Long term exclusive BFers.

Jberbie25 · April 2009

Why did you decide to exclusive BF for so long versus starting solids?

Did you find it hard to wean when you finally decided to due to attachment issues?

Any other information that would be helpful you can think of?

I was planning on starting solids at 6 months. At 4 months my pedi said I could start but didn't have to. I'm pretty sure he said I didn't have to until baby was 2! Anyways, I'm debating what to do. I'm really interested in BLW, doing research when I have time. I have both extremes of people I know that BFed until school and feel solids are too much on their digestive tracts to people who think DD's too big to thrive off of just BM and she needs more to still others who think BFing is just weird no matter when. Any these aren't just nobody's they are family and friends that I see everyday that make life rough! Thank you so very much for your input!

daisyterp · April 2009

We held off on solids until she was 6 months because DH has asthma and seasonal allergies and there is some research supporting that EBF'ing can help perhaps prevent these issues. DH was formula fed and his dad smokes, so I am hoping no 2nd hand smoke exposure + EBF for 6 months will keep her asthma free.

While we started w/ solids @ 6 months, she really wasn't "into" solids until she was like 10 months old and at 14 months I would say she still nurses 4-6 times day/night.

FWIW my DD was 50th% for weight and 75%th for height when EBF'd, and plummeted to 15th% for weight @ her 9 month and 5th% for weight @ her 12 month check ups after we introduced solids.

Ounce for ounce nothing packs in as much calories, etc. as BM. So saying they "need" solids or other stuff is pretty much bull.

rolleifly · April 2009

My pedi had a stroke when I told her that my daughter was still exclusively bfing at five months. But then again, I hate my pedi. I don't think she knows what she's talking about. She told me that babies need to start solids at four months, altho DD was perfectly healthy and chunky.?

We finally started solids at 6 months because I went back to school and was unable to pump enough to supplement while I was in class. She loves eating anything and everything! Altho I do make her food (except the cereal and oatmeal) so she basically eats what we would eat, only pureed without any seasoning.

?

luvlieK · April 2009

We bf?exclusively?until 7.5 months. ?We decided to because C was born at 36 weeks. ?So I wanted to give him extra time to develop. ?He was thriving so the pedi didn't see any reason why we couldn't wait. ?I believe we made the right decision.

?We haven't weaned yet so I can't help you with the rest. ?:o)

ncbelle · April 2009

I plan to start solids at 6 months but will likely skip cereal. And I'm not going to force the issue. I like the idea of giving them a wee bit and letting them "feed" themselves since really any solids before one year are less about nutrition and more about learning to eat and discovering different flavors. I plan for BM to be his primary food source through the first year and then will go from there.

andrealynn0707 · April 2009

ncbelle:
I plan to start solids at 6 months but will likely skip cereal. And I'm not going to force the issue. I like the idea of giving them a wee bit and letting them "feed" themselves since really any solids before one year are less about nutrition and more about learning to eat and discovering different flavors. I plan for BM to be his primary food source through the first year and then will go from there.

Ditto this exactly!

Celyn · April 2009

We started trying to introduce solids at 6 months with my youngest, but he flatly refused everything. We tried purees from every maker including homemade, we tried mashes, cubes, various textures, from bland to spicy, etc. We kept trying for the rest of that year, but he never would eat more than a bite or two. He likes his mama milk... and still does. At 15 months now, he's still almost EBF. He likes yogurt and curry, and that's about it. Heh.

juniper19 · April 2009

I started solids at 6 months because that's what our pedi recommends. But he's 7 months now and just not really interested. He's got a sensitive gag reflex. I'm on medication to make enough milk so frankly I can't wait for him to start eating something aside from BM so I can start to taper of the meds.

BlueRidgeMama · April 2009

I waited to offer them until 6 months, but DD didn't really eat any solids (cereal, apple sauce, etc) until 7, when she fell in love with puffs and cheerios. She loves finger foods now, but still isn't really into purees except for fruits ones sometimes. I wouldn't want to deny her the finger foods once she started acting interested. She has such a good time eating them.

SapphyrEyes · April 2009

I'm one of the longer exclusive ones here. I waited until about 13 months for a number of reasons.... One of which was that we don't know my medical history so I couldn't tell anyone about possible food allergies from when I was young. But, the other biggest factor is that I don't feel that children are really ready for food at the young of an age and that's just my personal opinion. Even when we started DS really wasn't interested in doing anything with the food other than playing. He resisted getting anywhere near his high chair even and threw tantrums. We actually had to stop and go back to exclusivity for another month. So, my DS actually exclusively bfed for about a total of 13.5-14 months. He tried food on his own terms and when HE was ready not when everyone else around him wanted to force the issue. He still nurses a lot and I don't see any sight of weaning anytime soon and I'm perfectly fine with that because this is what he needs. I would never force him to wean because that's disruptive to him and his development. He does use nursing at times as a comfort thing especially when teething or incredibly upset (like from a bad fall on the rare occasions he's had those) but most of the time it's a quick "I need a snack Mama" thing. No big deal.

