Transitioning from Exclusive Breastfeeding to Solids: A Parent’s Guide to Happy, Healthy Eating

Transitioning from Exclusive Breastfeeding to Solids: A Parent’s Guide to Happy, Healthy Eating

Ileana Berrios, MS, IBCLC

Introducing your baby to solid foods is a major milestone—exciting, a little messy, and full of questions. When should solids start? How do solids affect breast or formula feeding? How many meals should your baby have? If you’re navigating these questions, you’re not alone.

Here’s a simple, age-by-age guide to help you confidently transition from exclusive breastfeeding to a balanced mix of milk and solids, while supporting your baby’s development and enjoyment of food.

Before Solids (3–5 Months)

Milk feeds only: 24–32 oz of breast milk or formula per day
Solids: Not yet!

At this stage, your baby is still getting everything they need from breast milk or formula. But there are gentle ways to start building interest in food:

  • Bring baby to the table during meals so they can observe family eating habits.

  • Let them watch, smell, and listen as you prep food.

  • Offer lots of floor time to strengthen their core for sitting—an important sign of readiness.

🍼 Note: Some babies eat more or less milk—trust your baby’s growth, diapers, and overall energy.

Starting Solids (6–7 Months)

Milk: Still 24–32 oz per day
Solids: 1–2 meals per day (start slow and playful)

This is the "learning to eat" stage, not the "eating for nutrition" phase. Breast milk or formula remains the primary food. Offer solids when baby is happy, rested, and not too hungry—perhaps 30 minutes after a milk feed.

  • Think of mealtime as practice: even licking or squishing food counts.

  • If baby still seems hungry, offer a “top-off” milk feed after solids.

  • Try open and straw cups with small amounts of milk to build drinking skills.

Getting the Hang of It (8–9 Months)

Milk: 24–32 oz per day
Solids: 2 meals per day (more if baby is eager)

At this age, babies begin building confidence with food. You may see some decrease in milk feeds—but it shouldn’t be dramatic. If it is, scale back on solids and offer more milk.

  • Offer solids when baby has had a bit of a break from milk—an hour or so works well.

  • Introduce soft chewable foods if baby has been relying on purees.

  • Keep practicing with open and straw cups.

🥄 Tip: If baby’s solid food intake dips while learning to chew, they may need a bit more milk for now.

Exploring More Foods (10–11 Months)

Milk: 20–30 oz per day
Solids: 3 meals per day

By now, solids are more familiar, and some babies may be able to skip their morning bottle and go straight to breakfast. Offer a variety of finger foods, and begin phasing out purees if you haven’t already.

  • Meals should mimic the family’s food (cut and prepared safely, of course).

  • Avoid offering milk right after meals—wait 30–60 minutes to avoid replacing calories from solids.

🥛 Practice: Start offering cow’s milk in a cup (not a bottle) around 11–12 months if you plan to transition.

Balancing Milk and Meals (12–15 Months)

Breast milk/cow’s milk: 14–20 oz per day
Formula: Begin weaning off
Solids: 3 meals + 2 optional snacks

Solids now take center stage, but some toddlers still benefit from a few milk feeds. Milk (breast or cow’s) should now be served with meals in a cup, not as a standalone bottle.

  • Try not to rely on bottles or purees as fallback options—help your toddler practice real chewing.

  • Offer snacks midway between meals to keep up energy.

  • If you're continuing breast milk, switch to offering it in a cup during meals.

🥣 Focus: Make milk the sidekick, not the main course.

Confident Eaters (16–24 Months)

Milk: Max 16 oz/day (offered in cups with meals)
Solids: 3 meals + 2 snacks

By now, your toddler should be enjoying a wide range of foods, and milk is just another beverage served with meals. Bottles and formula should be fully weaned, per AAP recommendations.

  • Avoid giving cow’s milk in bottles—it can fill them up and reduce appetite for nutrient-rich foods.

  • If you choose to skip cow’s milk, be sure your child gets calcium and vitamin D from other sources.

🧠 Remember: Every baby develops differently. Your pediatrician can help guide you if your little one’s appetite, growth, or transitions are a little slower or faster than expected.

This journey from exclusive breastfeeding to eating solids is a beautiful progression. There’s no need to rush—babies learn at their own pace. Keep meals low-pressure, fun, and full of love. And when in doubt, follow your baby’s cues—they’re the best communicator of what they need.

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