Nursing/Solids Schedule

HI M.,
My daughter is 17 months and still nursing. I took solids really slow with her. At five months I think she was only having solids once a day. My best advice is to offer solids when you are eating. In my experience babies tend to want to nurse every time we sit down for a meal :) Enjoy your little boy and good luck :)

Cass

Hi M.! :) I'm a mom of four, and I nursed all four of my kids, but the youngest one I nursed the llongest. It was hard because everyone was giving me different advice, even doctors and WIC clinic nurses and dieticians. (sorry my spelling stinks) Anyway, I never put my kids on a schedule and just nursed when they wanted too. Sometimes they nursed every hour! I was exhausted but what helped a lot was to drink lots and lots of fluids. Congrats on making it five months! About every two weeks a nursing will get easier and easier! :) As for feeding the solids, some might say that five months is young to start feeding solids, especially for a nursing baby, but nursing babies tend to nurse more than a formula fed baby because babies who nurse "use" everything in breast milk, whereas formula lasts longer in the tummy. I would maybe try just feeding him cereal mixed with breast milk in the morning and at supper time, slowing introducing him to your (adult)feeding times. I hope this helps! :)

It's nice to know someone else is dealing with the same issue I am! People look at me like I'm nuts when I talk about not being able to figure out this feeding thing- but seriously- when you are breastfeeding and working- so you have to pump and trying to match baby's demand, solid food really complicates things! Our pediatrician told us not to be in a rush to add solids and breastmilk should still be the primary source of nutrition. So, our 6 1/2 month old gets solids 2 times per day, right now he gets cereal (usually 2 oz. breastmilk mixed with enough cereal to get the right consistency) after his morning nap. Then in evening he's getting a veggie- usually about 1.5 oz and sometimes some cereal- but we've recently decided to just increase the veggie to closer to 2-2.5 oz instead of more cereal. We haven't gotten to fruits yet and have not started juice yet. So the rest of the day- breastmilk- he nurses when he wakes up, lunch, midafternoon, bedtime, and usually a "snack" (partial nursing session) before each nap (he takes 2-3 naps/day). I think what's important is to do what works for baby and don't be afraid to change things up until you find a schedule that works for you. If baby isn't hungry- he turns away and doesn't eat and we don't make him. My pediatrician said- "I know it seems complicated- but you really can't mess it up." Hope this helps.

Like you, I had a lot of questions concerning solid foods and continuing to breastfeed. My daughter is now 8 months old (she is still breastfed), and we weave in the solid pretty well. We started her on solids a few weeks before she turned 6 months old. As some other moms suggested, at this stage, it's really just practice and introduction to new flavors, aromas, and textures. Most of what I have read, suggests that you only need to offer solids once a day as a SUPPLEMENT only if your baby is still breastfeeding. This should be the case till aorund 7 months or so, then step it up to two meals a day. As many of us nursing mothers know, breastfed babies often have no schedule, so be prepared to make adjustments. If you continue to breastfeed as you have been, the best timing is to nurse him on command as he wants, and when it works into your daily schedule (around breakfast or lunch or supper), wait about an hour or hour and half after he nurses and the offer solids. This way he is starting to get hungry again and may be more open to it. At around 6 months, a nursing baby doesn't really need more than a few tablespoons of solids (fruit mixed with cereals tend to work best as you are starting off). 2 tablespoons equals about an ounce.

As he gets more used to different foods and wants to eat more, up it 2-3 ounces of food (maybe a few different things) twice a day. I htink if you try and make it consistent (I know it's tough) you'll find yourself getting into a schedule, or at least close to one.

Just as a side note, baby foods are quick and easy to make at home by purreing them in a small food processor and freezing them in ice cube trays (each cue is about 1 ounce). Plus, this can allow you to defrost just what you need, offer your baby more of a variety at one sitting, easily defrost more if he wants more, and save some money!!!

I know there is a lot of info here, but I hope it helps!!

First of all congratulations on still nursing! Breastmilk is more important than food, it will provide him with everything that he needs for now. It's basically just practice on learning how to eat before he is 1. I always have taken it slow when adding food. Just letting them eat when they are interested in eating. My daughter ate very little before she was 1 year and my son was wanting to eat at every meal starting at 4 months. They are both very healthy kids with good appetites now! I just sat them down with me at every meal and offered food and listened to their cues. The serving sizes for food are so small at this age too. The guideline is 1 tablespoon per year of age. Considering all of the things breastmilk has that food does not I think it's important for them to get as much as possible. Hope that helps! :)

This is kinda funny but I am in the exact same position my daughter is also 5 months and has been breastfeed exclusively. My daughter is eating cereal 2 times a day for now and then has a bottle of juice. she eats at breakfast and supper. I was also not sure when and how much to feed her but she is very good at telling me what she wants and when she wants it I try to be very regular with her cereal but as far as nursing her goes it is different every day. she tells me when she is hungry. I am thinking about starting baby food but I am in no rush. I am sure your baby boy will tell you exactly what to do the key is learning how to listen to them. hopefully this helps feel free to send me a message with any questions I am also interested in hearing what works for other moms.

B.

My son was probably around seven months when I started introducing other foods. In order for my breasts to not get engorged I tried to slowly eliminate a nursing. It took a little time. At first a nursed a little on each side, then gave he solid food, then eventually elimiating that nursing time. Eventually, I was only nursing first thing in the morning and right before bed for several months until the last couple of months I was only nursing rigt before bed. This last stage was more for me, so my breasts wouldn't have the shock of their life.
Hope this helps!