Anyone delaying solids past 6 mo?

vcabbyw

Our babe is 5 months tomorrow and has a check up Monday at the Pedi and it got me thinking about questions I have about the next two months.

She is exclusively breastfed with no plans of weaning soon and has been in the 90th percentiles for growth and hitting every milestone early. Healthy in every way. No history of allergies in the family either. I like the idea of baby led weaning, and skipping rice cereals all together.

Are there any moms who have delayed solids until 8-9 months, or past 6 months at all? I know every LO is different but after a small bit of research I don't understand why everyone rushes into feeding solids? It seems like it's just for fun of the parent? There seems like there is still some gut maturities that happens in the 8-9 month mark, which are never mentioned in the typical signs of being ready to start.

I feel like an outsider in this thinking with my family and friends. I want to give her the best start possible, but I also want to protect our nursing relationship as long as possible. I'm concerned that I would be creating different issues, either by fussy eating with different textures, or creating anemia issues by waiting.

Any insights? Any other research on this would be helpful too.

taraleanne

Food before 1 is mostly "just for fun" anyway so you don't have to worry about your nursing relationship and all the great benefits of breastfeeding. Also, if you always offer solids after nursing then baby is still getting her primary nutrition from the best. I have noticed no change in my son's nursing behaviour since we started solids a month ago. 

I personally don't think that offering solids at 6m is rushing at all and I definitely don't think it's for the fun of the parent. That could be the case for parents of babies around the 4 month mark, which used to be the recommended age for solids so lots of parents (and doctors) are not up to date with current recommendations. In my case I started solids when my LO was 5.5 months old. Around 4.5 months he starting showing interest in what we were eating. He would grab for our food, he could sit up just fine etc.. etc.. I work in healthcare so I started asking my med professional friends and our doctor and got all thumbs up. At 5.5 months I couldn't hold back anymore, I felt like I was depriving him! He wanted food! We started with purees- he LOVED it. He took to the spoon right away, I would fill it up and he would grab it and feed himself. He would eat more and more and more if I let him but I limit the amount of solids I give him because I still want most of his calories to come from breast milk.  A week ago I started BLW.  My baby LOVES this too!!   It is truly amazing how he can pick up pieces of food and chew them. He knew EXACTLY what to do. I am not at all worried about the effects on his gut because we never had problems there and I took it slooooow to make sure. Everything went as "normal" as far as I understand it.  

This is an excellent link on BLW. Read the leaflet and the guidelines to the left. There are also several facebook groups you can join for amazing support, q&a, recipes etc... 

https://www.rapleyweaning.com

I think there should be no judgement should you decide to wait but I also found that there were alot of developmental changes between 5 and 6 months and your baby is going to start getting really smart - she's going to see what you are eating and want some. Heck, my baby is even trying to drink out of my water bottle. In fact, he'll drink out of my glass. I never offered it to him, HE reached for it, knew exactly what he wanted and how to do it. They are smart, bless them, SO smart!!  What I'm getting at is that even though YOU want to wait, SHE might not want to.  IMO, you've already given her the best possible start. Personally, delaying solids much past 6 months (unless the baby just isn't ready for other reasons) would seem a little silly because real food is inevitable and for most babies, developmentally, they are ready.  They don't get very much anyway - and if you find your baby isn't nursing as often then you would cut back on solids.  I also think of mealtime as another wonderful way to bond with your child and your family. They will understand that sitting at the table is meal time, family time. They will learn what food means, how to chew and swallow and get used to a variety of flavours. I have heard that waiting too long could lead to a baby having a difficult time learning to take different textures and being a picky eater later on too. Though no one knows what the limit is- every baby is different. I've also heard that delaying too long for certain foods could mean allergies later in life. However, family history of allergies or tummy problems may be a good reason to hold off or go very slow.  I claim to be no expert but this is just the things I have read and of course my own experience.  All I know for certain is that my son is loving real food and the chance to eat it himself! 

I will share with you also what my public health office shared with me. They actually give a 2 hour class about starting solids. They say that iron rich foods are important at 6m because the iron stores in breastmilk start to decrease around this time, so you need to get your baby iron through other means - food. They want us to give an iron rich food three times a day! (note: I get 2 in usually daily) They claim that this is the recommendation of the Cnd Ped Society and Health Canada in conjunction with AAP. 

My suggestion: keep doing your research, learn more about BLW and observe how your baby changes in the next month and you'll find something that works for you. Good luck!

sooner1981

The AAP recommends introducing solids no early than 4 to 6 months. The latest research indicates that introducing (meaning tastes--not whole meals) a wide-range of solids between the ages of four and six months offers the best protection against food allergies. It is not a matter of "rushing" solids--it is a matter of introducing them at the proper time for maximum health. More food allergies are seen in both children who were introduced to solids prior to four months and those who were introduced to solids after six months. Also, introducing solids in conjunction with continuing breastfeeding is also thought to decrease the likelihood of food allergies. We started introducing tastes of tons of foods that we eat for dinner (protein, veggies, fruits) at about 4.5 months. Our daughter continued to breastfeed for 15 months (only weaned in my second trimester of my next pregnancy). We never did rice cereals, but we did introduce iron-rich foods around 6 months. We only started on oatmeal around 8 months, when she started eating a breakfast meal every day.

vcabbyw

Thank you for your perspectives mama! I suppose I may be too protective, it seems like they really don't get a large amount of their nutrition from solids at this stage anyhow.

