How to Balance Bottle-Feeding with the Introduction of Solids
Jessica Irwin, OTR/L
This blog was written in paid partnership with Dr. Brown's.
*Note: I am not a lactation consultant, infant feeding specialist, or pediatrician. The information contained in this post is based upon my training and experience as a pediatric occupational therapist and my own personal research and experience. Please seek out help from a qualified infant professional (pediatrician, speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist) if you have specific questions or concerns about your baby's feeding.
Starting solids with your baby can be a really exciting time, but can also bring up a LOT of questions: "How do I know when they're ready to start eating food? Which food do I start with? How much food should I offer? What if they have allergies?" and so on.
From a developmental perspective, the purpose of babies beginning solid foods is two-fold:
- Experience new tastes, smells, and sensations to set the stage for a future diet consisting of a variety of nutritious foods.
- Practice oral-motor and fine motor skills such as chewing, swallowing, using the tongue to move food around in their mouth, drinking from a cup, using a spoon, etc.
As you can see, when babies start solids, the focus is NOT on the amount of food they need to be eating, but rather the skills they begin to learn while doing so. In fact, your baby will likely not eat much food at all (though some do), and that is perfectly normal.
At What Age Should I Start Solids With My Baby?
There is a range of timing for when babies can and should start eating solid foods alongside breast milk or formula. Most babies are ready to start solids between 4-6-months-old. Before you start solids with your baby, they should be able to hold their head upright, reach for an object and bring it to their mouth (such as a teether or a toy) and show interest in what you are eating (they will watch you eat and appear interested).
What Meal Or Time Of Day Should I Start With?
Offer solids once per day when you first begin introducing food to your baby. This will remain consistent until around 7-8 months of age, when you can begin offering solids twice per day. By 9-12 months of age, it is recommended to offer your baby solids three times per day, alongside breast milk or formula.
The time of day or meal you offer can vary, depending on what works best for your family's schedule and routine. It could be breakfast, lunch, OR dinner (or even another seemingly random time of day). For babies who are in daycare, typically dinner works best, so that one or both parents or caregivers can be home and eat with your baby.
The most important thing to remember is to try to offer solids about 60-90 minutes after a bottle-feeding. You want your baby to be hungry enough that they are interested in trying solid foods, but not TOO hungry that they are too frustrated to eat. It's also important to time these feedings so that your baby is well-rested and not cranky or too tired to enjoy eating. Meals will likely be short (about 5-10 minutes) at first and this is normal!
It is important to keep the timing of when you offer solids each day fairly consistent in order to best build it into your pre-existing routine. Ideally, sit down with your baby and eat with them. They learn SO much by watching you eat, so make that a priority from day one!
Do I Change Or Shift Their Bottle Feeds When Starting Solids?
No! Continue to offer your baby the same amount of breast milk or formula. Breast milk and/or formula continues to remain the sole source of nutrition for babies up to 12-months-old, regardless of when and how much volume of solids your baby is eating.
Since most babies do not actually consume much food when first starting out, your baby will likely continue to drink the same number of ounces as they were prior to starting solids. (Some babies even increase their daily intake as they often go through a growth spurt around this age!)
Continue to let your baby take the lead in how many ounces they drink from their bottles, as well as how much solid food they are interested in eating. There is a wide variety when it comes to bottle and solids intake, so always check with your baby's medical provider to ensure their growth is on-track and they are eating the amount that is right for them.
SAMPLE ROUTINE FOR 4-6-MONTH-OLD: BREAKFAST AS SOLID FEEDING TIME
- 6:30-7:30 a.m. Wake up and bottle feeding
- 8 a.m. Play
- 8:30 a.m. SOLIDS (BREAKFAST)
- 9-10:15 a.m. Nap #1
- 10:30 a.m. Bottle feeding
- 11 a.m. Play
- 12:45-1:45 p.m. Nap #2
- 1:45 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 2 p.m. Play
- 3:15 p.m. *Optional* bottle feeding (if baby is showing hunger cues)
- 3:45-4:45 p.m. Nap #3
- 5 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 6 p.m. Bath
- 7:15 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 7:30 p.m. Bedtime
SAMPLE ROUTINE FOR 4-6-MONTH-OLD: LUNCH AS SOLIDS FEEDING TIME
- 6:30-7:30 a.m. Wake up and bottle feeding
- 8 a.m. Play
- 9-10:15 a.m. Nap #1
- 10:30 a.m. Bottle feeding
- 11 a.m. Play
- 12 p.m. SOLIDS (LUNCH)
- 12:45-1:45 p.m. Nap# 2
- 1:45 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 2 p.m. Play
- 3:15 p.m. *Optional* bottle feeding (if baby is showing hunger cues)
- 3:45-4:45 p.m. Nap #3
- 5 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 6 p.m. Bath
- 7:15 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 7:30 p.m. Bedtime
SAMPLE ROUTINE FOR 4-6-MONTH-OLD: DINNER AS SOLIDS FEEDING TIME
- 6:30-7:30 a.m. Wake up and bottle feeding
- 8 a.m. Play
- 9-10:15 a.m. Nap #1
- 10:30 a.m. Bottle feeding
- 11 a.m. Play
- 12:45-1:45 p.m. Nap #2
- 1:45 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 2 p.m. Play
- 3:15 p.m. *Optional* bottle feeding (if baby is showing hunger cues)
- 3:45-4:45 p.m. Nap #3
- 5 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 6 p.m. SOLIDS (DINNER)
- 6:30 p.m. Bath
- 7:15 p.m. Bottle feeding
- 7:30 p.m. Bedtime
About the author:
Jessica Rapp Irwin, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist, childhood routine expert, and lover of all things child development. She is the founder of Rooted in Routine, an online parenting education community and platform, to help parents learn simple, easy-to-implement routines for optimal child development for babies and young kids. She is passionate about educating parents on NORMAL, HEALTHY development, which is often simpler than we think. Jessica's approach is largely rooted in going back to the basics to help you establish solid, age-appropriate routines for your child for things like eating, playing, and sleeping. She believes this is the most important foundation you can provide for your child - and she wants to help you do just that!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. The content is written by an expert, but it should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or another qualified healthcare provider.