My pediatrician told us to start solids at 4 mo. I was not ready. I waited until 5 1/2 then felt obligated...we tried for awhile but she cut back drastically on nursing so I quit. Then we went for the six month check up and the ped said, "You really need to get her eating solids. She's needs iron-fortified rice cereal." So I started again. We tried cereal, apples, and butternut squash. She got totally constipated. The Ped. Nurse said, "give her brown sugar water." I did not want to give my 7 month old sugar! So I just quit solids and she started breastfeeding again really well and the constipation went away in less than 24 hours. A friend of mine has researched a lot about benefits of delaying solids until one year. Is anyone doing this? Do you have a pediatrician that supports you? Any thoughts?
-----added later to answer questions----
Thank you so much for the feedback. Here are a few details to clear up some of your questions.
On Thursday my daughter will have her 9 mo well check so I'm feeling like I'm going to have to "answer" for the decision I've made. She is the happiest, smiliest, bouncy baby. She has fat rolls all over her little legs and arms. Whenever my mother-in-law sees her she says, "You can tell that baby is HEALTHY!"
When Recently I've given her pieces of frozen broccoli which she loves to chew on since she's teething. When we tried "baby food" I used the Earth's Best Organic Rice Cereal mixed with breastmilk and then pureed my own butternut squash, apples, pears, etc. I am gluten-intolerant so I don't want to give her anything with additives or any wheat until she is over a year for sure.
Since she is so healthy I'm content that I'm doing the right thing for now, but each new day I'm willing to consider trying something new. Thank you for your continued responses.
Honestly, it's entirely up to you and not your pediatrician what you feed your child. Breastmilk is the perfect food and there's nothing wrong with not giving solids until the child is 1+. And, you don't need to feed your child "processed" foods which is what that rice cereal is. Breastmilk does have iron as long as the mother is not iron deficient - some breastfeeding mamas do need to continue with prenatal vitamins to keep iron levels up. But, don't let them tell you that breastmilk doesn't have iron - it has everything your baby needs. The iron levels may be lower by scientific analysis, but it's all assimilated versus the stuff they add to processed foods. My younger son breastfed exclusively until about 9 mos. At that time, he showed interest in what we were eating at dinner. So, we just gave him small amounts of that -i.e., cutup veggies, rice, mashed potatoes, etc. He never really ate baby food. Both my sons are not picky eaters and I think it's because they've always eaten what their parents have - they have no concept that kids eat different than adults. So, just listen to your instincts - mama "rules" in terms of what's best for her baby.
You are so right!! Why should you have to give a baby sugar to combat some processed carbs?? I totally disagree with rice cereal for many reasons, and adamantly disagree with babies eating anything at 4 months!! I agree with Mary that you should do it when you feel ready. I would be sure that you had a good iron rich vitamin, and continue to focus on iron rich foods, but other than that, you are the best food out there. I wish I could nurse that long:) I tend to wait until my kids care about food, like Mary said, they want what we have. Then, I give it to them. Avacado is a perfect first food, along with any soft veggies and fruits. Trust yourself, whether you have 1 kid or 4 with one on the way like me, your instinct is perfectly in tact:) ~Amber~
As long as your baby is gaining weight at a steady rate - there is no need to start solids. My youngest did not want solids until after 8 months - I breasfed her until 2 1/2. My kids never really did babyfood - they breastfed and then ate what we ate.
Breast milk is obviously better but like with everything, you must prepare your child for the future or else you will have a hell of a time when you try to wean her and at the same time try something new. It does not work like that.
Start now with little stuff. for constipation, prune juice will always work.
I think it is fine to wait. The key to make sure she continues to gain weight. Both of my kids are super big and I would never have been able to produce enough breastmilk for them.
-Leigh
We did for various reasons with my youngest. She is now almost 10 and perfectly healthy.
I think Mary B gave you a really good response. I didn't delay solids until after 12 months, but didn't start them when I was told to (6 months). I waited until my daughter showed interest in what we were eating at 7.5 months, then gave her exactly the same thing. I used a Happy Baby baby food grinder, and ground up literally everything we ate - including homemade pizza! My daughter isn't very picky, and loves her vegetables - likely because we eat lots of veggies. I never once bought baby food (cereal or jar food) for her, just gave her what we have. It took a while for her to be getting more calories from "people food" than from breast milk, but I wasn't worried about that. I think that by her first birthday, she was still getting about 75% of her food intake from breastmilk, but she tried lots of different types of foods - just never made whole meals out of them. At 18 months, I stopped the nighttime breastfeeding, and that is when her daytime eating picked up considerably. She was 25 months when she weaned herself (my goal had been 24 months, so I was happy).
My mother, who is a retired post-partum nurse, said she heard at a breastfeeding conference from a gastroenterologist (!) that babies should not eat solids before they can sit on their own, unsupported. The reason was that by the time they reached that milestone, their digestive system was mature enough to handle solid food. Seems reasonable to me.
I will do the same thing with my 5 month old baby that I did with her big sister - wait until she shows interest in food, and no food before she sits alone.
Our pediatrician will not be happy with me, but I am not concerned about making her happy. I am making a choice for my child that I feel is in her best interest. I am also a "follow the rules" person, but in this case, I have a wicked streak in me that delights in not following the rules. :-)
Best wishes on feeding your baby!
Dear Heather,
I love nursing my 9 month old but I have also mixed in solids. My ped was concerned that he would have a hard time switching and she was right. We have dealt with constipation as well, but find that apple juice actually works really well to remedy that. I nurse him in the morning, then he has a jar of fruit. At lunch I give him a veg. and fruit and bottle of juice (I pump to keep up my milk supply). Then at dinner he has a veg and meat along with nursing. He will then nurse at least once more before bed and sometimes during the evening. He really enjoys the variety and I think it will help us transition to "real" food more easily. His body will have an easier time going from just breast milk to solids. But your right, everyone has a different idea, and every baby is different. Good luck!