I guess my own agenda of extended breastfeeding may be getting in the way. I've been the only one to feed our baby, (no bottles) and I really have enjoyed our bond together!

trudibell

We just started a little over a week ago.  LO turned 6 months on the 20th, but we had my folks visiting and things were crazy with the holidays and we wanted some downtime to try to start introducing foods.  At first, your LO will wear more of whatever you try to give him/her than actually eat it.

I've gotten a lot of push-back from my in-laws who were upset that I did not start rice cereal at three months.  My MIL said that what I planned to feed LO (pureed sweet potato) was "disgusting".  So I basically just grin and bear it with the comments.  30 years ago what was known about nutrition was a lot different and like PP said, the first year formula/breastmilk is the most important and should be the largest component of your baby's diet.  For my MIL money was a big issue I guess, because she always goes on about how "expensive" formula is and how we'd save tons of money if we started giving LO rice cereal.  

I've never heard that you could cause your child to get anemia by waiting.  If you have a diet rich in iron, then as it follows so should your baby.  Do what feels best for you and don't listen to your family and friends.

rh10264706

I actually was thinking about delaying solids too but I read a lot of books on how/when to introduce solids and read that sometimes babies have difficulty learning to eat the longer you wait. I am a ftm so I have no idea how true this is, and I know every baby is different, it is just something to think about. 

edit: the longer you wait AFTER 6 months.

BelhurstBride

vcabbyw said:

Thank you for your perspectives mama! I suppose I may be too protective, it seems like they really don't get a large amount of their nutrition from solids at this stage anyhow. I guess my own agenda of extended breastfeeding may be getting in the way. I've been the only one to feed our baby, (no bottles) and I really have enjoyed our bond together!

DD1 was between 6 and 7 months before she started solids. That was when she reached the developmental milestones I was looking for that signal that a LO is ready for solids. We introduced solids using BLW and she was in complete control of how much she ate. We continued nursing until she self weaned at 32 months old. 

carrotcake06

My guys are preemies, so we waited just past 6mo actual (4.5mo adjusted). One is more receptive to it than the other. We're taking it slow - once per day and after nursing.

I started solids w the big one just before 6 mo and we nursed until 20mo. The shift from BM to food happened gradually starting around 9-10 months. By 13 months, nursing was am/PM only.

Rowcate

I can say I delayed beyond 6 months with my daughter and she really struggled accepting solids. Her weight went from solid 50th percentile to 7th by 2 years old. She has gotten much better but it's still a PIA getting that kid to eat. With little guy I've been much more attentive to his cues and readiness and have begun introducing this week, he is almost 5 months. We won't be using solids for nutrition so much as to learn for now. Rosie may have just been a fussy eater no matter what I did though so.... I always say do what feels right, you know your baby best.

mysticl

I started my son on solids at 6.5 months.  After a couple of attempts at spoon feeding we switched to baby led weaning, which worked much better for us.  We never did rice cereal.  I'm still breastfeeding at almost 16 months.

TashnBabii

My son will be 14 wks tomorrow, and I've been thinking about this as well. Some of my friends introduced solid foods to their LOs at or around 4 months of age. I, however, do not agree with this. I feel waiting at least 6 months is best. I also believe LO will tell you when he is ready. He has to be able to sit up on his own, be able to move food to the back of his throat and stop drooling. This are only some signs LO may be ready. I don't necessary think introducing solids earlier will prevent against food allergies, but hey what do I know. I'm not a doctor. All I know is that I was EBF for a year and I have zero food allergies. On the other hand, my friend was introduced solids around 4 months and she has a bunch of food allergies. I think it deals more with genetics than anything else. I plan on EBF for 6-7 months unless my LO tells me otherwise.

thedash

At our 4 month checkup DD was picking up anything she could get her hands on and putting it into her mouth. Our pedi laughed and said give her a little bit of solids whenever we feel comfortable. There have been some studies that indicate 4-6 months is the best age range for reducing not only allergies but also celiac and even diabetes in adulthood.

On a separate note, DD is being treated for reflux and her pedi said a few spoonfuls of rice cereal in the afternoons may help with her symptoms.

JaysonandKristin

We delayed solids for both of the boys until 9 months.  DS1 because of his birth defect and DS2 because, well, we just did.

I BF'd both of them until 19 and 15 months respectively.  

Read your kid, do some research, talk to a pediatrician, talk to your SO.  Make a decision.  

Stacey209

My daughter had oatmeal in her bottle at 3.5 months and started eating oatmeal and other foods at 4 months.  She just could not be satisfied with breastmilk and formula alone. Cried and cried because she was always hungry and unsatisfied after she ate.  Now, she is doing great and is such a happy baby and has zero allergies. She was so much happier and satisfied when we started solids - both from hunger and curiosity. She eats anything and everything except honey.  She has great motor skills and hand/eye coordination too - she is using her own hands to eat at 9 months.  She is experiencing all kinds of foods, colors, textures and tastes!  My doctor's feeling is that children have allergies because they are not introduced at a young age to all foods.  I guess its whatever you believe and feel is best for your own child.  To each their own. good luck to all!