I know many books and health experts recommend offering your baby solid foods around six months, but why?
When I ask the “why” question, here’s what they say:
“That’s what everybody does”
“That’s what the doctors say to do”
“Because it is exciting to feed your child solid foods!”
“Because your breastmilk won’t provide the necessary nutrients after 6 months”
“Because your baby can’t thrive only on breastmilk past 6 months”
“Your baby will develop iron-deficiency if not given iron-supplementation”
“Babies normally wean off around 6 months and need solids”
“If your baby is not sleeping through the night, feeding solids will help”
When I met a few gals through my NOAH group emails who are/were delaying solids till the one-year mark or past the one-year mark. Naturally, I became very curious, especially after I read the benefits of doing that. I didn’t know you could do that or that it was an option.
So, Of course, I wanted to research on that and the NOAH gals direct me to this great website: www.kellymom.com. This website is a wealth of information and resources on the true basis for sound gut health and overall health for most children. It is difficult in this generation to keep our children healthy against the overwhelming environmental abuses they are bombard with. Honestly, overall, children are very much less healthy in this generation than the previous generation. How many families do you know that have at least one, if not several, members that have allergies, chronic illnesses, autoimmune disease or degenerative illness? Nowadays, sadly, it is consider “the norm”.
It is my desire to break that cycle in my girls’ generation. I am SO GRATEFUL that both my girls are strong and healthy. They should have the privilege to be happy kids with no physical problems and grow up enjoying life with out struggles and pain. That’s why I decided to delay solids to help ensure that for Tabitha. I did not do that with Naomi because I didn’t know I could do that if I wanted. Thankfully, I followed the Nourishing Tradition way of introducing solids (started her around 7 months with egg yolks). I believe it helped her avoid developing life-long allergies and digestive problems.
Reasons For Delaying Solids (Taken from www.kellymom.com)
Most babies will become developmentally and physiologically ready to eat solids by 6-9 months of age. For some babies, delaying solids longer than six months can be a good thing; for example, some doctors may recommend delaying solids for 12 months if there is a family history of allergies.
Although some of the reasons listed here assume that your baby is breastfed or fed breastmilk only, experts recommend that solids be delayed for formula fed babies also.
Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.
Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains 50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown. One study has shown that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 4+ months had 40% fewer ear infections than breastfed babies whose diets were supplemented with other foods. The probability of respiratory illness occurring at any time during childhood is significantly reduced if the child is fed exclusively breast milk for at least 15 weeks and no solid foods are introduced during this time. (Wilson, 1998) Many other studies have also linked the degree of exclusivity of breastfeeding to enhanced health benefits (see Immune factors in human milk and Risks of Artificial Feeding).
Delaying solids gives baby’s digestive system time to mature.
If solids are started before a baby’s system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions (digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc.). Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy. Gastric acid and pepsin are secreted at birth and increase toward adult values over the following 3 to 4 months. The pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrose do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months.
Delaying solids decreases the risk of food allergies.
It is well documented that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding results in a lower incidence of food allergies (see Allergy References and Risks of Artificial Feeding). From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an “open gut.”
This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream. This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby’s bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby’s first 4-6 months, while the gut is still “open,” antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby’s digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also. See How Breast Milk Protects Newborns and The Case for the Virgin Gut for more on this subject.
Delaying solids helps to protect baby from iron-deficiency anemia.
The introduction of iron supplements and iron-fortified foods, particularly during the first six months, reduces the efficiency of baby’s iron absorption. Healthy, full-term infants who are breastfed exclusively for periods of 6-9 months have been shown to maintain normal hemoglobin values and normal iron stores. In one study (Pisacane, 1995), the researchers concluded that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 7 months (and were not give iron supplements or iron-fortified cereals) had significantly higher hemoglobin levels at one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earlier than seven months. The researchers found no cases of anemia within the first year in babies breastfed exclusively for seven months and concluded that breastfeeding exclusively for seven months reduces the risk of anemia. See Is Iron-Supplementation Necessary? for more information.
Delaying solids helps to protect baby from future obesity.
The early introduction of solids is associated with increased body fat and weight in childhood. (for example, see Wilson 1998, von Kries 1999, Kalies 2005)
Delaying solids helps mom to maintain her milk supply.
Studies have shown that for a young baby solids replace milk in a baby’s diet – they do not add to baby’s total intake. The more solids that baby eats, the less milk he takes from mom, and less milk taken from mom means less milk production. Babies who eat lots of solids or who start solids early tend to wean prematurely.
Delaying solids helps to space babies.
Breastfeeding is most effective in preventing pregnancy when your baby is exclusively breastfed and all of his nutritional and sucking needs are satisfied at the breast.
Delaying solids makes starting solids easier.
Babies who start solids later can feed themselves and are not as likely to have allergic reactions to foods.
Every baby is different. That’s why it is so important to know your baby and “listen” to your baby, not your doctor. Who knows our children best? Us mothers who are with them almost 24/7 or the doctors who see them for a couple hours? I truly don’t believe the “one-size fits all babies” system is healthy or wise. Naomi and Tabi are SO different from each other in their development and growth. Naomi’s bottom teeth didn’t pop out till she was about 10-11 months, but Tabi’s bottom teeth popped out when she was 6 months and her two top ones popped out shortly after. Naomi was a short and very chubby baby, but Tabi is a long and slightly chubby baby. Does it mean that one is healthier than the other or developing better than the other? No. It just confirms the scripture that God has made each one of us to be unique.
I wasn’t able to exclusively breastfeed Naomi past 7 months because my milk supply wasn’t meeting her demand. So I started her on egg yolks and goat milk while still breastfeeding her. With Tabi, it is a different story. She is still breastfeeding exclusively at 8 months and going strong. My milk supply is strong and flowing. She is a robust and happy baby.
What made the difference?
Diet is the biggest one and doing demand feeding. I wasn’t a very healthy eater before Naomi was conceived and I was learning how to eat healthier while pregnant and then making a lot of changes in our lifestyle after she was born. Now, I eat raw eggs (mixed in smoothies or oatmeal), kefir, raw milk, lacto-fermented foods, clean grass-fed meats, bone broths, coconut oil, cod-liver oil, soaked grains, fresh veggie juices and BIG salads with homemade dressings. I am basically following the
Nourishing Tradition’s Diet for Pregnant and Nursing Mothers. My midwife in Costa Rica, Uva, said my placenta was the most perfect and healthiest placenta she had ever seen. I attributed that to my nourishing diet, I seriously believe that because of the differences I saw between my two pregnancies, births and health.So, back to the delaying of solids… This isn’t for everyone. One mother shared that she struggled with feeding her baby solids at 7 months, but saw that her baby needed it because she wasn’t content with just breastmilk. Tabitha is showing all the “signs” of being ready to eat solids, but she is still content with just breastmilk. She’s gaining weight, happy, robust and growing. I have to make sure I take care of myself by eating food full of good fats, complex carbs, protein and lots of water.
