Milk (either breast or formula) continues to play a really important role in ensuring your baby gets all the nutrients they require right the way through childhood.
How much milk to give
From the start of weaning your baby should continue to get 500-600 ml (about a pint) of breast or infant milk each day up until their first birthday, after which they will need about 350 ml a day.
As the amount of solid food your baby is eating increases, the amount of milk they drink will reduce, but remember to make this a gradual process and remember the pint a day guide! Your baby can reach this goal by using breast or infant milk in weaning foods such as with cereals or in sauces.
Which types of milk are suitable?
- Breast milk or infant milks continue to be suitable for your baby throughout weaning
- From six months of age you can give your baby a follow-on milk such as SMA Follow-on Milk as their main drink; these milks are specially formulated with important nutrients such as iron to complement the weaning diet and to help ensure that all of your baby’s nutritional needs are met
- It is really important that cows’ milk is not given as a drink until 12 months of age. This is because cows’ milk has low levels of iron and certain vitamins. It is perfectly acceptable to use it as an ingredient in making up foods for your baby to eat but should not be offered as a drink
- From one until two years of age the cows’ milk you give your baby should be full fat whole milk. Semi-skimmed milk should not be introduced until two years and skimmed not until five years
