Introducing Solid Foods - Grass Lake,MI

Since its only 10 day I think you could probably start him on baby food. My son also started eating the orange vegetables at 6 months. My son will be 1 yr old next week. I breast fed him for the fist 2 months and like you it didn't seem like my body made enough milk. My son's pediatrician told me to breast feed him and then offer him a bottle of formula. He drank whatever amount he chose of the formula. That way I knew his tumy was full.

L.

Hi A.,

He's your baby, you know what's best for him. Trust your judgment. If he's hungry, he'll let you know. If your baby sleeps well, doesn't fuss much and is happy and content, he's doing fine. Some moms strictly breastfeed or bottle feed their babies until a year old without introducing solids. Babies should get all their nutrients from breastmilk or formula. I too have a 5 month old, and believe me, when he's hungry, he lets me know. I do not breastfeed so I'm not speaking from experience here, but I've read some of the posts on this site, and there are certain foods and vitamins that you can take to increase your milk supply. I'm sure you will get a huge, very informative response on this topic here. You can also contact the lactation consultant at the hospital you delivered at and ask or even contact the LaLeche League. I would tell your sister nicely to butt out. Keep up the good work mom:)

M.

You are very right to wait! The AAP reccomends that you Exclusivly Breastfeed for at least 6 months.
Breastmilk is supply and demand. The more you nurse your son the more milk you will make. Actually starting solids right now could decrease your milk supply even more. As far as the pumping is concerned...how much milk you pump is NOT an indicator of how much milk your breasts produce. I would sit with a pump for 20 min and get maybe an ounce or two and then put the baby to the breast and she would gulp down the milk! And also you Breasts do not need to "feel" full in order to produce milk. After your supply evens out they may not leak any more or "feel" full. With my 3rd daughter my breats quit leaking and feeling full at about 2 months.
Trust your body!!
You are also doing the very best thing you can by breastfeeding your son!! If you want or need extra support from other bfing moms check out the La Leche League meeting in your area!!
Many Blessings, K.

Hi A. I used to be a breast feeding peer counselor and I can tell you we have all been there with the pressure of someone else on us. I exclusively breast fed all 3 of my children no water no solids no anything except breast milk for one whole year, my kids are smart, healthy and happy and they did not starve. If you understand the way the breast works it may help you feel a little better, First what ever your son needs for milk today, he will suck and it will be there........tomorrow. That is just the way our bodies work they are not a 7/11. Second are you helping your body produce the milk? You need to be drinking LOTS and I mean lots of water, some milk and a little fresh juice but lots of fluid, see what ever your baby needs he will get your body will take it from your bodies supply and unfortunately that means your bones also if you don't get enough calcium so take a supplement. If you would like suggestions on which ones are good click on the link and call me.
http://www.betterhealthinfo.net/letslivegreen
Rest assured that the decision should be yours and yours alone or maybe your husbands too, you know what I mean.
Good luck. Any questions call me

I did not introduce any solids till my son was 6 momths old. I only breastfed, and the doctor said it was ok. He wasn't ready. You are his mommy and you can make that decision. Everyone loves to have an opinion about what we are doing "right" and "wrong". Try not to take it personally, and do what feels right in your heart. My milk supply also felt less in the afternoon. You can get the Mother's Milk Tea, it helps, and so does making sure you drink enough water, and are eating properly. Trust your body, your husband is correct. If your baby was that hungry and not getting enough, you would know. With breastfeeding, you have to be comfortable with not knowing the exact amount they are getting, and be able to trust the most natural form of feeding your baby.

I would say that your son and your body are telling you now is the time to introduce some cereal. I don't want to sound rude, but it is selfish for you to wait if he does in fact need some more food because you want to be more stubborn than your sister, who also should look into the fact that many are saying to wait until 6 months old now. What advice I can give you is that no "expert" knows your kid like you do. There are ranges of 4-6 months that are ideal, but also signs to watch for. Your son not being full is one, and if he has an interest in what you eat is another. His size is another, but you'd have to look them up.
From what you are saying, he is ready. My older 3 were on puree's at your son's age and ate cereal around the 4 month mark (my dd had some in a bottle, but for very very different reasons at 1 month old), but my youngest was still strictly cereal for solids until about 6 months and cereal about 5 and a half. With him, I waited for the signs, and your story matches what happened with us.
Good luck to ya
tell your sis, politely, that he is your son, and he is not starving, you thank her for her advice but you will try a different way.
Have fun with the baby!

p.s. I have a friend who told me she breastfed ONLY until her kids were a year old... her youngest is a teenager now, and the rest moved out, but all survived. this is an extreame in my opinion but just wanted to pass that along.