Even after I start Tabitha on solids, I am still planning to breastfeed her till she weans herself off (Naomi weaned herself off around 18 months). There are many great benefits of breastfeeding past a year.
• Nursing toddlers benefit NUTRITIONALLY
• Nursing toddlers are SICK LESS OFTEN
• Nursing toddlers have FEWER ALLERGIES
• Nursing toddlers are SMART
• Nursing toddlers are WELL ADDJUSTED SOCIALLY
• Nursing a toddler is NORMAL (this is my favorite)
• MOTHERS also benefit from nursing past infancy
Please go to the
website for more detailed information on each benefit and see the resources.Here are some great readings:
Breastfeed A Toddler – Why On Earth?
Why Mothers Nurse Their Children into Toddlerhood
FAQ on Breastfeeding Past the First Year
You’re Still Nursing?
Again, this isn’t for everyone… but I do pray and hope that more women (and men too!) will understand the benefits and learn to appreciate breastfeeding (whether they are, are not breastfeeding or did not, do not breastfeed). I truly believe it is a gift from God to be able to supply milk and nourish my precious babies. Thank you Lord!
Thank you for stumbling upon Motherjungle. Here’s BioSalud phone number: 2234-2471 (San Pedro store) 2261-8401 Heredia. That’s the numbers I have and it what it says on my sales slip. Hope it works.
Lovely sight too!
She’s huge… when did she grow up?
Thank you so much for this post. I stumbled across it and it’s exactly what I needed. My little guy is almost 6 mo and my pediatrician has been hassling me about starting him on cereal – I just didn’t feel like he was ready! Maybe it’s time for a new doc 🙂
Yes, thank you for this post. I will share this with a friend of mine. Very interesting.
Hi! Thank you so much for this article. I appreciate your perspective. Our baby is big and healthy and exclusively breast fed at 5 mos and my instinct says he’s not ready for solids. His grandmas are excited to feed him foods but I think we will wait until at least a year, or until he chooses to eat on his own. It’s affirming to read that other moms felt this way and trusted their guts. 😉 thanks!!! http://Www.letthelovegrow.com
Hello! I am glad this encouraged you to listen to your instincts. Since this post, I’ve continued with my 2 younger children with good results. It really does make a difference to wait longer to allow their digestive system to mature more.
Thanks so much for the info and links you have provided here. Currently have contented & thriving baby no 5, exclusively breastfeeding, You’d expect me to know what I’m doing, but introduced solids at 6 months following medical professionals’ advice and peer pressure (maybe because I’m old & tired!), resulting in very unhappy baby within a couple of days exhibiting gas, diarrhoea and eczema. Stopped immediately and within 24 hrs all had cleared up. Had followed intuition with 2nd baby who exclusively breastfed til 9months – a large baby (10 lb at birth) who remained on 98th centile without solids. With allergies in the family, I am now looking at exclusively breastfeeding until at least a year this time. This beautiful baby was crawling at 5.5 months and sleeps through night, so not being held back by lack of solids! Will be checking out your recipes and nutrition tips to keep us going.
Thank you for sharing your story! Wonderful!
I’m exclusivly nursing twins 8 months now. My son is showing signs of being ready for solids but not my daughter. If they both aren’t ready I don’t plan on introducing solids till they both are ready.
If I delay solids do I continue feeding them every 3 hours or does the time between feedings change since they are older? Everything I read states feeding at this age can be every 4-5 hours but they don’t say if that includes solids. I know breast milk digests fast.
Hello Eva! Congratulations on your twins! Wow! I recently met a mama at a park who had 4 month old twins. We had a wonderful visit and I admired her attitude with having twins. Anyway, regarding you nursing and introducing solids…
Honestly, starting with my second and on to the rest of my babies. I did not time my feedings with them. I allow them to demand feed as they know when they are hungry, especially when they have growth spurts that require them to take in more milk than normal as their bodies burn so much in the growth stages.
My son, when he was around 8 to 9 months old, he too showed signs of being ready to eat solids. I held that off until he was 11 months old. I just let him nursed as much as he needed to and when he needed to. I recall it being anywhere from 2-3 hours between feedings and about 15-30 minutes using both breasts. Sometimes it would be more often as he went through growth spurts or teething.
I’m sure most articles that say that feedings can be every 4-5 hours are thinking that you will be already feeding your babies solids at this point. That’s what the majority of families do… start solids at 6 months and slowly decrease breast milk. I encourage you to keep nursing your twins every 3 hours. You want their main source of nutrients to come from your breast milk.
Also, what is your diet like? Yes, breast milk digests fast… but if you are eating lots of good fats (butter, coconut oil, olive oil, etc) and proteins (broth, meats, etc), those will help your milk to be more “filling” for your twins.
Hope this helps!! Blessings!
Marilyn, I am so glad I found this! My healthy 8 month old baby girl is exclusively breastfed. Me, my husband and her pediatrician feel very strongly about waiting to start solids until she needs more than just my milk. Relatives, friends and strangers look at me a little bit sideways when I tell them she’s not on solids yet but we’re sticking with what we think is best for her. Her pediatrician says there is no need to rush, especially if she’s satisfied off of just me! Why ruin a good thing? She has the rest of her life for solids.
Reading your post made me realize that I’m not depriving my baby. She’s happy and I’m happy and most importantly, she’s healthy and in the 85th percentile for height and weight!
Wonderful!! So glad my post encouraged you! You guys have good instincts! 🙂
I am so glad I found this post. I have always wondered if it was possible to exclusively breastfeed over six months cos I really wanted it for my dear son who is just 3 months old but I could not tell if it was going to affect him negatively. But now I know am not alone and that it is perfectly good. Thanks for taking your to time to share and educate us on this
You’re welcome Gina! Please do read this article for more understanding and preparation https://www.mommypotamus.com/when-should-my-baby-start-solids/ 🙂
Thank you for all this great information!!
You’re welcome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for your post! I found it just by searching for articles about exclusively breastfed 9 month old (like mine is)! I continuously doubt myself like I am harming him by doing this, but when I have tried to give him solids he’s either not interested at all, takes one bite and then cries, or has had allergic reactions (bananas made him have a sever vomiting reaction two times now). I have given him opportunities to try avocado, banana, apples, broccoli, yams, and carrots. What are the best resources you recommend when I actually do successfully wean him? He’s actually my third baby. My first was a decent eater and was pretty interested from the beginning (around 7 months), my second wouldn’t eat from a spoon so he started with steamed or fresh bits of foods between 8 and 9 months. Thank you!
