Discover our new product: 

Starting solids

Introducing solids to your baby can be an exciting milestone for both you and your little one. However, it’s sometimes a daunting task, especially for new parents.

Here’s a general guide to starting solids to help build your confidence as you begin this new phase.

When to introduce solids

When to introduce solids

Experts and the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines recommend introducing solids to your baby when they are around 6 months old.1,2

At this age, your baby’s digestive system is ready to handle solid foods. Your baby also has a greater need for specific nutrients that milk alone may not provide, such as iron.

Signs that your baby is ready for solid foods include:

  • Sitting up without head and back support
  • Showing an interest in the food the rest of the family is eating
  • Keen to explore textured foods without gag reflex reaction
  • Being able to pick up and put food in their mouth
  • Opening their mouth when you offer them a spoonful of food
When to introduce solids

Should you keep breastfeeding or formula feeding while introducing solids?

National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines advise you to continue breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby while introducing solids, until at least 12 months of age.1

Breast milk or formula should still be the main source of nutrition for your baby as you introduce solids. You can gradually reduce the amount of milk they consume as they start to eat a wider variety of solid foods. If formula feeding, follow the feeding guide on the can.

By the time your baby is 12 months old, they should be eating around three meals a day, in addition to breast milk or infant formula.3

Introducing water and cow’s milk

Introducing water and cow’s milk

Introducing water and cow’s milk

Once your baby is 6 months old, you can introduce small amounts of water, on top of their regular formula or breast milk. This is more for practice than for hydration. Offer your baby cooled, boiled water in a cup or sippy cup, rather than a bottle.3

Cow’s milk does not have the right blend of nutrients for babies under 12 months. It cannot be used as a replacement for breast milk or formula until your baby is 12 months.4

From around 8 months onward, you can include cow’s milk as an ingredient with some of the foods you prepare for your little one, and you can offer dairy products such a cheese or yoghurts.4

How to start incorporating solids into a baby’s feeding routine

Introduce solids to your baby gradually, one food at a time. This can help you discover possible food allergies. Start with foods that are rich in iron, such as iron-fortified rice cereal.

Here are some tips to get started:1,5

  • Start with a small amount of smooth food, such as a teaspoonful of rice cereal, and gradually increase the quantity as your baby gets used to eating solids.
  • Offer single-ingredient foods, such as finely mashed banana or sweet potato, to help you work out any possible food allergies.
  • Avoid adding salt, sugar, honey, or spices to your baby’s food.
  • As they adjust to eating solids, offer a variety of flavours and textures, such as mashed, pureed, small chunky and finger foods, to help develop their oral motor skills.

What if your baby has feeding problems?

Babies with feeding problems such as food allergies or lactose intolerance may have trouble tolerating certain solid foods. It’s possible these foods could further impact their condition.1

It’s best to talk with a healthcare professional about what kinds of foods work best for babies who have feeding problems.

feeding problems

Introducing food allergens

It’s always best to check with your healthcare professional before introducing foods that can cause an allergic reaction.

Allergy specialists recommend that you introduce food allergens from around 6 months (not before 4 months) and before 12 months of age. This may decrease the risk of your child developing an allergy to certain foods.5

Try introducing small amounts of food that might cause allergies — such as peanuts, eggs, soy and fish — one at a time. You can start by applying a small quantity on the inner lip to observe possible reactions to that specific food. It’s good to try the new solid foods during the day, rather than at night, so you can watch your child and respond if they have an allergic reaction.5

If your family and baby has a history of food allergies (such as cow’s milk protein allergy), you should be cautious when transitioning to solids and introducing new foods. Talk with your healthcare professional for more advice.

