of your baby's diet throughout the first year, and the shift toward solid food happens gradually over many months. This article sets out what the NHS advises about milk feeds at each stage of the weaning journey, from the first tastes at 6 months through to the transition around 12 months.
Milk at 6 months: nothing changes yet
When a baby starts solid foods at around 6 months, the role of breast milk or formula does not change. The NHS is clear that milk should remain the main source of nutrition at this stage. Introducing solids at 6 months is about helping your baby learn to eat, not about replacing the nutrition that milk provides.
For formula-fed babies, the NHS guidance on formula amounts indicates that babies at around 6 months typically need around 500 to 600ml of formula per day. This figure does not drop just because solid food has been introduced. In practice, many parents find that their baby's formula intake stays similar in the first weeks of weaning because the amounts of solid food being offered are so small, often just a few spoonfuls at a time. Early tastes of pureed vegetables, soft fruits or baby rice are about exposure and exploration, not calorie replacement.
For breastfed babies, the picture is similar. The NHS advises continuing to breastfeed as normal when solid foods are introduced at 6 months, feeding responsively according to the baby's cues. There is no need to drop a breastfeed when solid meals begin. The two go alongside each other.
One thing worth noting at this stage is that there is no fixed schedule for how many milk feeds a day a baby should have. Some babies feed more frequently than others. What matters is that the baby is feeding well, growing appropriately and seems satisfied. If you have any concern about whether your baby is getting enough milk, your health visitor is the best person to speak with.
How milk feeds change between 7 and 9 months
As weaning progresses through the second half of the first year, babies naturally begin to eat larger quantities of solid food. By 7 to 9 months, most babies are moving on from just a few spoonfuls to two or even three small meals a day. As this happens, their appetite for milk often starts to decrease naturally. This is expected and healthy.
The reduction in milk intake at this stage is gradual. A baby who was drinking 500 to 600ml of formula at 6 months might start to take slightly less per feed, or might drop from five feeds to four. This does not happen on a fixed timetable and it varies considerably from one baby to another. Some babies continue to drink substantial amounts of formula well into the second half of the first year. Others reduce their intake sooner as their appetite for food grows.
For breastfed babies, the same gradual pattern applies. As solid food intake increases, some breastfeeds naturally become shorter or drop away. The baby's feeding pattern shifts in response to growing appetite for food. This is not a reason for concern as long as the baby is growing well and taking a varied diet.
During this period, it is important not to actively push the reduction in milk feeds. The NHS advises that breast milk or infant formula should remain the main drink throughout the first year. Forcing the pace by offering less milk than the baby wants, in order to encourage more solid food, is not recommended. Appetite regulation works best when it is led by the baby.
Milk at 9 to 12 months: a gradual transition
From around 9 months onward, many babies are eating three meals a day and the balance of their nutrition is shifting meaningfully toward food. By this point, solid meals are providing a growing proportion of their energy, protein, vitamins and minerals. Milk feeds, while still important, are playing a slightly reduced role in overall nutrition compared with the early weeks of weaning.
For formula-fed babies, the NHS advises that around 500 to 600ml of formula per day continues to be appropriate through much of the second half of the first year, though many babies will naturally take somewhat less than this as their food intake grows. By the time a baby approaches 12 months, the minimum recommended amount of formula is around 350ml per day. This is a floor, not a target: some babies take more than this right up to 12 months, which is fine.
Breastfed babies continue to benefit from breastfeeds throughout this period. There is no upper limit on how frequently or how long a baby can breastfeed during the first year. Breast milk adapts its composition over time and continues to provide valuable nutrition, antibodies and comfort well beyond the early months.
One practical question at this stage is the timing of milk feeds relative to meals. Many families find that their baby shows more interest in solid food if it is offered when the baby is neither ravenous nor full from a recent milk feed. As appetite for food grows, the relationship between meal times and feed times naturally shifts. There is no single correct approach, and responding to the individual baby's cues is the best guide.
The transition at 12 months and beyond
When a baby turns 12 months, several things change in terms of what milk is appropriate and how much is needed. First infant formula is no longer necessary as a main drink after 12 months, though there is no harm in continuing it if a baby still takes it willingly and alongside a varied diet. From 12 months, full-fat cow's milk can become the main milk drink if you choose to move away from formula.
The NHS does not set a fixed minimum amount of milk that a 12-month-old must have, but calcium remains an important nutrient throughout the toddler years. A child eating a varied diet that includes dairy foods such as cheese and yogurt, as well as other calcium-containing foods, will generally meet their calcium needs without needing large amounts of milk as a drink.
For breastfed babies, there is no reason to stop breastfeeding at 12 months. The NHS supports continued breastfeeding for as long as mother and baby wish. The World Health Organization recommends continuing breastfeeding alongside an appropriate diet for two years or beyond. Breastfeeding in the second year continues to provide nutritional and immune benefits.
The process of reducing or dropping milk feeds after 12 months happens naturally for most families as solid food takes over as the primary source of nutrition. If you are unsure how to manage the transition, or if your child is reluctant to accept cow's milk or is not eating well enough to compensate for less formula, your health visitor can advise based on your child's individual needs.
Frequently asked questions
How much formula does a baby need when they start solids at 6 months?
At 6 months, breast milk or formula remains the main source of nutrition and should not be reduced because solid food has been introduced. Most babies at this stage still have around 500 to 600ml of formula per day (or frequent breastfeeds). Solid food at 6 months is about learning to eat, not replacing milk.
When do milk feeds naturally reduce?
Milk intake usually starts to reduce naturally from around 7 to 9 months as solid food portions increase. This happens gradually as meals become more established. By 12 months, the minimum recommended amount of formula is around 350ml per day, though babies vary. A breastfed baby continues to feed as long as mother and baby wish.
Should I give milk before or after solid food?
In the first weeks of weaning, offer solid food after a milk feed when the baby is content but not too full or too hungry. As appetite for solid food grows, many families find that offering solid food first and milk afterward works better. There is no strict rule. Follow the baby and adjust as appetite changes.
When can I drop a milk feed?
Milk feeds drop naturally as babies eat more. Most families find this happens gradually between 9 and 12 months. After 12 months, formula is no longer essential if a child is eating a varied diet and getting calcium from dairy foods. Breastfeeding can continue for as long as both mother and baby wish. Never abruptly drop feeds without monitoring appetite and overall intake.
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