Hello Leah! You are not harming your child by exclusively breastfeeding. You are doing the right thing, especially with his reactions to food right now. If he’s happy and content with your milk, then you have nothing to worry about! I went on to exclusively breastfeed 2 more babies after this one 🙂
For resources, I highly recommend Weston A. Price Foundation. They have a suggested guide to feeding your son when he is ready.
So glad I found this article, and glad to see you keep us updated! My lil guy is going on 7 months exclusively breast fed, and at his 4 month check up, the pediatrician said if we don’t start solids by 8 months, he will be a picky eater. Have you had any experience with picky eaters-especially texture picky? I have his 6 month check up next month (we do delayed vacinstions) and I feel like I want to be prepared to justify my reasoning for exclusively breast feeding for a year. My mom is actually the one who encouraged it as she has 4 kids who all exclusively breast fed past 10 months. Glad that our generation is still doing this!
Thank you for your feedback!
Hi Courtney! I’m so sorry for not replying sooner. Do listen to your mom! She knows what she is talking about 🙂 I’ve exclusively breastfed 3 of my 4 kids until they were past 10 months and had no issues whatsoever when they started eating solids. My kids each had their own small group of foods that they were “picky” about, but it was no different from my friends who started their babies on solids at 6 months. I mostly fed my kids what I had on my plate. I was not the kind of mom to prepare separate food for my babies (too much work and it can encourage picking eating because they aren’t eating what is on the table, make sense?).
As for justifying your reasons to exclusively breastfeed, you can try, but I wouldn’t bother. Your pediatrician will not listen because they believe in what they learned in med school and alternatives are not an option.
I have exclusively breast-fed my children up to one year except for my oldest when I didn’t know I could do it. The next four I exclusively breast-fed for one year and I am currently breast-feeding my six month old.
Hello, I am currently breastfeeding my 7 month old. I have offered her solids a few times just to make my husband happy but I really don’t think she is ready. I have been getting pressured from his family, some friends and the pediatrician. Its frustrating but I am going to go as close as I can to a year with only offering very little solid foods.
Hi Allie! Would it help to share the information I’ve provided here with your family and friends? Forget the pediatrician because they don’t support alternatives like delaying solids. How are you doing now?
You are doing the right thing and just do your best! You can also check out the WAPF (Weston A Price Foundation) and read up on their alternative baby feeding schedule.
http://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/nourishing-a-growing-baby/
http://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/feeding-babies/
Hello,
I have an ebf 8 month old boy (20lbs and 30.5inches). We just had his 6 month check up-a little late 🙂 and his pediatrician badgered me about not introducing solids yet. He talked down to me and implied that I don’t know what I am doing, and demanded I give him an iron supplement. He even suggested I send him the research I have done on ebf for the first year. So, I did some research, and I don’t feel comfortable giving him iron unless he has a deficiency. Did you have to supplement any of your babies? He also said “we give our babies solids at 6 months not only for nutrition, but for development as well.” Needless to say, we won’t be going back to the dr.
Hi Courtney, good for you to stay strong and do your own research! Your boy sounds strong and a chunker 🙂 I did NOT give supplements to any of my babies. I’ve had 4 and have another one on the way! They are all thriving and have no food allergies. I am so grateful that I chose to go against the current and trust my motherly instinct to wait on food, especially with the food allergy explosion that has happened in the past few years!
You ARE doing the right thing!
Hi Marilyn! I’m so glad I found this article! I recently gave birth to baby #4 in November and after having breastfeeding issues of one kind or another with our older kids, I feel like I’m finally at a good place with breastfeeding and things are going so, so well. God willing, I’d like to continue as long as our baby needs and wants – a huge blessing since I was never able to breastfeed past the 4 month mark! I attend a mom’s support group and the topic of solids came up. Most of the moms are so excited to start right away at 4-6 months and when I said I was thinking of delaying until 9 months or longer, everyone was all “why?!” and the lactation consultant was going on about how Mom’s iron stores start to drop around 6 months and babies aren’t getting enough iron. It was also mentioned that not starting solids can lead to a serious texture aversion where babies will actually refuse to eat anything other than breast milk. It seemed a little far fetched to me, since I’ve never heard of anyone being on an exclusively liquid diet because of delayed introduction of solids. Do you have any information about these arguments? I was disappointed that I seemed to be the only one not wanting to start solids yet and that I wasn’t met with a lot of support on the idea; which was why I’m so glad to have found your post! Thank you!
Hi Ashley! I apologize for not writing back sooner. I’m so glad breastfeeding is going well for you! As for the arguments… First, let me share my own personal experience. I have exclusively breastfed 3 of my 4 kids up to a year before introducing solids. There were no issues of iron levels or texture aversion. I’m not surprised that you are the only one wanting to delay solids. Delayed solids goes against the current and many parents are controlled by fear that if they do things against what the doctors say, they might or will harm their babies. They’ve be numbed by fear from trusting their mothering instincts. Your baby will clearly tell you when he/she is ready. My son, who is my 3rd, was MORE than ready to start eating at 10 months. So, I started him slowly with proteins (because our milk is protein based, not carb based and therefore starting solely on veggies and fruit is not beneficial) and he did great!
I found this article: http://www.sdbfc.com/blog/2012/4/16/do-all-exclusively-breastfed-babies-really-need-iron-supplem.html
Hope this helps!!
Thanks for this post. I am a grammy and also was pushing to start solids with my grand baby. My daughter told me about gut health so I am researching it. This has answered many questions and I will fully support my daughter and feel good about it. We all can learn something new. I have also been a nanny for 11 years so I am glad to learn new things. Thanks
That’s wonderful, Karen! I am so glad that you have done research to better understand your daughter’s different approach. For sure it has made a big difference with my kids!
Thanks for your advise. My baby is going to 8 in next ten days n she is on exclusively breast feading but still i am facing problem of excess of milk with more flow than earlier. When should i start my baby on solids and how to handle excess of milk
Hello Monty,
Did you say your baby is going on 8 months? It is ideal to keep breastfeeding her if she is content with the milk until she’s 12 months. It is more ideal to start solids at 12 months.
With your extra milk, you should pump it and use it for smoothies that you can make for your baby. You can also donate the milk to a milk bank for mothers who might not be able to produce enough milk. Hope this helps!