Heather
You are getting some good advice. 6 months is what my pedi had me start my kids on solids. I started them on rice cereal about 2 1/2 months. I would be afraid my delaying the solids that you would be nrsing all hours of the night still. If he is worried about her iron why doesn't he have you give her the iron Provisol. Good luck in what you decided to do. Here is a link I found for you. I hope it helps.
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/solids.htm
Hi Heather,
I have four children and each were different in their dietary needs. First, if you do solids and baby gets constipated, do not give rice or bananas. Both are very binding and will cause that in some babies. Give her oatmeal instead. You can make the oatmeal with breastmilk so she will be getting something she is used to with a little bit of something new. I have bever heard of brown sugar water and I think that is crazy, if anything, add pure apple juice or prunes. All kids are different and really as a mom my best advice is always go with your gut. If your dr. says something that doesn't sound quite right follow up with research of your own. I had two children that got very constipated and that was the best solution I found for them. Good luck!
Paula
Heather - take heart that you are the best mommy your little one could have! I've done tons of research on everything being a first time "older" mom. Opinions are like "you know what" - everyone has one. The one thing I have found consistent in all the literature is that all babies are unique and do things on their own schedule. If your little one isn't interested in solids yet and is thriving on breast milk alone - then keep doing it! Unfortunately, I didn't produce enough milk and had to stop breastfeeding when my daughter was 2.5 months. We tried solids at 5 months and she wasn't ready. We tried again at 6 months and she loved it - but that is her unique style. While teething she wants less solids and more formula. She's healthly, happy, and thriving. What more could a mommy hope for? Hang in there!
I think introducing solids before a year benefits your child more from a developmental perspective than a nutritional perspective. Kids are more receptive to trying different textures and tastes when they are introduced earlier, and kids learn a lot of fine motor skills by learning to feed themselves.
My friend did this, mainly because she really enjoys breastfeeding. Her child is now almost 2 and is doing fine. She's small for her age, but completely normal otherwise -- talks, sings, dances, etc. She did get a very slow start with solids, and still doesn't eat a wide variety of foods, and still primarily breastfeeds. Its not something I would want to do myself, but my friend is very happy with her decision and feels it was the right one for her and her baby.
You are doing exactly what you should be doing - listening to your heart. Did you know that the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until your child is a year old? Your doctor won't tell you that - I don't know why - they seem to have their own agenda. Don't force solids if you feel she isn't ready for it. If she is still growing and not nursing constantly 24-hr a day, she's fine. Wait until she shows a lot of interest on her own, and even then, she may not be ready to eat, she may just want to explore and understand what you are doing.
My son was not interested in eating solids until he was almost a year old. We opted to follow the baby-led-weaning model and just kept offering foods and when he was ready, he ate it - and hasn't stopped since. He nursed exclusively until about 11 months, and continued nursing until he was two. He was only nursing at bedtimes for the last 8 months or so, and one day he just stopped asking to nurse. He loved nursing, and I feel great that it was something he gave up on his own, not something that was taken away.
There are two great websites we found about baby-led-weaning that might be of help to you:
http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/blw/engels.html
http://babyledweaning.blogware.com/
Just keep listening to your heart. You're doing a great job.
I would agree with your ped. You may have worse problems than constipation if your baby doesn't get enough iron. Switch the cereal from rice to oatmeal. That will greatly help.I have twin 18 mos. girls and had some problems with constipation, but gave them some milk of magnesia and they were fine. It's pretty normal since solids are new to the system, but it will end. Also, giving them very watered down juice all day will help with the const. You can continue to breastfeed, but your baby at this age needs more than that. Good luck!
Moms instincts are best. I nursed all 6 of my kids and food introduction varied w/ each, but most of them did not start until 9 - 10 mo. 2 of the boys went straight to table food (they did not like baby food). If you want to try foods make it yourself. Some great web sites, but don't feel pressured. I actually switched pediatricians w/ my last one --- ignorance to breast feeding and did not breast feed her kids. Hang in there. 3 of ours nursed until they were 4 and are perfectly normal and happy.
Heather,
I have 3 kids, and have always heard to start babies on solids between 4-6 months. This doesn not mean to stop breastfeeding, just to introduce rice cereal w/ some fruit a couple times a day. You would still be breastfeeding a LOT. You could even mix your breastmilk with the rice cereal. I have always heard that babies who are not fed solids between 4-6 months have a higher risk of getting diabetes later in life. Plus, I feel that babies want and need to eat - not just drink.
Heather,
I am convinced that pediatricians for the most part have their own agenda. Listen to your heart do research and YOU decide what is right for your child. The doctor is with your baby for 3-5 mins every couple of months....what would make you think they know best? As long as she is meeting her milestones and growing at a consistant "normal" rate don't worry.
I have learned the hard way that MOM knows best and doctors are great when you need them for "sick" visits if you have any, I lucklily have not had any problems with illness!
When your baby is ready for solids consider making them your self, I did and it's easy inexpensive and very rewarding.
GOOD LUCK!
Jennifer
Introduce solids when your child is ready. They will let you know. If she's interested, go ahead. It's really her agenda that needs to be met, not your Drs or anyone else's. We made our own cereals and they were far better than the packaged stuff. Less constipating. And for that, prunes, prune juice, pears, etc are really good. Check out the book Super Baby Foods. It's really a good reference.