The start of the weaning process does not signal the elimination of milk from your baby’s diet. Breast milk or formula will still be the major source of protein and many essential vitamins and minerals.

Mothers may continue to breastfeed throughout the first year of life. Breastfed infants, however, may need additional iron, vitamin D, and perhaps zinc as they grow older. Please consult your health care professional for details.

If you have been feeding your baby with infant formula, you can continue to do so for the entire first year of life. However, you may want to consider using a follow-on formula that has been specially designed to help ensure optimal growth and development in babies 6 months of age and older. During weaning, approximately 500 mL of one of these nutritionally complete fortified milks is recommended to be fed daily.

Nutritional experts agree that cow’s milk should not be introduced at all during the first year of life. Cow’s milk and full-cream milks are nutritionally inadequate for children younger than 1 year, even if they have begun to eat solid foods.