  1. Infant Feeding Guidelines: information for health workers. National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Published 2012. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/infant-feeding-guidelines-information-health-workers
  2. Infant and young child feeding. World Health Organization. Published 2021. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding
  3. Introducing solids: why, when, what & how. Raising Children Network. Published 2023. Accessed Oct 2024.https://raisingchildren.net.au/babies/breastfeeding-bottle-feeding-solids/solids-drinks/introducing-solids
  4. Introducing solid foods for babies. Better Health Channel. Published 2021. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/eating-tips-for-babies
  5. Infant Feeding and Allergy Prevention. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). Published 2023. Accessed Oct 2024. https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/fast-facts/infant-feeding-and-allergy-prevention

Welcome to NovaNutrition

Please take a moment to read this important message.

If you are able to breastfeed, breastfeeding is best for babies. Breastfeeding has many benefits, such as protecting your baby from infection while their immune system develops. It is important that you eat a healthy, balanced diet in preparation for and during breastfeeding.

Infant formula is designed to replace breast milk when an infant is not breastfed. Combining breast and bottle feeding in your baby’s first weeks of life may reduce your supply of breast milk and reversing a decision not to breastfeed is difficult. The social and financial implications of using infant formula should be considered when choosing a method of feeding.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when preparing and using infant formula, including proper sterilisation of bottles and using boiled water. Improper use of an infant formula may make your baby ill.

We recommend that you consult your doctor, midwife, or health care professional for advice about feeding your baby.

Buy Androxal Online? Let’s Be Real About What It Can Do For You. Visit Our Pharmacy ↓


Androxal: A Doctor’s Review for Australian Men Over 30

AIDA — Attention: Are you over 30 and feeling as though your body is no longer working with you? Waking up exhausted, struggling with brain fog, carrying stubborn belly fat, feeling more stressed than you used to, and noticing your sex drive has quietly faded? You are not alone. In my Australian practice, I see men every week who describe exactly this pattern: they are still working hard, still trying to do the right thing, yet their energy, confidence, and vitality are slipping away.

What many of these men do not realise is that the problem often has a name: low testosterone. The good news is that there is a different way to approach it — one that does not simply replace testosterone from the outside, but helps a man’s body restart its own natural production. That approach is called Androxal, also known by its active ingredient enclomiphene citrate.

Interest: What Is Androxal and Why Is It Different?

Androxal is an oral selective oestrogen receptor modulator, or SERM. Unlike traditional testosterone replacement therapy, which supplies external testosterone and can shut down your own testicular function, Androxal works centrally. It blocks oestrogen feedback at the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, causing your body to release more luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. These hormones then signal your testes to produce more testosterone naturally.

This difference matters enormously for men over 30. It means the body does not simply receive a temporary hormone boost; it is encouraged to restore the natural testosterone pathway. For many patients, this translates into improved energy, mood, libido, and body composition — without the testicular shrinkage and fertility concerns that often accompany traditional testosterone injections or gels.

Desire: Key Clinical Topics Australian Patients Ask About

Androxal and Testosterone Levels

Clinical studies of enclomiphene have shown that it can significantly raise total and free testosterone levels in men with secondary hypogonadism — the type of low testosterone where the brain is not sending a strong enough signal to the testes. Because Androxal preserves the pituitary–testicular axis, testosterone increases in a more physiological rhythm than with external testosterone. Many men report that their levels improve and, importantly, they feel the difference.

Androxal vs Traditional Testosterone Replacement
Factor Androxal (enclomiphene citrate) Traditional TRT
Mechanism Stimulates your own testicular testosterone production Supplies external testosterone
Effect on sperm and fertility Generally preserves or improves fertility Often suppresses sperm production
Testicular size Usually maintained May shrink over time
Oestrogen and breast tissue risk Blocks oestrogen receptors in some tissues May increase oestrogen via aromatisation
Mode of administration Oral tablet Injections, gels, creams

Androxal and Male Breast Cancer

Many Australian men worry about breast tissue changes, gynaecomastia, and very occasionally male breast cancer when they hear the word “hormone.” It is an important concern. Because traditional testosterone therapy can aromatise to oestrogen, some men experience breast tenderness or gynaecomastia. Androxal is different: it is a SERM that blocks oestrogen receptors in certain tissues, including breast tissue. There is no evidence that Androxal causes male breast cancer, and its receptor-blocking action may theoretically reduce oestrogenic stimulation of breast tissue compared with testosterone replacement. That said, if you have a personal or strong family history of male breast cancer, you must discuss this with a specialist before considering any hormonal medicine.