So, your babies had nothing but breastmilk until around 11 months? I’ve been wanting to keep exclusively breastfeeding my almost 9 month old son, but I’m worried he won’t be getting the nutrients he needs? Will he need iron supplements? I heard about a baby girl who died after her vegan mother exclusively breastfed until 9 months old. She wasn’t getting the nutrients she needed and passed. ): but since I’m not vegan, is it okay to feed my son ONLY breastmilk? Will he be getting enough vitamin B12? Iron?
Hello Claudia,
Yes, all 3 of my 4 babies were exclusively breastfed until they were between 11-12 months and they thrived. Your breastmilk is giving your baby exactly what he needs and he doesn’t need iron supplements if you are eating a wholesome diet that is full of nutrients that you both need to thrive (including iron). A wholesome diet should include red meat (high in iron and B-12), dairy (preferably raw or minimally processed), vegetables (raw and steamed) and limited amounts of grains and fruit.
Is he thriving? Is he content with breast milk? If needed you can start on some solids (food full of fats is best. Avocado, egg yolks (no whites!), smoothies with breast milk & low sugar fruits and adding a little coconut oil is good too) every couple days, but still keep the breast milk his main source of nutrients, you can go that route.
Regarding the vegan mother, it could be that her choice of diet caused the death of her baby… especially if she was vegan during her pregnancy. I do not believe in long-term vegan diets as they are dangerous for anyone’s health. Short-term is fine for cleansing, detoxing and healing purposes.
Hope this helps!
I’ve enjoyed reading this post and the comments, thank you. My instinct has been telling me to delay feeding solids to my son, who is five and a half months old. He is thriving on my milk. I will try ebf for another month or so and reassess then. Hopefully we can keep going for another few months. I was, however, puzzled at your comments about veganism. Dairy consumption actually inhibits iron absorption and there are many plant based sources of protein and iron. To state that a vegan diet is “dangerous” is incorrect. Unless you have evidence I’m not aware of? I’d be interested to know the basis for your opinion on this. Many thanks.
Hello Paula,
Glad you are listening to your instincts, so important!
Regarding your question about the vegan diet being dangerous, here are a few articles to read through. Bottom line is the lack of vital nutrients that can not be found in a plant-based diet and I don’t believe it is healthy to rely on supplements to replace the needed nutrients.
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/baby-breastfed-by-vegan-mother-dies/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/15/how-to-avoid-the-most-dangerous-side-effect-of-veganism.aspx
http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2011/12/vegan-diets-are-healthy-for-growing-children-as-well-as-pregnant-and-nursing-mothers/
Hope these articles help you understand what I believe regarding veganism, pregnancy and breastfeeding. 🙂
Hi there, I’ve finally got around to reading the links- thanks for posting them. There are some worrying inaccuracies in there, such as stating vegans don’t eat coconut oil (err, yes they do, why wouldn’t they?) and that a vegan diet is downright dangerous. That last assertion is often made by those who have a vested interest in supporting non-vegan lifestyles, for whatever reason.
Vitamin B12 is something to be mindful of, but there are ways of ensuring you get enough of it. Supplements are an option, and I see no problem with taking a vitamin supplement to make doubly sure I have the nutrients I need.
Meat and dairy eaters inadvertently consume a lot of hormones and pollutants that they are perhaps unaware they are putting into their bodies, so I have no concerns about taking a vitamin pill to avoid the other nasty stuff.
Having said that, my vegan diet is so varied and healthy that the vitamin supplement is nothing more than an insurance back up. I doubt your average visitor to McDonalds could say the same, and yet meat eaters with poor diets are challenged much less.
I suppose it’s always been the case that people with less mainstream ideas provoke a degree of nervousness and resistance. Something all of us who have decided to breastfeed for longer than Society may deem to be “normal” have encountered 🙂
Here are some more resources on veganism and health/ nutrition:
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/vegetarian/
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Vegetarianhealth/Pages/Pregnancyandchildren.aspx
http://www.conservationmagazine.org/2016/03/can-vegans-really-save-planet/
Hi Paula!
Glad you read the articles. Which article stated that vegans don’t eat coconut oil? I must’ve missed that. I know vegans eat lots of coconut oil and so do I 😉
Regarding eating milk and dairy… yes, they can be fill of pollution and hormones, but that’s if you are consuming factory raised animals and dairy. I would not eat or drink that if I can help it! My source of meat comes from a small farm where they raise cattle on grass, fresh water, sun and good care. We raise milking goats on grass and drink the delicious raw milk daily. We also raise our own chickens for meat and eggs.
I have seen healing happen when we eat good quality meat and milk (along with lots of healthy fats and veggies). My two oldest daughters (now 11 and 9) both had mild tooth decay when they were toddlers. We started raising milking goats (along with following a special diet free of grains) to have raw milk for them to heal their teeth. Within a year we were able to reverse the decay and heal their teeth! We also did some supplementation after getting them test to find out what they were missing, now they don’t take any supplements because I make sure we eat lots of good quality meat sourced protein, raw dairy, healthy fats, broth, and veggies. We make a point to not purchase organic processed food (no cereals, chips, crackers, etc) and we keep our meals simple yet filling and nourishing.
Here’s another link to read: https://379p6v3kqsqc1oz8or2u449e-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/VegetarianFlyer.pdf
Thanks for reading the links and replying! Blessings!
Hi… my son is 8 months EBF. I feel confident in my choice to delay, but I’m nervous about how to handle it when we go in for his 9 month pediatrician appt. What did you say to them when they asked about solids? I’m sure they will be condescending and pressure me and I don’t enjoy confrontation. 🙂
Hi Rebekah!
Glad to that you are confident in delaying solids, you are doing a huge favor for your son!
To be honest, I did not take my kids to all their well check ups. They were healthy and thriving (and still are) that I did not see it necessary to take them to the pediatrician. If I were in your shoes, I would say that he’s “eating” great… because he IS eating everything you’re eating through drinking breastmilk 😀 I’m sure they will read his weight and see that he is growing well so there shouldn’t be any need to push or press for more details. Hope this helps and remember, you are confident that you are doing the right thing. You are with your son 24/7 and know him better than the pediatrician who is only doing a job that they were trained to do for a “one size fits all” medical model. You can do it, mama!
Hello! I just came across your blog while researching BLW. My son is EBF, going on 8.5 months. He’s been showing signs of wanting to eat solids for a while. He grabs at our food, literally sucks his bottom lip and drools just watching us eat, it’s heart breaking! But I really wanted to go a full year with EBF. I’m afraid introducing foods will cause my production to drop. How did you deal with this? Should I introduce food if he’s showing those signs? Or stick with breast feeding 100%? He’s gaining and thriving just fine. He will likely be walking before he’s 9 months.
