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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.
From a prescriber’s perspective
You are 35, 45, 55. You know your job, your business, your role. But before a board presentation, job interview, wedding speech or school parent meeting, your heart pounds, your palms sweat, your face flushes. Or maybe migraines steal your weekends. Or your blood pressure monitor keeps showing numbers your GP frowns at. You want something that actually helps the physical symptoms without making you feel foggy, drowsy or dependent.
If that sounds like you, propranolol may be the medication you have been looking for.
Propranolol is a beta-blocker. It blocks adrenaline from binding to beta receptors in the heart and blood vessels. This slows a racing heart, reduces tremor and sweating, lowers blood pressure, and decreases the physical symptoms of anxiety. Unlike sedatives, propranolol does not cause dependence, mental clouding or personality changes for most people. It simply turns down the volume on your body’s “fight or flight” response.
In Australia, propranolol is TGA-approved and has been used for decades. It is available as Inderal (the original brand) and as multiple generic versions. It comes in 10 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg and 160 mg tablets.
| Indication | How propranolol helps | Typical adult dose |
|---|---|---|
| Performance or social anxiety | Reduces racing heart, sweating, tremor and blushing | 10–40 mg 30–60 minutes before event |
| Blushing | Reduces facial flushing triggered by adrenaline | 10–40 mg as needed |
| Migraine prevention | Reduces frequency and severity of migraines | 40–80 mg twice daily |
| High blood pressure | Lowers blood pressure over time | 40–80 mg twice daily |
| Essential tremor | Steadies hands and reduces visible shaking | 40–80 mg twice daily |
Blushing is not just embarrassment. It is a rush of adrenaline dilating blood vessels in your face. Propranolol helps block that adrenaline surge, so you can speak up in meetings, attend social events, go on dates, or give a presentation without your face turning bright red. Many patients tell me this one change gives them back their confidence. When you stop worrying about blushing, you can actually focus on what you want to say.
For situational anxiety, I usually start patients with 10–20 mg, increasing to 40 mg if needed. A 40 mg tablet taken 30–60 minutes before a stressful situation is the most common effective dose. The effect lasts a few hours, so there is no all-day haze. It is not an antidepressant or tranquilliser; it treats the physical symptoms of anxiety, which can break the cycle of fear and avoidance.
Inderal is the original propranolol brand available in Australia. It is widely stocked in Australian pharmacies and comes in the same strengths as generic versions. Many patients ask for Inderal by name because it has been around for decades and feels familiar. If you have a preference for the brand, your GP can specify “Inderal” on the prescription.
Propranolol 40 mg tablets are one of the most commonly prescribed strengths in Australia. They are available as brand Inderal and as generic versions. Depending on your indication and PBS listing, a pack may be subsidised. For anxiety use, a private prescription often costs around $15–$30 for 100 tablets, making it a very affordable option compared with many other anxiety or migraine medicines.
| Feature | Inderal (brand) | Generic propranolol |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Propranolol hydrochloride | Propranolol hydrochloride |
| Strengths available | 10 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg | 10 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg |
| Cost | Usually higher | Usually lower |
| TGA approval | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Patients who prefer the brand or need specific inactive ingredients | Most patients seeking a cost-effective, equally effective option |
From a doctor’s point of view, generic propranolol is therapeutically equivalent to Inderal. If you have an intolerance to a particular filler or excipient, your GP can specify the brand on the script. For most people, generic propranolol is the smart, budget-friendly choice.
| Warning | What you need to know |
|---|---|
| Propranolol and diabetes type 1 – warning | Propranolol can mask the early warning signs of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), such as a fast heartbeat, tremor and sweating. It can also slow recovery from a hypo. If you have type 1 diabetes, propranolol is not automatically off-limits, but it must be used with careful blood glucose monitoring and a clear hypoglycaemia plan agreed with your GP or endocrinologist. |
| Propranolol and long QT syndrome – contraindicated | Propranolol is generally not recommended if you have congenital long QT syndrome or significant heart rhythm problems. It can worsen conduction and lead to dangerous arrhythmias. Always tell your doctor about any personal or family history of heart rhythm disorders, fainting or sudden cardiac death. |
Propranolol is itself a migraine preventive, but if you also use acute migraine medicines, your doctor must review the combination carefully.
| Migraine medicine | Interaction with propranolol |
|---|---|
| Triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan etc.) | Usually safe at standard doses, but may have additive effects on blood vessels or heart rate. Use together only under medical supervision. |
| Ergotamine-based medicines | Avoid combining; risk of dangerous blood vessel narrowing. |
| Other beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers | Additive lowering of heart rate and blood pressure; requires dose adjustment. |
Propranolol is a prescription-only medicine in Australia. You cannot buy it over the counter, but getting a script is straightforward if it is appropriate for you.
If you are over 30 and tired of physical anxiety symptoms, blushing, tremor or migraines running your life, propranolol could be a safe, effective and affordable option. Speak to your doctor today.
Disclaimer: This article is educational and does not replace individual medical advice. Propranolol is not suitable for everyone, including some people with asthma, severe bradycardia, long QT syndrome or type 1 diabetes without specialist input. Always consult a qualified Australian medical practitioner.
