Sensitive Milk Supply and Starting Solids

The first few months of solids is really a lot of experimentation for the baby, rather than eating for nutrition. They don't get the bulk of their nutrition from solids those first few months, and they don't need to.

Always breastfeed first then offer solids. Before a year solids really shouldn't be replacing breastmilk. If you feed solids first, he may fill up on food that is far less nutritious than breastmilk and that would affect supply. If you breastfeed first, he will still have the fun and learning of eating, but it is less likely to replace breastmilk that way.

You also may consider rather than spoon feeding purees allowing him to self feed. We started solids later (almost 10 mos) and never spoon fed (we did it for allergy reasons, not supply issues).

Kellymom has a lot of info on starting solids. http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/ready-solids-lin...

My daughter was EBF for 12 months. I introduced solids at 8 months and she was not really interested, so we just continued to EBF until she was. She started solids during her 12th month and continued bf'ing with no issues in between. She is now 16 months old, eating solids and bf'ing 3 to 4 times in a 24 hour period. During all of this, I did notice my supply fluctuate, but it eventually evened out with her demand.I always took supplements and drank teas good for supply just to be on the safe side.

With your concern of your supply, I would take supplements. The Motherlove More Milk Plus is a great product. You can also take Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle capsules and drink Mother's Milk Tea. You might want to check in with an IBCLC if you're really worried. She could help you with a plan. Check out thenewbornbaby.com , there is tons of great info there.
Good luck!!
S.

I introduced solids while nursing, by nursing first. First thing in the morning I would nurse, then feed him a little breakfast (applesauce or something) Then play then nap. After nap I would nurse again, then feed him a little lunch, etc. Dinner would be nursing first, then dinner, then I would nurse again before bed. Then a late night nursing, and it would start all over again in the morning. As long as you nurse first then you should be okay. They still will be thirsty and hungry for breastmilk. Best wishes to you. I nursed until 10 and half months and started baby food and rice cereal at 4 months.

Hi S.,

I waited until 6 months even though my doctors recommended 4 months. At 6 months though and especially if baby is showing interest - than I highly recommend starting solids just so that your baby gets used to eating - swallowing and textures. Believe it or not the older they get - the more apt to reject eating and then your in trouble. Introduce cereals first (oatmeal,rice, multi grain) one at a time for a week or so to make sure no reactions adverese effects. Then add vegetables (squash, sweet potatoes, peas)same thing one at a time but keep serving the ones that the baby does ok with. Next fruit (apples, pears, peaches.) Stay with the 1 at a time for a week. I made all his food - it's easy with a steamer, food processor and food mill.

What happens - my son naturally weened breast feeding at 10 months and yes as you introduce foods baby will drink less and your supply will begin to dry up. I ended up doing morning and night feedings and surprisingly my supply was good. I thought for sure the minute that I stopped the milk would stop. It actually didn't for almost 5 months with no feedings at all. I would have loved to keep breast feeding until at least 1 1/2 - but he was fine with 10 months and never freaked out about stopping. It was all very natural and I did not have any pain as the ween was slow.

The one thing that I didn't do right was give him more texture early on and now at 15 months it is a problem for us. He eats only baby food - I still make all the veggies and fruits (but have incorporated earths best stage 3 to try and get some more texture,) cheerios, gerber puffs and yogurt. He wants nothing else. He won't touch finger foods even rejects fishy's and sweets! That being said he is the picture of health. Good luck!

So I did not have a sensitive supply, but my advice is to let him eat solids if he's eager and ready, and know that your milk supply might drop some but that he'll be making the switch to solids so he'll be getting nutrition someplace else. Remember, just like everything else, every kid is different. Some love solids and some want to stick with primarily nursing for a long time. My son had almost completely transitioned to solid food by the time he was a year (down to 2 bottles/day) because that was what he wanted to eat and he clearly thrived on it. So while you can absolutely continue nursing, your supply probably will go down as you transition from being the primary to supplementary nutrition source. If you're really concerned, offer him the breast first, then food afterward (rather than the other way around) until you're sure he's getting the hang of eating and/or a variety of solid foods. Good luck! I loved the babyfood stage. So cute!