🥺🍲 Preferring Milk Over Solids After 8 Months

Understanding Milk Dependence and How to Encourage Solid Foods – Expert Advice from Dr. Annie

Around 8 months of age, babies are expected to start embracing a wider variety of solid foods. But for many moms, the reality looks different — a baby who cries for breastmilk or bottle but pushes away solids, gags at new textures, or only eats a few bites.

At Dr. Annie Baby Nutrition, we regularly hear this concern from mothers:

“My 9-month-old just wants breastmilk. He barely eats any food. What should I do?”

Dr. Annie, Ghana’s renowned infant nutrition expert and founder of the Dr. Annie Baby Nutrition line, explains that this phase is common but needs gentle guidance to prevent nutritional gaps.

🧠 Why Is Solid Food Important After 6–8 Months?

According to Dr. Annie:

“Breastmilk or formula remains important, but after 6 months, it’s no longer enough by itself. Babies need additional energy, iron, zinc, and protein from solid foods to support rapid growth.”

By 8–9 months:

• Milk should be gradually complemented with 2–3 small meals daily

• Babies should start practicing with soft textures and finger foods

• Iron stores from birth are running low, so fortified or protein-rich solids are essential

🚩 Why Do Some Babies Prefer Milk and Refuse Solids?

Here are the common causes, grouped by Dr. Annie’s diagnostic approach:

🍼 1. Overfeeding Milk

• Frequent breastfeeding or bottle-feeding (every 1–2 hours) leaves no appetite for solids

• Babies develop a preference for the comfort and ease of milk

What to do:

• Space out milk feeds to 3–4 hour intervals

• Offer solids before milk at breakfast and lunch

• Don’t top up with milk if solids are refused — try again later instead

😝 2. Texture Aversion or Sensory Delay

Some babies struggle with the feel of lumpy, thick, or chunky food.

What to do:

• Start with smooth but thicker purées, then slowly increase texture

• Mix favorite foods with new ones (e.g., banana + mashed beans)

• Use Dr. Annie 7 in 1 Cereal — smooth, tasty, and fortified with essential nutrients

😴 3. Poor Feeding Schedule or Timing

Trying to feed baby when they’re too tired, overstimulated, or already full won’t work.

What to do:

• Stick to a 3-meal structure (8am, 12pm, 5pm) with 2 snack options

• Use a quiet, distraction-free space

• Feed when baby is alert, not too close to nap times

🍛 4. Bland or Repetitive Food

If food is always the same (e.g., plain mashed rice), baby may lose interest.

What to do:

• Rotate flavours weekly — vary with yam, sweet potato, beans, plantain, and fruit

• Add natural taste enhancers like Dr. Annie Fish or Chicken Powder

• Introduce mild herbs like garlic, ginger, or parsley (from 9 months)

😖 5. Stressful Mealtime Environment

Force-feeding, anxiety, or distractions can make solids feel negative.

What to do:

• Stay calm and cheerful, even if baby eats little

• Allow baby to self-feed with fingers or spoon

• Praise any attempt — even if food is just tasted

✅ Dr. Annie’s Feeding Guidelines for 8–12 Months

📈 How to Gently Shift from Milk to Solid Meals

1. Set predictable mealtimes and reduce milk right before meals

2. Offer small portions first (2–3 tablespoons) — don’t overwhelm

3. Use Dr. Annie fortified cereals as a bridge — they resemble milk in texture but provide full nutrition

4. Serve solids when baby is hungry but not crying

5. Let baby explore food with fingers — it builds interest

6. Reintroduce rejected foods after 3–5 days — persistence works

🧠 “Babies need up to 10–15 exposures before accepting a new food,” Dr. Annie reminds us.

❗ When to Worry

Contact a pediatrician or nutritionist if:

• Your baby refuses all solids by 10 months

• Gags or vomits frequently

• Still wakes up often for night feeds past 12 months

• Is not gaining weight or falling off the growth curve

🧡 Final Encouragement from Dr. Annie

“Solids are a journey, not a battle. With patience, practice, and nutrient-rich foods, your baby will get there. Just don’t give up.”

Transitioning from milk to solids can feel slow, but small changes — structured mealtimes, food variety, and joyful feeding — make a big difference.