Also, any tips or good reads on dealing emotionally (for mom) with weaning baby from breast feeding? I feel like that’s going to be hard emotionally for me.
Hello Jackie!
If your son is showing all those signs… do not prevent him from exploring food! Here’s a great article that I’ve found very encouraging…
https://www.mommypotamus.com/when-should-my-baby-start-solids/
I would not worry about your milk production dropping. Your milk will give him exactly what he needs and wants. My 3rd born son showed signs of wanting to eat about 10 months and he was already walking at 9 months. I went ahead and let him explore a little food each day and he did very well. My milk production never dropped and I had to wean him when I became pregnant with my 4th. I wanted to try and keep nursing him, but I couldn’t do it.
I had mixed emotions when I weaned him. He did not want to wean, but I had to for my health and pregnancy. I found other ways to connect with him to help the transition emotionally… reading, napping/snuggling, lots of kisses, etc…
Hope this helps!
Hi marillyn..nice to read your post..my daughter is almost 11 month ebf..it’s hard to delaying solid since it’s not common also in my country..by the way i’ll try to give her solid food when she’s 1 year old..can i give her the same food as mine at the first trial?
Hello Anna!
If she is showing more interest to eat solids, you can start now! Every child is different and my kids started solids in varied ages from 10 months to 12 months.
Here’s an article that you should read in regarding introducing foods to start. Its very important to start with proteins as that is what your baby gets primarily through your milk.
https://www.mommypotamus.com/when-should-my-baby-start-solids/
Broth, egg yolks and avocados have been my first foods for my kids.
I breastfed my oldest son (now 37 years old) exclusively for the first year and weaned him at 2-1/2 years. I breastfed my youngest son exclusively for th first 6 months and also weaned him at 2-1/2 years. They have not had even one cavity in their teeth. They are both strong and healthy. You can do it, but you have to eat well. Lots of good proteins, and vegetables. I ate both animal and vegetable proteins. We only get one chance to give our babies a great start in life.
THank you so much for sharing your experience Lucia and excellent advice regarding eating well!! 🙂
Where do I start! Firstly, I am so glad I stumbled across this article. Even your q/a in the comments section is helping me tremendously. I have a 5 month old ,exclusively breastfed, baby boy. Currently in the 90th percentile for both weight and height. Two of my siblings also had babies around the same age who are already being fed solid meals – so the pressure of when I start is definitely on me. In addition to that, I have a mother-in-law that has been trying to feed my boy since he was 4 months old – because she did it with her kids and if I don’t then I’m indirectly saying her parenting was somehow flawed. She has many grown children, all of which are obese and have health issues (with the exception of my husband who still has to work very hard to maintain a good weight). To be completely honest, my husband was the one that was adamant that I try to exclusively breastfeed him for about a year. My initial reaction to him was “absolutely not! All babies eat solids at 6 months.” But after reasearching more, my husband was absolutely right (which I don’t say often ).
It upsets me that I am letting society/family pressure influence the health of my baby.
How do you respectfully respond to opposition?
Also what is your experience with introducing cow or goat milk? I’m looking into local dairy farms but can’t find any. Where did you find the milk you fed your beautiful daughter? Why did you choose goat milk as opposed to cow?
I look forward to your response. Thank you again for sharing your experiences. It is beyond helpful.
Hi Sarah!
Sounds like you have a strong baby boy there! I’m glad your husband is encouraging you to consider delaying solids, but I encourage you both to be watchful of your baby’s signals. I have 5 kids and my first 4 varied anywhere from 10 months to a year. My 5th baby is 9 months old now and he a healthy, chubby baby! He is starting to show signs of interest in food, but not necessarily interest to eat.
Please read this great article https://www.mommypotamus.com/when-should-my-baby-start-solids/ for tips and clarity.
Regarding your mother-in-law, I would encourage you and your husband to have a sit down chat with her. It’s your husband place to firmly and lovely tell his mother that she needs to respect your decision to delay solids and that it doesn’t have anything to do with her parenting, flawed or not. She needs to remember her place and respect the decisions you both make regarding your baby and family.
Have lots of grace and patience in responding to opposition. When I first did it with my 2nd baby, I simply told those who asked why we were delaying that I wanted to prevent food allergies by allowing my baby’s gut to mature before introducing solids. Most accepted that answer because of the rise in food allergies in children. I also have said that my babies have not shown any interest in having food yet, why the rush? With each baby after that I hardly had anyone question me because I must know what I’m doing after the second baby 😉
My experience with raw goat’s milk has been great! We now have goats of our own and my family enjoys drinking it daily. For my first-born, I found a small, local farm that had a small herd of milking goats and they sold the milk raw. We chose goats’ milk because it is easier to digest (cow’s milk takes about 5 hours while goat milk takes about 30 minutes) and the protein is different from cow’s milk. There’s also less lactose in goats’ milk. If you are able to find raw cow’s milk from a good, clean source… try introducing it and see if he tolerates it. We have drank both raw cow’s milk and goat’s milk with no issues.
More than happy to help! Blessings to you and your family!
This is terrible advice! For one, babies starting solids between 4-6 months decreases allergen risk NOT waiting til a year old.
OPEN GUT IS NOT A SEVERE PROBLEM AT THAT AGE. THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. Food before one is highly nutritional. Not only does it provide your baby with nutrients and extra vitamins, but they also get to explore new textures and tastes, which helps them develop. Kelly mom is NOT. A legitimate source and all this bull is from a bunch of lactivists that shame you for doing everything that THEY see as wrong.
Hi Sabrina, thank you for sharing your view on this issue. Since I wrote this post, I’ve had 3 more kids and have successfully breastfed each of them exclusively up to 10 months before introducing solids. We’ve had no issues and it seems that my firstborn, whom I started solids at 6 months has more food sensitivities than my other 4 that I delayed solids.
I understand that Kelly Mom is not a legitimate source and hope to write an updated post in the near future. 🙂
Dear Marillyn,
My little baby girl is almost 9.5 months old and still shows no interest in solids. I have always forced her and made her have 1 or 2tsp from when she was 6month but even that she used to spit out. Her Pediatrician said that I need to stop feeding her in the night and reduce feeds in day so that she’ll take solids. That was impossible for me as she’s used to feeding for every 2 to 3 hours. Even I let her starve for 3 to 4 hours she doesn’t take solids but waits for me to feed. if I don’t feed her within 2 to 3 hours she gets cranky. I have tried giving her different types of fruit purees, vegetable purees, rice,dal, dosa, roti, oats but she does not open her mouth for anything. She only wants breast milk and shes not gaining much weight. I’m not sure whether she’s not liking our food or that she’s only addicted to breast milk.
