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6 - 12 months

Breastfeeding your older baby
Helping your baby to sleep
Close up feed
Biting and breastfeeding
Older baby feeding
Breastfeed first? Solids first?
breastfeed or solids first
Expressing - how much? how often?
Coping with broken sleep
Planning to go back to work?
Dad carrying baby
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Commonly asked questions

When will my baby sleep through?

It’s common and normal for babies to continue waking at night after six months. Research shows that at 6 months, only about half of babies are sleeping through for an 8-hour stretch and even then, only on some nights. When babies do wake, very few of them can self-settle – needing help to feel calm again. This may mean being breastfed back to sleep, this is normal, and okay.

This is only a problem if it’s a problem for you so try not to listen to those around you who say your baby isn’t doing what they ‘should’ do.

Read more about improving your baby’s sleep

Is my baby getting enough iron?

Babies have iron and zinc stores which last until around 6 months of age, sometimes longer. It is recommended to start introducing iron-rich foods at around 6 months. These can be as simple as a piece of juicy meat to suck on or some mashed legumes.
 

Find out more about food options for babies.

My baby isn’t interested in solids. What can I do?

All babies are different and they will all become interested in solids at different times. The six to twelve-month period is a great opportunity for your baby to explore food tastes and textures without any pressure as breastmilk continues to be their primary source of nutrition.

Keep offering small amounts and your baby will eventually be eating happily.

Read more. 

My baby prefers solids and I’m worried that my milk supply is dropping.

Breastmilk is designed to be the primary source of nutrition for your baby in their first twelve months. The amount your baby is eating can affect their appetite for breastfeeding. To prevent a decrease in breastfeeding, try to offer breastmilk before solid foods. If you are still concerned, you may need to reduce the quantity of food offered at meal times . Remember as babies get older, they become more efficient at breastfeeding so may not need to feed for as long to get the same amount. 

Find out more.

My baby is teething and doesn’t want to feed!

Breast refusal can be stressful for mums. Fortunately, if teething is the cause this will be temporary. Your baby may prefer shorter more frequent feeds or feeding at night when they are sleepy. You can also give baby something hard and cold to chew on, rub baby’s gums with an ice cube before feeds or if you have frozen expressed milk offer it in a mesh feeder.

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Getting out and about

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Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces

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Breastfeeding rooms

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Breastfeeding friendly venues