feeling sad about introducing solids (longish)

dahansen85

DD is 6 months today and has been indicating that she is ready for solids. She has lost the tongue thrust reflex, she leans in for the spoon, she is waking more at night, seems dissatisfied, etc. (She isn't sitting unassisted, which is a little weird, but she is about 3 seconds away from crawling).

The only food she's had other than breastmilk is a little bit of fortified cereal, and some lemon, orange and apple slices - all very recently.

I'm so sad about starting solids. I'm scared that she wont want to nurse and we'll lose that bonding time together. I know that is probably irrational, but I just feel like she isn't a little baby anymore and it makes me feel really sad.

I think I've been in denial that this day was coming and I now realize that I have a lot of work and reading to do to make sure that we are going about this with our best foot forward.  

At the end of the day, I don't think I could have ever predicted before getting PG that I would be crying while reading AAP recommendations about babyfood.  My, how life has changed.  

tokenhoser

Congrats on EBF to 6 months! You have done such a wonderful thing for your baby that so few babies get.

It is sort of bittersweet to start solids, but it can be pretty fun too. We're doing baby-led weaning at least in part because breastfeeding has given me confidence in LO's ability to decide when he needs to eat and how much. It's a really low-stress way to introduce solids. Very few rules, very relaxed attitude. It's just about providing the opportunity and letting him do what he wants. It's also great because he eats on his own while I eat - hot meals for mom? Yes please.

mvhyde

Congrats on getting to 6 months. I am at 4 months now and hope to get to 6 months at least, hoping for a year. I know a lot of women who still breastfeed after introducing solids. I know one lady who was able to nurse to 2 years only doing 1-2 sessions a day for the last few months.

I have been reading up on baby led weaning and she advises to nurse first then feed the baby solids. And by feed she means let then experiment and play with new foods. Most of her nutrition should still come from BM. I know the old way was to feed the baby solids before nursing so that they are hungry and more likely to eat the solids, but if you look at the Kellymom list of calories per ounce it isn't worth it to fill up your baby on baby food first as most are not are calorie dense as BM.

But I can't speak from experience. Good luck!

stahlop

My son is almost 9 months and he gets solids and BM.  I still nurse him when he wakes up in the morning, he gets BM at the sitter with his meals and he get's it for snacks when I'm home with him and before bed.  You don't have to give up bfing just because you're starting solids, you just aren't doing it as much as before.