Shruthi, I would encourage you to increase your fat intake… coconut oil, avocados, real butter, whole milk, whole milk yogurt and increase your protein intake. I also would try introducing cooked chicken topped with butter or coconut oil to see if she likes that. Or a smoothie with coconut oil, coconut milk and banana to see if she will take a little bit of that. Or cooked sweet potato with lots of butter or coconut oil. Start with protein and fats… not fruits or grains and moderate in cooked veggies. She’s obviously satisfied with your breast milk… I would encourage you to breastfeed her on demand to help her gain weight. Hope this helps! Maybe you are beyond this now. Let me know!
There are cases of babies dying of accidental starvation due to being exclusively breastfed after 6 months. Just because it works for one person does not mean it will work for everyone else. Please give your babies food after 6 months and continuously monitor their weight gain and diaper output. After all humans are meant to have food. It is not a shame if you don’t or can’t breastfeed.
Thank you for sharing your concerns. I agree with you in that we need to be monitoring their weight gain and diaper output. I believe that every mother has God-given instincts to know if there is something wrong with their baby. I also believe that a baby can communicate if it needs food or not and that the mother is watchful for those cues. I have 5 kids now and I have exclusively breastfed 4 of up to 10-12 months. They were happy and thriving babies. I knew that doing that would mean that I need to make sure I am eating enough good fats so that my milk would be nutritious and filling. Of course, I am not saying that everyone should do it… only those who feel that it is right for their babies.
Hello! I’m definitely interested in an updated view on this subject! One of my best friends, who has just had her 7th baby, exclusively breast feeds her babies up to a year and has no reason for stopping with future children. I’m currently pregnant with my 3rd, and am curious about all this. We’ll see. So far I have gotten pregnant 6months after both of my other babies (breastfeeding definitely has not been a natural way of preventing pregnancy so far) and have had to stop breastfeeding because my milk supply goes away after a couple of months into pregnancy(plus my last one became an awful biter!).
Hi Megan! I do hope to write an update soon!
Hi! I’d appreciate a recap.. my baby is 6 months, exclusively breastfeeding, I’m feeling pressure from others to introduce solids but I want to wait. How long did you wait? Need some encouragement to follow my instincts!!
Hi Ally! I’m sorry for not replying sooner… I do plan to update this post soon. With all my kids I waited up to 10-12 months. My son started at 10 months because he was clearly ready. If your baby is thriving and chunky on your breastmilk, then you are good. Listen to your baby, not what others think you should do. Also, make sure you are eating plenty of good fats like coconut oil, avocado, butter, whole milk, etc… the higher fat contend your milk has, the better for your growing babe!!
Hi! My son is a week away from nine months and is exclusively breastfed. We didn’t choose that route, but he refuses to eat solids. He enjoys tasting things, but otherwise is just not interested in solid foods yet. And he remains a little chunk, so we’re not worried. 🙂
I’ve read that by nine months babies can sleep through the night without eating, and I’m wondering what your experience has been with breastfeeding only? Do you think that a baby who doesn’t eat solids still needs night time feeds? Or is that not really a factor? Would love to know your experience.
Hi Erin! Your son sounds happy and thriving! After having 5 babies and my youngest is 2 right now… I say that every child is different, regardless if they are exclusively nursing or eating solids. It’s a very nice idea that babies should sleep through the night by 9 months, but not really a reality for most babies. My youngest slept through the night pretty much since he was born! But we did go through a couple periods where he woke up in the middle of the night to nurse. It can happen has babies go through growth spurts, teething, sickness or just their bodies are needing more. My other kids were all very different in their needs from 0-12 months while I exclusively breastfed them.
My encouragement to you is to make sure you eat plenty of good fats (coconut oil, butter, olive oil, avocado, whole milk, good meat, etc), but especially the fat as babies need that for growth, energy, and to feel satisfied. I have noticed a difference when I eat more fats when I nursed my babies. Hope this was helpful!
I rolled my eyes so many times during this article I lost count. Especially at this part ….
Nursing toddlers benefit NUTRITIONALLY
• Nursing toddlers are SICK LESS OFTEN
• Nursing toddlers have FEWER ALLERGIES
• Nursing toddlers are SMART
• Nursing toddlers are WELL ADDJUSTED SOCIALLY
• Nursing a toddler is NORMAL (this is my favorite)
• MOTHERS also benefit from nursing past infancy
My twins were supplemented from day 1 & bottle fed in the NICU. Didn’t have much luck with nursing, and they started food at 6 months and LOVED IT. They haven’t met a food they don’t like. They’re 14 months and very healthy babies. They don’t have any allergies. They are VERY INTELLIGENT. They are WELL SOCIALIZED. By saying things like nursing toddlers are smart, it makes it sound like you’re saying other babies are dumb?? Anti-social? Sickly?!
Hello Heather,
I’m sorry you found the post offensive, that was not my intend. I actually didn’t come up with that list myself… I took that from an article from the kellymom website, which I see is no longer up. I was just sharing what that article. I’m sorry you weren’t able to nurse and very glad that your twins are healthy and thriving! Your comment has prompt me to update this post and I hope to do that soon now that I’ve had 3 more babies since writing this! Blessings!
Thank you for your encouraging post!
After my first 2 children had an extensive list of food allergies, I decided to do some research on what was going wrong.
With enough digging, I discovered that delaying solids seemed to be a key issue in my situation.
My 5th child, and first son, exclusively breastfed for 14 months before any introduction to solids was made. He incidentally is the first one without food allergies.
I have gone on to have 4 more children and I have noticed a pattern. My children who have exclusively breastfed for longer timeframes are much more healthy!
I am now exclusively breastfeeding another son who is almost 5 months old. Sometimes I have noticed that little eczema patches will show up on his cheeks or chin. This used to be discouraging to me. Through more research, I have read that when the breastfeeding mother drinks dandelion tea, it can clear up the skin of the breastfeeding infant! It works!
I am amazed at what the Father has provided in His creation and how wonderfully he has made the woman’s body to nourish her young!
May you be blessed for encouraging others to do what they were designed to do!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful and encouraging testimony, Victoria!
Wow Thank you for taking the time to put this together and write this! I FEEL THIS SO MUCH. My baby is only 4 months old and people around me keep asking if im feeding her solids, I feel in my heart she is not ready for them, she is so happy and content and healthy with exclusively breast-feeding. She is truly THRIVING and we are so so happy. I plan to continue to breastfeed her until she is unsatisfied with just breastmilk, and I hope that day is a long way off. Thank you for writing this, it feels good to find someone who feels the same way <3
I’m glad Kailee! Watching and “listening” to your baby’s needs is vital for healthy growth! More and more I am meeting mamas who are choosing to wait longer before introducing solids. Breastmilk is sufficient! Enjoy you baby and soak in the bonding that comes with breastfeeding!
