Discover our new product:
Discover our new product:
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.
Written for Australians over 30 — updated November 2025.
As a doctor, I see the same worries every week. A 34-year-old teacher hides a cold sore before class photos. A 42-year-old father of two is terrified he will give genital herpes to his wife. A 55-year-old woman still has burning nerve pain after shingles. A pregnant woman at 36 weeks cannot sleep because she is afraid of passing herpes to her baby. Sound familiar?
Valtrex (valaciclovir) is one of the most useful antiviral medicines in Australian general practice. It does not cure herpes viruses, but it controls them so well that many patients finally feel like they are in charge again.
Valtrex is the brand name for valaciclovir. It is an antiviral prodrug that your body converts into aciclovir. Aciclovir stops herpes viruses from copying their DNA. It works against herpes simplex virus type 1 (cold sores, some genital herpes), herpes simplex virus type 2 (most genital herpes), and varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox and shingles).
Because Valtrex is absorbed much better than plain aciclovir, you can take fewer tablets and get higher levels of active drug inside the cells where the virus hides.
| Condition | Typical Adult Dose | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Cold sores (herpes labialis) | 2 g twice in one day, 12 hours apart | Shortens crusting and pain if started at first tingle |
| Genital herpes — first episode | 500 mg twice daily for 5–10 days | Reduces severity and duration |
| Genital herpes — recurrent episodes | 500 mg twice daily for 3 days | Faster healing if started early |
| Genital herpes — suppression | 500 mg once daily | Reduces outbreaks and asymptomatic shedding |
| Shingles (herpes zoster) | 1 g three times daily for 7 days | Reduces pain and post-herpetic neuralgia |
| Chickenpox in adults | 1 g three times daily for 7 days | Reduces complications |
Bell’s palsy is sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face. It is frightening. Many people think they are having a stroke. If you ever develop facial weakness, go to an emergency department immediately to rule out stroke. But if the diagnosis is Bell’s palsy, doctors often prescribe a steroid and an antiviral. Valtrex is the antiviral most commonly used because the herpes simplex virus may trigger inflammation around the facial nerve. Starting Valtrex 1 g three times daily for 7 days, together with prednisolone, may improve the chance of a full facial recovery when started within 72 hours.
If you are pregnant and have had genital herpes, this is a major worry. Neonatal herpes is rare but can be catastrophic. The good news is that Australian guidance supports suppressive Valtrex from 36 weeks of pregnancy until delivery for women with recurrent genital herpes. The usual dose is 500 mg twice daily. This reduces outbreaks near the birth canal, reduces asymptomatic viral shedding, and lowers the chance of a caesarean being needed for active lesions. It is one of the most powerful steps a mother can take to protect her baby.
Many patients ask: “I have no symptoms, so can I still pass it on?” Yes. People with genital herpes can shed virus on days with no sores. This is called asymptomatic shedding. Valtrex suppression at 500 mg once daily can reduce asymptomatic shedding by around 70–80%. In couples where one partner has HSV-2, daily Valtrex reduces the risk of transmission by about half. It is not a cure and it does not make transmission zero, so condoms and honest conversations still matter.
Another question: “Will Valtrex make my blood test negative?” No. Blood tests for herpes antibodies (IgG) detect your immune system’s response, not the virus itself. Valtrex does not cause a false-negative blood test. If you are asymptomatic but want testing, you can be tested accurately while taking Valtrex.
For Australians living with HIV, herpes outbreaks can be more frequent, more painful, and longer lasting. Valtrex is a key medicine in this group. It is generally safe with modern antiretroviral therapy. In stable HIV, recurrent herpes is often managed with 500 mg twice daily. Your doctor will check kidney function because doses need adjustment if your kidneys are impaired. Controlling herpes also reduces breaks in the skin that could increase the risk of other infections.
Women over 30 frequently ask whether Valtrex will stop the pill from working. The answer is no. There is no clinically significant interaction between Valtrex and oral contraceptives. You do not need a backup method because of Valtrex. This makes it easier to treat herpes without changing your family planning routine.
There is a lot of confusion here. Monkeypox (mpox) is caused by an orthopoxvirus, not a herpes virus. Valtrex is not effective against monkeypox, and I do not recommend using it for that purpose. If you have a new blistering rash, especially with fever, swollen glands, or recent travel or close contacts, see a doctor or sexual health clinic for proper testing. Australia has specific public health treatments for mpox. Using Valtrex for the right virus is not only safer, it saves you money and avoids false reassurance.
Valtrex is a prescription-only medicine (Schedule 4) in Australia. You cannot get it over the counter. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises Valtrex for several conditions, but authority criteria apply. This means your GP must confirm that your condition meets the PBS rules before you get the subsidised price.
| Condition | PBS Authority Requirement | Typical PBS Subsidised Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Herpes zoster (shingles) in adults | Authority required; treatment for acute shingles, ideally within 72 hours of rash | 1 g three times daily for 7 days |
| Initial treatment of genital herpes | Authority required; confirmed HSV infection | 500 mg twice daily for 5–10 days |
| Recurrent genital herpes — episodic | Authority required; confirmed recurrent HSV | 500 mg twice daily for 3 days |
| Suppression of recurrent genital herpes | Authority required; frequent or problematic recurrences | 500 mg once daily |
| Varicella (chickenpox) in adults | Authority required; adults at risk of severe disease | 1 g three times daily for 7 days |
These criteria can change and are summarised here. Your GP will check the current PBS schedule and apply for authority if needed.
Once you have a valid prescription, you can have it dispensed at any pharmacy, including Priceline Pharmacy. Many Priceline pharmacies stock both the brand Valtrex and generic valaciclovir. Generic valaciclovir is usually less expensive and works the same way. Ask your pharmacist about the best price.
You do not have to live with fear, pain, or shame. If you have recurrent cold sores, genital herpes, shingles, Bell’s palsy, or if you are pregnant with a history of herpes, Valtrex may be a safe and effective option for you.
Your next steps:
Disclaimer: This article is general medical information for Australian readers and is not a substitute for individual advice from your doctor. Always consult a qualified health professional before starting, changing, or stopping any medicine.