I am always amazed when other people try to tell you how to raise your kids! Please don't listen to your sister. I don't mean any disrespect to her because sisters are great to have and you don't want to ruin your relationship with her, but this is YOUR child. You are NOT doing any harm what-so-ever to your baby. Keep up the good work with your nursing! As long as your doctor has given you the OK to wait on solids until your baby reaches his 6-month mark, my adnive is to stick to what you feel is right. Obviously if your doctor feels it is okay than your baby must be gaining weight and in a normal healthy range for his age.

As far as your feeling about your baby not being satisfied by your milk supply... have you thought of supplimenting with a formula? My advice would be to nurse/pump as much as you can and if your little guy still seems to be hungry try giving him a few ounces of formula until you feel he is content. I did this with my twins. Nursing and pumping for twins was alot of work and EXHAUSTING so my doc had me supliment a few times a day with a high calorie formula (high calorie because they had low birth weight. for your baby I would suggest just a regular milk-based formula). Because I am obviously not a doctor I would call your pediatrician and ask him if supplimenting a formula with your nursing is a good idea for your baby. Most pediatricians will talk with you over the phone for a simple question like this so it will save you a visit in the office. I hope this helps! Best wishes! :)

A., this is YOUR baby. Kindly thank your sister for her input, but remind her that if she wants to feed a 4 month old solids, she is perfectly capable of having her own. As for your milk supply, there is an herbal suppliment called Fenugreek that will up your milk supply. (I have used it twice when my milk supply dipped due to (get this) stress!!) It comes in pills or teas and works safely, quickly, and effectively. Trust yourself. You instinctively KNOW what's best for your infant. Be calm, be confident, listen to your husband (your baby's father who is looking out for his son's wellbeing). Good luck!!

Usually your baby will "tell" you when he is ready. If he acts hungry and he has drank for a reasonable amount of time, try mixing a smidge of baby cereal with your pumped milk and spoon feed to see if he is accepting of the idea. If he swallows and doesn't gag on it and spit it back out, he may be ready to ease oh-so-slowly into solids. If not, continue to hold out as you have been until February. Remember, February is only a date, a few days either way means nothing to your son if he is ready. Every baby is different. If you try the cereal and he has no interest, you will feel better about waiting (better for milk production!).

A. -
First, I can understand what you are going through. My in-laws pressured me to start my son on solid foods at 2 months and didn't stop until I started. It's really not your sister's business to decide when your son gets solid food. The good news is that in 10 days, she'll have to find something else to harp on. :) You should stick to your guns if it is important to you. Say something like, "We've spoken about this. I understand your opinion, but I really wish you would respect mine as a parent." Then change the subject or walk away.

That said, it wouldn't hurt to start him on solid food now. If you are concerned he isn't getting enough milk, it might be worth it for your piece of mind. With my first son, I had to supplement with formula for the first month and felt like a failure. For the rest of my time breastfeeding I was a nervous wreck about whether he was getting enough or not. It was actually a relief when the doctor told me to start him on solid foods.
The bottom line is that he's your son and as long as your husband supports you (which it sounds like he does), feel good in that you are looking out for him the best way you know how. And that's all anyone can ask. Good luck!

A.~

Do what feels right to you and for your baby. If he is weighing in okay at the pediatrician, doesn't appear to be malnourished or as if you are not taking care of him~ then you are just fine.

I also waited until six months before starting solid foods. I did it as I wanted to avoid any possible food allergies and I wanted to be sure my son was ready for it, too.

When someone sticks their nose into your life~ you have to put your foot down and make sure you go with your instincts. Just because you are a new mom, it does not mean you are not without resources or alone~ It does not mean you will screw anything up and it does not mean your sister knows more than you do.
If you need to, you can supplement some formula with the breast milk. (I researched and found I a brand I was comfortable with, and we had no issues.). Just nurse first!

You will need to tell your sister to back off~ this is your child, not hers. The stress of her interference could be affecting your milk production as stress does decrease milk supply. So relax and go with your gut.

Keep doing what you are doing ~ I also think it's wonderful that your hubby is supporting you, too. :)

If your sister has children, tell her that all children develop and grow at different rates and if she has a set 'rate' in mind with your son, you would appreciate it if she stopped comparing. (That has been a big pet-peeve in my family. I despise my son being compared to my nephew - especially as my son was a preemie by six weeks.)