Androxal and Fatigue

Chronic fatigue is one of the most common complaints I hear from men over 30. When testosterone is low, sleep quality deteriorates, recovery slows, and even simple daily tasks feel heavy. Androxal helps address a root cause of fatigue by restoring testosterone to a healthier range. Many men begin to notice improved energy, better concentration, and less afternoon crashing once their testosterone normalises. This is not a stimulant effect — it is the body returning to its natural baseline.

Can Women Take Androxal?

No. Androxal is not indicated for women. Its clinical development has focused on male secondary hypogonadism. Women have a completely different hormonal balance, and the safety and efficacy of enclomiphene in women have not been established for this product. If a woman is concerned about hormones, she should see a qualified Australian doctor for a separate assessment. Androxal should only be used by men under appropriate medical supervision.

Androxal and Stress

Stress is a silent testosterone killer. When you are chronically stressed, your body produces more cortisol, which suppresses testosterone production and worsens fatigue, anxiety, and abdominal fat. Androxal can help restore testosterone levels, but it is not a substitute for stress management. In my practice, I recommend combining any hormonal therapy with better sleep, regular exercise, mindfulness or counselling where needed, and realistic workload boundaries. The men who benefit most from Androxal are those who also address lifestyle stress.

How Long Does It Take for Androxal to Work?

Patience is important. This is not an overnight fix. Androxal works gradually because it restores the natural hormone cascade. The timeline below reflects what I typically discuss with patients:

Expected Timeline with Androxal
Timeframe What you may notice
2–4 weeks Blood testosterone levels often begin to rise
4–8 weeks Improvements in energy, sleep quality, mood, and mental clarity
8–12 weeks Better libido, stronger gym recovery, improved body composition, and reduced irritability
3–6 months More stable testosterone levels and sustained symptom improvement

Androxal and Caffeine

Many Australian men rely on coffee to get through the day, especially when fatigue is high. Moderate caffeine intake is generally fine with Androxal, and there is no known direct dangerous interaction. However, excessive caffeine — especially late in the day — can worsen sleep quality, raise cortisol, and indirectly undermine testosterone recovery. I usually advise patients to limit caffeine after 2 pm and to keep total intake moderate while their body adjusts.

Androxal and Fish Oil

Fish oil is a useful complementary supplement for men over 30. Omega-3 fatty acids support cardiovascular health, reduce inflammation, and may support healthy hormone production. There is no known harmful interaction between Androxal and fish oil. In fact, many patients take both as part of a broader health plan. Always choose a high-quality fish oil and discuss your full supplement list with your doctor.

Action: Take the Next Step

If you are over 30 and recognise yourself in the symptoms described above — fatigue, low libido, brain fog, stress, and a loss of physical drive — the most important action is to get a proper evaluation. Ask your Australian GP or endocrinologist for a full hormonal assessment, including total testosterone, free testosterone, LH, FSH, and oestradiol. If low testosterone is confirmed and the cause is secondary, Androxal may be a suitable option to discuss.

Imagine waking up with more energy, feeling sharper at work, training with better recovery, and regaining the confidence that comes from a healthy hormonal balance. That is the goal of treatment. Androxal is not a magic pill, but it offers a smart, fertility-friendly, natural-production approach that many men over 30 have been waiting for.

Doctor’s note: Androxal (enclomiphene citrate) is not currently registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration for general sale in Australia. It may be accessible only through specific legal pathways or clinical access schemes. This article is for educational purposes and does not replace individual medical advice. Always consult a qualified Australian doctor before starting, stopping, or changing any hormonal treatment.

Talk to your doctor today about whether an enclomiphene-based treatment like Androxal is right for you — and take back your energy, your drive, and your life.



novanutrition.com.au
novanutrition.com.au
novanutrition.com.au