How does the milk/formula routine change when starting complementary feeding?

The basic principle at the start of complementary feeding is: complementary foods are exploration, not a meal replacement. Your baby's main nutrition during the first year is still breast milk or formula.

The simplest and most widely accepted routine is:

1. Follow a consistent order: Give breast milk/formula first, then complementary food 30-45 minutes later. This way your baby doesn't experience the hunger-related fussiness and also tries complementary food purely from curiosity.

2. Daily milk count stays the same: At 6-8 months, 4-5 milk meals and 1-2 complementary meals are ideal. Total milk should be around 600-900 ml daily.

3. Complementary food first doesn't replace milk, it's added: So if your baby has 5 daily milk meals, add small complementary food to only one or two. You don't reduce the milk amount at that meal; after finishing complementary food, your baby can have their remaining milk if they want.

4. Indicator: If your baby enjoys the complementary food and opens their mouth after swallowing, continue; if they turn their head away or push the spoon, that day's enough – never force.

Adjust the balance based on your baby's appetite, not trying to follow a chart. Within 3-4 weeks as your baby gets used to complementary food, the amount of milk you give right after the complementary food naturally decreases – this shows your baby's stomach is full with solids and is normal.

*Note: This information is not medical advice; please consult your doctor about medications and dosages.*