Your son gets ALL of his nutritional needs met with breast milk. Your sister is WAY OUT OF LINE to suggest this, it goes against what doctors recommend, and its inappropriate for her to try to tell you what to do with your own kid. Tell her to take a hike!

He's going through a growth spurt. You might need to drink some extra water and maybe use a supplement like fennugreek to get you through this (if only for your emotional support). Many women get nothing from pumping, but can feed a baby fine. Keep track of wet and dirty diapers. If he's having those, then you're fine. Remember your breast is not like a bladder that fills with milk before you can empty it, it can feel empty and still produce milk for your son. Your body is capable of feeding MULTIPLE children, so it certainly can feed a growing boy! Growth spurts are hard to deal with emotionally since the baby is fussy, but it will pass, and you're not neglecting your child by allowing your body to do what it was designed to do. Chances are he'd still be fussy even with extra milk or solids. I know several people who started rice cereal early so their kid would sleep through the night, and it DIDN'T work! Many kids are not ready for solids until 9 months old. And when they do start them, they only eat a little itty bitty bit, so it doesn't make much of a nutritional difference. They're still going to need MOST of their nutrition from your milk. So HANG IN THERE MAMA!

I delayed foods until my daughter was 9 months. If you talk to a nutritionist you will learn that baby cereal is not exactly the best choice for your child, breastmilk is. I chose to skip cereal and head right on to veggies :) I did it in my own time... as I was comfortable and when my daughter started reaching for the food on my plate.
And...breastfeeding is supply and demand, you are making enough milk for your baby.

Ask your sister in law where her degree in nutrition is from... that should keep her quiet for a while.

You are nursing, so your son gets all the nutrients he needs. I bottle fed my first son and started him on solids at 5 months. I nursed my second son and started him on cereal twice a day at 6 months, but honestly, I was really lazy about the fruits and veggies and didn't start those until 7 and 8 months. Dr said that was fine. If you feel like you do not have enough milk right now, look at your diet. Some foods (like too much caffeine) can lower your milk supply. It wouldn't hurt him to give him rice cereal once a day, if it makes you feel better and you have less stress. You don't even have to tell your sister! She needs to support you, not belittle you.

A., I think you are over reacting a bit about 2 weeks. Don't be so worried...some parents start solid food very early and others wait. Pay attention to your baby and you will know if he is ready. My son is 7 months..and we were planning on waiting until 6 months to feed solid food. However at 5 months my son started waking up in the middle of the night again and started to pay alot of attention when we eat. So at 5 months we gave him solid food and he is doing just fine. If you have started to produce less milk you should definately start feeding solid food and supliment with formula if you baby is not getting enough. Ultimately your baby's health is what is important, not holding out because you are mad at your sister.

Go with your instinct. If your son is interested in what you are eating and seems to want to try, then go ahead and start feeding him solids.

My son didn't start eating solids until almost 7 months, which is a bit late, but he was and is fine. My daughter did almost the same.

Every child has their own pace. I wouldn't worry so much about the exact age, but focus more on your baby's interests and development.

You are allowing her to pshyc you out!!! Your mind is a powerful thing. DO NOT DOUBT yourself. It does sound like you have made up your mind to wait till he's 6 months so tell her to "eat it" and not to mention it again. :-) She's your sister and I have no idea what your relationship is like with her... I know my 4 siblings would respect me and not make a big deal about it or get in a huff... And you don't mention how many kids SHE has...

Turn the tables on her... Instead of YOU defending YOUR choise to wait 2 weeks ask her to defend HER position on starting earlier. WHAT is her drive behind this? Is your son not gaining? not growing? how long did she nurse exclusively? (Could be she doesn't want you to better her "record") Make her CONVINCE You that it would be better for YOUR child to add solids to the diet. Not just a cause he wants it... But scientific proof. And if she can't then just tell her... "Its only 2 weeks why the big deal to rush it?"
Don't doubt your ability to nurse him. Let him nurse as much and as long as possible. If you feel like he's not satisfied then add a feeding opportunity.
Pumping does not work for everyone as well as it does for others.
Make sure your drinking plenty of fluids and don't let your sisters "advice" stress you out!

