When a child starts solids, how much breast milk does he need in a 24-hour period?
I can’t tell you exactly how much milk your baby will need (it depends on his age and weight and how many calories he is consuming). But I can tell you that most babies will still be nursing six or more times in a 24-hour period even after they start eating solid foods. Some of those feedings will be snacks, some will be nursing for comfort, and others a full-blown meal. The important thing is to watch your baby’s cues and breastfeed whenever he indicates a desire. Try not to start solids too early. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for six months, and that you wait to introduce solids until the baby is 6 months old. Between 6 months and a year, breast milk is still the most important food in your baby’s diet, so it is important to keep your milk supply up. The best way to do that is to breastfeed before offering solid foods rather than after. As your baby grows older, the more solid food he eats, the less breast milk he’ll take. There m