I fully believe in child-led weaning. Your child will let you know when s/he is ready to fully give up that relationship. I don't feel there is a need to rush them and take away something they will never get back (nor will you ever get this time back of having so much snuggle time with your nursling). And I feel that bfing is something that you have to look at as....it's a relationship. It has a learning curve, ups, downs and everything in between. And is a really special bonding time with my child. It will be sad when he's ready to quit but until then I plan to enjoy every moment and I do. My DS is very healthy for having nursed exclusively for so long. He is long and lean and has always been in the "curve" charts for his height and weight. My body makes as much milk as he needs and requests. And yes, he does sign to me when he wants to nurse because it's the easiest form of communication. He talks but I can't understand what he's saying so signing is the easiest form of communication for him to be understood. If you have any questions please feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to talk more about what we did. But, it's been great for us even though family hasn't been as supportive as we would have liked. Friends on the other hand have all been amazingly supportive.

marrymemylove · April 2009

We held off until 6 months because that's sensible, and not doing that is not lol!

Then DS wasn't interested. Really. He didn't listen that his daycare was nagging the hell out of us he didn't want the pureed sweet potato or the applesauce OK? (throws them across the room).

He really didn't get into solids until about 10 months, and not significantly until 12 months. Yes I BF a lot.

It was never a problem, and he weaned very easily (though gradually). When he wanted solids he ate them just fine, and he skipped most of the puree stuff so don't think they need to go through all the stages. They could go straight to a hamburger if you wait long enough.

roseroseroseroserose · April 2009

We started at 6 mos but dd did not do the purees. I made them and she did not like them. I bought them from the store, she still hated them. So she kinda chose BLW.

I loved it bc she was on table food from the start. No hard transistion away from purees.

She's still nursing at 16 mos.

Jberbie25 · April 2009

Oh wow, I totally didn't think I would get this much response but I'm SO happy! This really helped a lot. I'm in no hurry to start solids, but this really helped with all the confusing 'what do do's' floating around in my mind. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

FriendlyFanny · April 2009

We just discussed solids at ECFE today. I was shocked at the number of parents who just magically started rice cereal on the infant's 4th month. They were also mostly the parents that whipped out bottles of formula. Several said they waited until 6 months. They were mostly the ones that BF.

I was the only one that gave developmental milestones as to "when" we started solids. She is the 2nd oldest baby in her group and from discussion, eating the least of any of them (except the 8 week old.) She's tried a few foods starting when she could sit unassisted and didn't tongue-thrust. She isn't super interested in foods and will eat maybe a tablespoon of cereal in 1oz BM and maybe an ounce of veggies on a good day. Some days she doesn't want any and we don't push it.

Personally I didn't have any foods until I was almost a year old. I nursed until I was 3. And I've turned out just fine.

FriendlyFanny · April 2009

Oh, and with her diapers these days ... dear god I pray for the days she doesn't want food!

BrainySmurfette · April 2009

My 2 year-old DD still nurses, and we started solids at 4 months. She was really interested, though, and she took to eating very quickly. I think waiting longer is absolutely OK, but starting solids on the early side isn't necessarily detrimental to the nursing relationship.

flyer23 · April 2009

We started rice cereal at about 5.5 months, and purees at 6 months. We just really followed her lead... I had planned to EBF until 6 months, but she started showing a lot of interest before then. One night, I was eating some take-out on the floor with her, and she kept crawling around trying to grab my plate. Finally, I handed her the bag to play with, and she took a bite out of the bag! I figured rice cereal had to be (marginally) better for her than paper Smile

She was off purees by about 7 months of age, again by us following her lead -- she completely refused purees, but went NUTS when we introduced finger foods. Absolutely loved them.

We haven't weaned quite yet, but we're getting there, pretty much down to nursing just in the morning. It hasn't been hard at all.

jamie5315 · April 2009

We started solids slowly at 6 months and I am still BFing at 14 months. DS has never had formula. I started whole milk at 1 year bc I didn't want to pump at work anymore. I think solids are important nutritionally and I can't imagine a baby not knowing how to feed themselves at 2 years old!

Germanwife2b · April 2009

My plan was to wait until at least 6 months but by 4 1/2 months DS was staring at us eating, reaching for our food and whining for our food. I decided that this was his way of telling us that he was really interested. That first feed we videotaped and he laughed the entire time. Since this time, he has been an amazing eater, has never turned down ANYTHING and now at 12 months eats everything that we eat. He still gets the booby juice 3-5 times a day. I think the best thing is to watch your baby and follow her lead. No need in keeping her away from food is she clearly wants your food. But no need in introducing food or forcing food if she is not interested. I will say though that my friends who waited to introduce solids have slightly pickier children than I do (but it could be coincidence).

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