I was born a month early... I guess I was not the rolly polly munchkin that my grandparents thought I should be and were trying to pressure my mom and dad into starting cereals and cows milk by 2 months, meat by 3... They did not sucumb to the pressures... Now here I sit a healthy 30 yr old mother of 4 who nursed HER children. :-)

Relax and if she doesn't lay off, then avoid contact for the next 10 days under the guise of being busy. lol Its the truth isn't it? :-)

I think you need to watch the signs from your baby. When he's ready then you should start and not before then. But just becausde you have a set time in your head doesn't mean he will be ready by then or that he's not ready now. Watch him and how he acts when you have food near him. Or if you are eating and he can see you. if he's acting interested then he's probably ready and two weeks really isn't going to make a difference. I wanted to wait till 6 months as well but my DD wanted more to eat about 4 months. My Dr. told me some babies are ready sooner then others.

I can't believe your son is still satisfied without any food honestly. Is 10 days really that big of deal? Are you trying to prove something to your sister? FEED your child. He will be very happy I am sure.

Hi A.,

I completely sympathize with you. My mother in law was telling me my 4 month old was needing "real food" and heavily implied I was completely in the wrong for not giving her rice cereal, jarred foods, etc. It's nervewracking and disheartening to hear. But please know that you have the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization on your side. Babies under 6 months old do not need solids foods. And if you want to get technical, babies under one YEAR old do not need solid foods. Breastmilk is the perfect food for your little one: perfect calorie content, easy to prepare, and easy to digest. There is no more perfect food for any human than human milk. Did you know that under one, food is supposed to be for "fun"? A baby's gut is not designed to be able to break down the nutrients in solid food this early. Once your son is older he will be able to but until then anything solid you give him will go in and come out in much the same way.

Please check out this link for more information: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html

Please, please, PLEASE do not listen to the advice of Sarah L. I know she means well but formula supplementation will only make your supply decrease. There are key growth spurts that occur "Every 3": 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, etc. Your son is approaching his 6 month growth spurt and the absolute best thing you can do for him is to let him nurse whenever he wants, even if you think you're not making enough. Do not supplement with a formula, it will only send the message to your breasts that the milk they're prepared to make is not needed when that couldn't be further from the truth. Trust your body. Trust your husband! He is completely right: you will make more when your baby needs more. Your son is doing what he needs to do to get your supply where he needs it for this growth spurt and your body *will* listen.

You're doing a great job. :)

My dtr was exclusively BF until 5 1/2 months and she started showing interest in solids so we gave them to her and she loved them. I do not believe there is anything magical that happens at exactly 6 months. there is a reasonable range for everything. do what you think your baby is cueing you to do. for the record, DD is also wonderfully happy, healthy and without food allergies at 2 1/2. Follow your baby's cues. I am sure my breast milk and solid food loving baby would have not liked waiting when she was showing readiness cues.

Hey A. :)
Perhaps you should ask yourself what you would do in this situation had your sister not put any pressure on you? Forget your pre-conceived notions on this subject as well as your sister's pre-conceived notions and do what is right for your son. Trust your instinct! Hope this helps!

K. :)

I started with rice cereal around 4 months. Not much, just once a day and it was pretty soupy. Gradually I worked up to a thicker formulation and then switched to the oatmeal cereal when recommended. At about 5 or 6 months I started with the fruits and veggies. These would get mixed in with the cereal, or be given at the same time as the cereal.

Even when they are on solids they will still need formula or breast milk. If you have waited this long I don't know what difference another two weeks will make, just make sure he is getting enough breast milk. Either that or bite the bullet and feed him with a spoon. At the very least it will shut your sister up and you can breathe better knowing that she isn't breathing down your neck anymore.

It sounds like the stress of arguing over solids is getting to you and resulting in a lower production. Either give up the fight or simply ignore your sister. We all approach parenting differently and as long as his doc. says he's healthy you shouldn't worry too much about it.

A.,

Go with your instinct and your doctor's advice. Kids are fine doing breast milk or formula for at least the first year. Some people introduce solids by 4mos...some not until 1yr. What you have to stick to is that this is YOUR son. You will do what you and your husband and doctor think is right for him. He will not suffer if you hold off solids for 2 more weeks or 2 more months. He really gets what he needs nutrionally from your breast milk or formula. I'd tell your sister that you appreciate her input, but you're done discussing it and you're going to wait. If she brings it up again, tell her you're not going to have the conversation with her again, your mind is made up and your son will be fine. He has 2 parents that love him and his doctor will let you know if he needs anything else.

Good luck...I know it's never easy when others who you see as more 'experienced' begin to push their ideas. Hold strong!