Milk-only diet (from birth until around 6 months)
Milk provides all the nutrition your baby needs from birth until around 6 months old.
Breast milk is free, natural and adapts to the changing nutritional needs of your growing baby. It also helps protect your baby from infections because mum's antibodies are passed into the milk. It's convenient as it reduces the need to spend time sterilizing bottles and other feeding equipment. In addition breastfeeding helps the womb return to its normal size and burns calories, so it can help mums get back into shape more quickly after giving birth.
Babies are ready to eat solid foods at different ages although generally weaning starts at around 6 months. But it should never be started before 4 months (17 weeks)!
If you are thinking of starting weaning before 6 months, it is best to talk to your doctor or paediatrician first. But if you do decide to introduce weaning solids before 6 months you should avoid wheat based foods such as bread, rusks and pasta, and also eggs and nuts, though these can be introduced after 6 months.