Breastfeeding and Solids

I start by paraphrasing the AAP recommendation, that breastmilk should be an infants primary source of nutrition for 6 months, then you MAY start complimentary foods at that time but to continue breastfeeding for at least a year. My opinion is that you MAY start foods at 6 months, or you can choose to wait until you and baby are ready. Breastmilk is by far more superior nutrition than any solids, so what's the rush? With my first daughter I was in a rush to get her on food, I really dont even remember the reason now but I started cereal at 4 months. By the times she was 6 months she was eating a lot of different things. By the time she was 10 months she was weaned from the breast. I still feel guilty about it. I know I should not but I do.

With my second daughter, Abby I decided not to rush into starting solids. I want to nurse her for at LEAST a year and felt that early introduction of foods contributed to my first daughters premature weaning. I never bought one jar of baby food with Abby. What I did buy was a food grinder, which I loved. I would grind up food that we ate and offer that to her but only when she showed interest, which was not until she was about 11 months old. She still had no teeth, so I had to grind food until she got her teeth at around 14 months. Yes, I was lucky. She was eating lots of solids by 15 months. And continued to nurse until she was 2.

In summary, the introduction of solids will impact breastfeeding, in my opinion. The earliest recommended time to intiate solids is 6 months but can be put off as long as desired, as long as baby is growing and meeting developmental milestones.

Here is a helpful site on how to make your own babyfood.

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