I can express how thankful i am to have found this blog …mom of 2 daughters one is 8 years the other is 11 months …we always have food struggles at home…..exclusively breast fed by First daughter till about 6 months Nd then tried to wean her to solids as is the norm here ..(India) …but my daughter dint’t seem ready for solids till about a year and a half …I breastfed her till she was about 2.3years …she is a super fussy eater… …now with nayami my second daughter …I thought I will start solids early so ..we started off at 5 months …she liked food Nd enjoyed it for almost 15 days Nd then …said no to it totally till about 8 months ..then she used to take 1 meal ..now she is 11 months old takes 2 meals Md a snack ..sometimes 3 meals …I still breastfeed her..I worry a lot coz she doesn’t eat good quantities Nd has not put on enough weight … but some how your blog gives me a reassurance that there are moms out there who breast feed exclusively till a year…
Hello! I’m glad you were reassured <3 sounds like you are doing a wonderful job listening to what your girls need! Don't worry, listen to your amazing mother instincts and you will know what you need to do. As long as she is happy, content with breastmilk and thriving… then she is doing well! Every baby is different… my oldest daughter was a big, chunky baby… buy my second daughter was not a chunky baby and small. BUT she was healthy and thriving. Both were in their own way.
Hey there! It’s so encouraging and satisfying to read all this.
I have an 8 month old daughter and we started to wean her at around 6 months ( she is being exclusively breast fed) . Somehow she started to throw up bannanas and apple purees( in breast milk) and doctors got clueless as she’s growing up perfectly fine. We had to stop everything and continued giving her breast milk. She’s 8 months now and quite content with breast milk but the constant fear of not giving her the iron and Vit D is bugging us alot these days which bought me here.
All the doctors advise us to keep on trying different foods but we’ve stopped everything and continuing her breast milk supply since she’s healthy, active and growing up pretty much nicely.
Hello! I’m so glad you were encouraged by this article! I raise 5 kids this way and all are doing great! Your breastmilk is the highest source of iron. Just eat more food that is higher in iron and she will get plenty through your milk. Also, take her out in the sun in the mornings (no sunscreen and 20-30 mintues) and she will get the perfect amount of Vit D that she needs! As long as she is happy, content with milk and thriving… she is good!
I am so glad I wandered upon this blog. I was researching the current thought on when to introduce solid foods so I could share with my daughter whose first baby is four months old and EBF. She had a check-up today and no mention was made of introducing solids. When my first child was born in 1984 I asked my very wise pediatrician when I should start solids and he said, “oh, at about ten months old.” I was shocked but intrigued at the idea. The only problem I had when I started trying to feed him at ten months was that he didn’t really want to eat food. I didn’t panic and by twelve months he was eating very well. My only daughter was EBF for 11 months and my youngest two were EBF for 12 months! Although my youngest son does have food allergies, they are all otherwise VERY HEALTHY adults. This is not for everyone and mothers who don’t EBF shouldn’t be shamed, but neither should mothers be shamed who choose this wonderful route!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this subject! <3
I found this article at exactly the right time. My son is exclusively breastfed, 8.5 months old, showing some interest in food but not really “following through with it” when we offer them to him. Ex: tongue thrusts out food, rejects spoon, gags and most of the time refuses meals completely and cries. It’s stressful because everything I read says eating solids is a developmental milestone that should be met at 9 months. I’m not so worried about his nutrition and health because he is absolutely thriving, I’m more concerned about his fine motor skills and ability to chew and swallow. Did you have any issues with these things while delaying solids?
Thanks!
Hey there! No we had zero issues with my 5 kids 🙂 His motor skills will naturally develope when he is ready! I would be more concern about forcing it to happen prematurely and the possible consequences from that. I am so glad you found this article!
Hello! I just read your blog about delaying solids. I am so happy to read about other moms exclusively nursing theirs kids. My baby boy just turned one and he still exclusively breastfeeding but I feel so guilty about it because he is now on iron supplement because he refuses to eat solids even if I force him. His pediatrician suggested feeding therapy and my husband says he’ll eat when he’s ready. I don’t know what to do.
I’m so glad you found us! I agree with your husband… he will eat when he’s ready! If he’s gaining weight, healthy, and happy… there is no need to worry. For iron, increase your iron intake and he will get it through your milk, which is naturally the highest source of iron!
https://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron/
I also love to drink Ningxia for that purpose along with lots of Vitamin C to fully utilize the iron.
Thanks for this article. I am pregnant and a first time mom, and I plan to exclusively breastfeed as long as I can. My grandma thinks women breastfeeding past 6 months is not right lol so I already know I will have some pushback from family about this, but I do not care. Not as worried about pediatrician pushback because, like you, we will not take our baby to doctor unless he is ill (and even then, I will probably just “nod and smile” when doctors make their recommendations they make). Luckily my parents understand we must each do what we believe is best for our baby, everyone else and the “status quo” be darned. Glad to read success stories like yours, they are very encouraging. Thanks. Looking forward to bonding with my baby after he is born (and I am planning an unmedicated homebirth about which I am very excited! cannot wait to meet my baby in May).
Hello Hailey!
Wonderful! I’m so glad you are feeling empowered and encouraged! Hope all goes well with the birth!!
My little man is 2 weeks shy of a year and has been mostly breastfed. He’s had a little chicken, rice, eggs and avocado but really showed no interest in foods until a couple days ago. The only thing I have noticed is that he is suddenly sleeping sooo much better with actual food in his belly. I don’t regret having him exclusively breastfed at all. He’s happy, healthy and chubby. I was given guilt trips from everyone in my life except my husband who agreed that mom knows best since I’m with him 24/7.
Hi Katie!
I’m glad you had the full support of your husband. Yes, every child is different. I’m glad that he’s sleeping better since starting with a little food in his belly. Each of my kids were very different when they started showing interest in food and their sleeping patterns.
Hi! I’ve read this article a handful of times since the beginning of September when my baby was born. She’s not 9 months and in 7/4 baby will be ten months. She’s EBF. She’s never had formula or a bottle. Just breastmilk straight from the tap. I really would like to go up to a year but I’ve been getting more and more pushback from my husband and my mother. Baby is still gaining weight and thriving. She is a bit more mobile now (soldier crawling, climbing and sitting). I have begun to wonder if my milk supply will even make it to a year. I do bedshare and baby also nurses throughout the night. I nurse on demand during the day as well. But my breast don’t feel as full as they did. So I’m beginning to feel like maybe I should just take my husband and my mothers advice and start baby in solids soon? Would love some advice and encouragement! I’ve agreed to start at the end of this month right before baby turns 10 months but I also think I’ve changed my mind and would like to try to nurse up until a year but am open to introduce solids before that ir need be.
