Can Starting Solids Reduce Milk Supply? Here’s How to Maintain It

Understanding how breastfeeding and solid feeding interact, along with strategies to sustain milk supply, can help ensure you continue breastfeeding with confidence. Breastfeeding provides essential nutrition, immune protection, and comfort for your baby, supporting their health and development beyond the first months of life.

The introduction of solids can influence breastmilk supply for the following reasons:

• Self-Regulation: Babies naturally adjust their feeding patterns as they grow. When they get more energy from solids, they tend to drink less milk. That said, if they're eating less or need additional energy, they may breastfeed for longer.

• Reduced Suckling and Feeding Frequency: Breastmilk production is driven by demand and triggered by your baby suckling. When they nurse less or feed less often, it means there's less stimulation, which can cause your milk supply to drop.

Since breastmilk production depends on demand, here are a few ways to help maintain your supply:

• Breastfeed Before Offering Solids – Breastfeeding works on demand, so nursing before solids will help keep your supply steady.
• Follow Your Baby’s Lead – Babies regulate their intake, so watch for hunger cues and continue feeding on demand.
• Encourage Skin-to-Skin Contact – Holding your baby close stimulates oxytocin, which helps with milk flow and production.
• Pump or Express – If your baby is nursing less, regular pumping can help maintain your supply.
• Use formula only when necessary – frequent supplementation can reduce breastfeeding demand and affect supply.
• Nourish Yourself – Drink plenty of water and eat a well-balanced diet to feel your best and support milk production. Be sure to get enough calcium from dairy, leafy greens, and fortified foods!

Breastfeeding continues to be a source of nourishment, comfort, and connection, even as your baby starts exploring new foods. With a few small adjustments, you can maintain your milk supply and keep providing all the benefits of breastfeeding for as long as you choose.

References:

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3. Pearce J, Taylor MA, Langley-Evans SC. Does early introduction of solid feeding lead to early cessation of breastfeeding? Matern Child Nutr. 2013;9(1):129-44. doi:10.1111/mcn.12944.
4. Shaw V, editor. Clinical Paediatric Dietetics. 5th ed. Chichester (UK): Wiley Blackwell; 2020. Chapter 2.
5. Australian Government Department of Health. Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy: 2019 and beyond. Canberra (AU): Commonwealth of Australia; 2019.
6. Bell LK, Golley RK, Magarey AM. Associations between breast milk feeding, introduction of solid foods, and weight gain in the first 12 months of life. 2021;13(5):1477. doi:10.3390/nu13051477.
7. Victora CG, Bahl R, Barros AJD, França GVA, Horton S, Krasevec J, et al. Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. 2016;387(10017):475-90. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01024-7.
8. Brown A, Lee M. Does planning to formula feed undermine breastfeeding? Breastfeed Med. 2013;8(1):9-14. doi:10.1089/bfm.2012.0022.

This blog post is general in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a comprehensive and exhaustive set of guidelines. This blog post has been prepared in consultation with a qualified paediatric dietician. However, it is not tailored to individual circumstances and no material found in this post is intended to be a substitute for professional medical or health advice. If you require immediate medical attention, please contact emergency services immediately or seek alternative and appropriate medical services.