Question About Starting Foods and Breastfeeding

I would stop the food. Since you are breastfeeding, he really needs nothing else until he is a year old. What's the rush to food?

Once they begin eating, they usually drink less milk. Just be sure to give him juice and water to keep him hydrated. I used to give my son a few tablespoons of cereal in the morning and before bed. I usually fed him 1 jar of veggies and/or fruits throughout the day. He also liked those little Gerber cereals that melt in the mouth. Good luck! :)

It is very important that you are able to provide enough breastmilk for your son. If you need to, I would stop solids all together for a little longer until he can enjoy both (may be 9 months, may be 12 months). There is no rush/need to start solids since it is really practice at this point (if he is still gaining weight and otherwise healthy). A few days should regain your supply. I too have a 6 month old and plan to start just simply rice cereal in a week or so and see how that goes for a week. And if he slows/stops nursing (other than maybe a feeding at night), I'll stop solids and exclusively nurse another month or 2 and try again. Solids should not replace breastmilk yet. Good luck.

My son turned 6mos. old today. At his 6mo. well visit, they asked how much formula/BM he was getting. My ped recommended that he be receiving 24-36oz.

Until he is a year old, offer the breast before offering solids. Milk (breast or formula) should be their PRIMARY source of calories until 1 year old. Breastmilk has more nutrients and vitamins then any solid food you could possibly offer him.

So, offer the breast, then offer the solid foods. I started my daugther with just one meal a day and worked up from there. Until 1 year old, solid foods are just a supplement.

Ditto to the other response.

Breastmilk is the primary source of nutrition for the first year.

You have to cut down on the solid foods so he drinks the milk. I only did 1 meal of cereal once a day at 6 months. I didnt add the second solid meal until 8 months and the 3rdmeal at about 9 months.

He doesnt NEED to eat anything at his age... He will get enough of everything from the milk.

You dont have to worry about him getting dehydrated - there is lots of water in baby food and baby cereal.

Also... it is hard to tell how much milk a breastfed baby is getting. Just becuase he only stays on the breast for 5 minutes doesnt mean that he didnt get a full meal.

Babies get pretty efficient at nursing after a while. My son nurses for a total of 8 minutes (both sides) and he is full.

Hi

Until babies are year old, think of feeding solids as practice. Babies gets everything they need from breastmilk or formula. They don't actually need the solids. And it is just not possible for them to eat enough quantity or variety of solids to get what they need nutritionaly either.

So, I'd first cut back to one meal a day. Always offer breastmilk or formula first, then cereal or baby food. I believe they need about 24 fl. oz. of breastmilk or formula in a day. When he is getting enough to drink again, start watching for when he seems to still be hungry after drinking what he normally does. That is your que to introduce more solids.

Remember there is no rush for more solids. He'll let you know when to do more.

Good Luck
God Bless
K.

Try nursing him before he eats, also feed him less. The more solids he eats the less he will need to nurse. My daughter was only fed once a day until about 9 months and then only twice a day until 10 1/2 months. She also was started on solids early because she had reflux and she needed the rice ceral in her bottles to help keep her milk down (when I was not around).

D.
Trying giving some juice in a cup. I would even try giving the milk in a cup. Maybe the change will encourage him. Good luck.

Renee is right, breastmilk should be his main source of nutrition...i started with cereal 2x per day for a month, and then very slowly added food. it's just to get him used to new tastes right now. although, you should ask your dr. what he/she thinks based on your baby, as it sounds like he is bigger...may need more food?

Hey D.

My daughter is five months and I know how you feel. She has started her fruits and cereal, it is very difficult to get her to drink her milk. Or if she drinks her milk she wont eat her food. It take a while to get adjusted for you and for your baby. I started out with that same amount of food with my daughter and she tells me if she wants more. He isn't used to the food and he wants what he's used to getting. My daughter was the same way. She wanted the milk straight from the breast and nothing less. But now she'll drink her bottle and she'll eat a little food. His eating habits will be up and down. Just have to work with him.

Hope I was some help, Good Luck!

Offer yourself first since he's still getting all his needed nutrients from you. Also you don't need to give him so many solids. When my daughter first started at the 6 month mark, I gave her a small amount of cereal just once a day, for the whole first month. It's basically for practice bringing the food to the back of the mouth and swallowing. After that I added another feeding of cereal, so 2x per day. Then I started adding veggies and fruits as time went on. He shouldn't get dehydrated as long as you are offering him lots of fluids.
I found my guidlines in my breastfeeding book call The Nursing Mother's Companion. Maybe you could go to your local library and see if they have any nursing books with weening (sp?) advice.