How Long After Solids Should I Give Milk to a Child (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 6 Months 

Taking care of a new born baby can be relatively different for the new generation of parents. With the growing technologies and new equipment, it might be confusing for the new parents. The eating pattern of the baby is the most critical yet challenging task.

A new born baby is born without teeth, and eating is impossible for them; therefore, many eating supplements are present today, like formula first.

 During the first six initial months, the baby is the only one breastfed by the mother as it is the only digestible food item for the child.

With the milk teeth that start to show up in the first 5 to 6 months, the baby can start consuming solids.

How Long After Solids Should I Give Milk to a Child?

The baby’s food pattern and eating pattern are the most complex. As the baby’s eating pattern is not fixed, many new parents don’t eat in a specific routine. It’s the parents who need to take care of the eating pattern and developing good habits.

When the baby is born, the organs are very complicated. Any organ damage can cause a big problem; therefore, it is advised to only breastfeed the child during the four initial months with only milk and drinkable supplements being at the top and no or little food.

Eating for a baby can be very difficult as chewing without teeth is complex, and the baby doesn’t know how to swallow it. If the food is forced, it can result in choking or puking; with regular milk feeds, the baby gets used to swallowing, and with the upcoming six months, the baby can start consuming a minimal amount of food that too in the minor portion.

After six months, the baby can be fed with an equitant dosage of food and milk, the food should be fed after the milk feed, with the growing months, the food dosage should be increased, and a specific pattern should be followed during the 10th-month baby should be given a three-course meal.

The meal should consist of a small amount of food followed by milk, but food should be kept at a regular pace to develop eating habits. During this period, the food can even be fed first and milk afterwards.

Why Does it Take So Long After Solids to Give Milk to the Baby?

Many factors go into feeding solid food to the baby for the first time, and they are as follow- when to change the feed, what to feed first, in what amount and self-feeding.

Changing the feed is the most critical task, and that shall be done after the first six months as the baby gets used to swallowing the food. The organs develop from taking the load, the food should be mashed, without spices as a new born baby prefers bland food. The food should be easily digestible with milk as the milk should be kept feeding with a small amount of food; after a few months, the baby should be given a proper three-course meal followed by milk.

The amount of food should be increased with time and not suddenly; the baby gets used to the same pattern and demand more solid foods than milk, which is the time to change the amount.

With the changing amount of food, the baby would demand a new variety of food, and that is the time to introduce new solid food rather than supplements a baby would prefer home food. This is the best time to introduce finger food that the baby can easily hold and eat in the 11th or 12th month.

That can be cucumbers, soft apple, mangoes, or food items with no seeds in them like. Avoiding watermelon is very important as the seeds can cause digestion problems and vomiting. Protein is also essential for the baby. It is recommended to feed chicken, fish or tofu.

Moreover, after the 10th month, the baby can be fed food even before the milk, as with growing stages, the baby gets hungrier, and milk may not be the solution.

Conclusion 

Handling a new born baby can be a difficult task, as they cannot speak understanding babies. Moreover, the eating pattern of the baby is more important. 

Within the initial four months, the baby should be given only milk and drinkable supplements because swallowing and chewing may not be possible.

After six months, the baby shall be introducing to solid foods but in a minimal amount followed by milk, as the baby becomes more active in the coming months and bringing a change in the diets is essential. The baby grows teeth, knows how to swallow food, and a proper three-course meal can be planned for a baby.

References

1. https://www.bmj.com/content/336/7649/881.short

2. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/4/e1108.short