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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.
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:
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.
By a practising Australian doctor
If you are over 30 and still standing in front of the mirror feeling defeated by deep, painful lumps along your jawline, chin, chest, or back, you are not alone. Adult acne is common, but it is also cruel. It arrives before a wedding, a job interview, or a date. It leaves red marks, dark spots, and permanent pitted scars. You have probably already tried antibiotic creams, oral antibiotics, hormonal pills, expensive serums, LED masks, chemical peels, and supplements that promised miracles — and yet the breakouts keep coming back.
This is not a hygiene problem. It is not because you eat too much chocolate. It is a medical condition of the oil glands and hair follicles, driven by inflammation, hormones, and the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes. And for many adults, there is one treatment that remains the gold standard when everything else has failed: isotretinoin.
Isotretinoin, known in Australia by brands such as Roaccutane, Oratane, and Isotroin, is a vitamin A derivative that works on all four major causes of acne simultaneously. It dramatically shrinks the sebaceous oil glands, reducing the oil that feeds acne bacteria. It normalises the shedding of skin cells inside hair follicles so they do not clog. It reduces inflammation. And it creates an environment where Cutibacterium acnes cannot thrive.
Unlike antibiotics that you use for years, isotretinoin is typically taken for 4 to 12 months. The goal is cumulative dosing. In many cases, the result is long-term remission — often described by doctors and patients as the closest thing to a cure. For an adult who has spent a decade battling acne, this is life-changing.
Many patients over 30 are understandably cautious. They have heard frightening stories about isotretinoin. As a doctor, I want you to have transparent, accurate information. Here are the questions I hear most often in my practice, answered from an Australian prescribing perspective.
| Question | Doctor’s Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the cost of isotretinoin without PBS in Australia? | If you do not meet PBS criteria, a private prescription for generic isotretinoin (e.g. Oratane or Isotroin) typically costs approximately $80 to $150 per month depending on your daily dose and pharmacy. Branded Roaccutane may range from $120 to $200 per month. This is not cheap, but when you add up years of failed creams, facials, and lost confidence, many patients find it worthwhile. Under PBS, eligible patients pay only the standard co-payment. |
| Does isotretinoin affect vision or night vision? | Yes, it can. The most common visual side effect is dry eye, which can cause blurring, grittiness, and glare. Some patients notice reduced night vision or slower adjustment from bright light to dark. These effects are usually mild and reversible after stopping the drug. However, if you do a lot of night driving or work in low-light conditions, tell your doctor. We may recommend lubricating eye drops, a lower dose, or an ophthalmology review. |
| Can isotretinoin be used for other skin conditions besides acne? | Absolutely. Although isotretinoin is registered in Australia for severe acne, dermatologists frequently prescribe it off-label for other stubborn conditions, including rosacea, hidradenitis suppurativa, sebaceous hyperplasia, dissecting cellulitis of the scalp, and certain forms of folliculitis. Its ability to reduce oil, inflammation, and abnormal skin cell turnover makes it useful well beyond acne. |
| Can isotretinoin affect the immune system? | Isotretinoin is not an immunosuppressant like corticosteroids or biologic drugs. It does not put you at high risk for frequent infections. However, it has immunomodulatory effects — it alters certain inflammatory pathways and white cell behaviour. Some patients may have mild changes in white blood cell counts on blood tests, but these are rarely clinically significant. If you have an immune disorder, your doctor will monitor you carefully. |
| Is isotretinoin linked to inflammatory bowel disease? | This has been a controversial topic for years. Large studies and meta-analyses have not confirmed a strong causal link between isotretinoin and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, because some individual reports exist, doctors are cautious if you have a personal or family history of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, or if you develop persistent abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, or severe cramping. Always report these symptoms immediately. |
| What is the PBS listing for isotretinoin in Australia? | Isotretinoin is listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as an Authority Required (STREAMLINED) medication. It is subsidised for patients with severe cystic acne vulgaris that has not responded to adequate standard therapy, including systemic antibiotics and topical treatments. Prescribing is generally initiated by a dermatologist or by a GP in consultation with a dermatologist. Under PBS, eligible patients pay only the standard co-payment — around $30 for general patients and $7–$8 for concession card holders, as of 2025. |
| Can isotretinoin cause pseudoporphyria? | Yes, but it is rare. Pseudoporphyria is a condition involving skin fragility and blistering on sun-exposed areas such as the backs of the hands, face, and forearms. It looks similar to porphyria cutanea tarda, but blood porphyrin levels are normal. The main risk factors are high doses of isotretinoin combined with significant sun exposure. The treatment is straightforward: stop isotretinoin, protect your skin from UV light, and the blisters usually heal over weeks. |
| What is the role of antihistamines for isotretinoin side effects? | As isotretinoin dries the skin, many patients develop itchiness, eczema-like patches, or hives. Non-sedating antihistamines such as loratadine, cetirizine, or fexofenadine can significantly reduce itching and improve comfort. They do not treat the underlying dryness, but they reduce the urge to scratch, which lowers the risk of skin damage and infection, and helps you stay consistent with your isotretinoin course. |
By the time most adults reach my office, they are exhausted. They have spent thousands of dollars on products that did not work. They have cancelled beach days, avoided photography, and felt unprofessional at work. Adult acne steals self-esteem in a way that is hard to explain unless you have lived it.
Isotretinoin offers something that creams and antibiotics rarely provide: a defined end point. A typical course lasts 6 to 9 months. You take a capsule once or twice daily with food. Your skin becomes dry — we manage that with moisturisers, lip balm, and sometimes antihistamines. You have regular blood tests to monitor cholesterol, liver function, and pregnancy prevention. Then, in most cases, you finish. And for the majority of patients, the severe acne does not return.
For patients over 30, the benefits often outweigh the risks. The key is careful monitoring and honest communication. You must avoid pregnancy while taking isotretinoin and for at least one month after stopping, because it can cause serious birth defects. You should avoid waxing, dermabrasion, and excessive sun exposure during treatment. But these are temporary precautions — and they are far easier to manage than a lifetime of scarring.
If you are over 30 and still suffering from deep, painful, or scarring acne, do not wait another five years. Isotretinoin is not a first-line treatment for mild pimples, but if you have failed adequate courses of antibiotics, hormonal therapy, or topical treatments, you may be an excellent candidate. In Australia, isotretinoin is available only by prescription. The safe and legal way to buy isotretinoin is through an Australian-registered doctor and a local pharmacy. Avoid online sellers that do not ask for a prescription — the risks are simply not worth it.
Book an appointment with your GP or ask for a referral to a dermatologist. Bring a list of all the treatments you have tried. Be honest about your mental health, your bowel symptoms, your vision, and your plans for pregnancy. With the right monitoring, isotretinoin can be one of the most rewarding decisions you ever make for your skin.
Clear skin is not vanity — it is confidence, comfort, and quality of life. You deserve it.