Hi Patricia!
Thank you for reaching out! You are a strong mama to stand your ground! I applaud you for that! As for not feeling as full… that’s actually very normal towards the 9-10 month mark as your body evens out how much to produce. You will know if you aren’t producing enough because your baby will be unsatisfied and wanting more. I highly recommend using fennel essential oil to help increase your milk if you feel like you need that… I only recommend Young Living for safety reasons and their purity gaurantees results. I would be more than happy to help get you a bottle of it if you are not a member. Also, let your baby tell you when she’s ready to eat… she will clearly let you know, promise! I’ve done this with 4 kids now and my youngest is 3 years old! Have you tried sharing my post and all the comments with your husband and mother? there are sooo many testimonies here!
Let me know if you would like to get a bottle of fennel essential oil 🙂
Hi Marillyn,
I’m really glad I found this post of yours. My son is 8.5 months old and is EBF. My family physician is the one who advised me to EBF until one year as he is healthy and achieving all milestones before time…
Though I had made up my mind to EBF him for one year but recently I’ve been getting pressure from friends and some nurses that I’m doing wrong by not giving my baby solids and I should start now as I’m already 2 months behind… My husband is also supporting me not to introduce solids until one year but I am a little worried now if I’m doing the right thing. Also my son seems to be very curious when we are eating and shows signs that he’s ready to eat and sometimes I feel guilty of not feeding him solids…
Hello!
if your husband and family physician both advise and support you to EBF for a year… then that’s all that matters. Everyone has an opinion, but doesn’t mean that it is right for you and your son. I EBF all 4 out of my 5 babies with wonderful results. They are all thriving and doing well. My oldest girl that I first EBF for a year is now 12 and my youngest is 4. They are varied on when they started solids. My oldest son started solids about 10 months, but it was only one serving a day and he barely ate anything. He just wanted to explore and play, which is great for sensory skills. He was still EBF until a year then we started introducing more solids.
There is no need to feel guilty… you are breastfeeding him right? He’s thriving on your milk, right? Gaining weight and growing right? the curiousity he is showing is normal for all babies. If your son is showing signs of curiousity and he’s ready to eat… go ahead and put some cut up bananas or avocados (fats and proteins are best to start with… NOT rice cereal or carbs) in front of him and let him explore. Most likely he won’t eat much of it, but he will build up his sensory skills!
Hi there! Thank you for this post, it is encouraging. I am a FTM to a 10 month old. I started trying to introduce solids at 7.5 months because that’s when she started sitting up and I felt a lot of pressure that I was already late to the party. She readily took a spoon of banana puree, quickly gagged as if I had given her lemon juice, and since then has been pretty adamant that she is not that interested in food. I have tried, more or less once a day, to offer a variety of foods for her to play with and she plays with it a little, takes a little taste, and then is done. I have been STRESSING OUT about this since 7.5 months because she had breast and bottle feeding issues due to severe jaundice and I’ve been exclusively pumping breast milk for her as my second best option since birth. I have a goal to make it to at least one year of eping and take it from there. I will increase fat consumption as much as possible – I appreciate the tip for enriching my breast milk. Now, how did your children get started on solids? Was it literally one day they could care less and then the next they were eating? With all the BLW rage these days, there is tremendous pressure to start solids at 6 months even if just for play and if it doesn’t work out by 9 months to see a feeding therapist. My baby isn’t even one, is otherwise thriving, and already I need to see a therapist?! Something just doesn’t feel right about this. I feel that as long as she is gaining weight and maintaining on her curve more or less, that she will start eating when she is ready. BUT, it is a very stressful time for me because there is a lot of pressure to think something is wrong and to pursue feeding therapy even though I have read on many forums that some babies just take longer…Would appreciate knowing how you eventually did introduce solids and how late and how it went (did the baby suddenly start eating solids voraciously or was it still a slow process even at 12 months?) All the best to you and yours!
Hello Rachel! Forgive me for the delay in replying! You are right to listen to your motherly instinct… it is NOT right the way they system is set up for our babies and food. I hope my article helped ease your mind and decrease the stress. It is challenge to go against the current, but that is what makes you a stronger advocate for your child. Every child needs are different and they WILL tell you… just like you daughter has clearly been telling you that she is not interested in food yet and thats okay! Babies are very smart!
When I started solids with my kids… it was a slow process, but they were pretty much ready. Every meal I gave them a little something. Usually it was a soft boiled egg yolk, avocado, or a smoothie with a little fruit and mostly raw dairy or full fat coconut milk. Fats and proteins are VERY important for babies’ development and growth. Rice cereal and carbs are counterproductive because our breastmilk is RICH in fats and proteins… not carbs. Bananas can be introduced, but best with a fat. Sometimes I would give my babies butter or a little coconut oil here and there. Their developing brains need the fat to grow properly. Empty carbs from rice cereal and processed baby foods can set up babies for weight and health problems down the road.
Overtime, they each set the pace in how much they wanted and what they wanted. Sometimes I started giving them food off my plate within a few weeks because they were ready to try them. I just finely chop whatever I had on my plate (meat and veggies) and give it to them.
My encouragement to you is to focus on what your baby is telling you and TRUST your motherly instinct. It is powerful because you are with your daughter 24/7 and know her better then anyone. Never let anyone tell you they know better because they have a college degree or had a different experience with their kids… she is not their child. she is your child. period.
Hope this was helpful! let me know if I can help in any way 🙂
Hi! Unfortunately, i exclusively breastfed my son only for 6 months and then started giving solids upon recommendation of the pediatrician. He is now 8 months old and I regret my decision after reading your article. Although we have had no problems with solids so far , I would like to now reduce the amount of solids and re-increase breastfeeding (maybe even exclusively breastfeed until 1 year of age), to avoid any long term health and weight problems. Does this make sense? Thanks for the article.
Hi there! You can try to reduce the soilds and increase breastfeeding, but I don’t think you will be able to completely remove solids now that you’ve already been feeding him for over 2 months. Look up “nourishing traditions for babies”… I followed most of their recommendations when my babies starts solids around a year old. Fats and proteins are very important and will help avoid long term health and weight problems. Rice cereal and sugary snacks and juice (CARBS) are not good for any kids as they will increase the likelihood of the weight and health problems. Hope this was helpful! If this is your first baby, don’t beat yourself up… you are doing the best you can with what you know.