When and how should complementary foods be added to the baby’s
diet? What impact does this have on the amount of milk to give?
It is well known that doctor’s are now recommending exclusive
breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life with
supplementation with infant formula when necessary. Mothers are
often given little guidance on the introduction of complementary
foods into their baby’s diet and how much breast milk they will
continue to take as foods are added. Human milk continues to
form a very important part of an infant’s diet during the second
six months of life and beyond. The World Health Organization
recommends that human milk should remain the main food
throughout the baby’s first year and an important food during
the second year of life. Introducing healthy family foods
gradually starting at about 6 months of age teaches young
children healthy eating habits and helps them develop socially
as family members. When babies are ready to learn to eat solid
foods they give clues to their r