Exclusive BF and introducing solids

Hi,


A few questions for BF mums who also work full time...


My baby is nearly six months old and is exclusively BF. I pump milk 2-3 times a day, and my daughter drinks around 12 - 15 ounces while I'm at work.


I am reading about introducing solids and I'm getting confused. It also seems like it's difficult to find advice for mums who exclusively BF, and still want to use breastmilk and no other liquids.


1. How much is a BF baby supposed to drink at each feed? Books I've been reading say that a baby this age can drink up to 8 ounces - but they're talking about formula.


2. When solids are introduced, will I still be pumping 2-3 times a day, and will baby still be drinking the same amount of breast milk?


3. Do I have to introduce any other liquids, or can I still give baby breast milk for the first year? (with solids, of course)


4. To ensure that baby doesn't stop drinking milk, I've read that you should breast feed her first, then offer solids?


From what I've read, it would seem that I feed baby rice/congee for the first two days, and then every two days, I have to introduce the different foods - being that with BF babies, they rapidly need iron once they turn six months.


I would like to hear from other parents who exclusively BF their babies and what they did about introducing solids!


Thanks very much!

Two days seems a bit short for introducing new foods -- most of the books that I read suggested 3-5. Also, give a new food in the morning, so if there are any adverse reactions they are less likely to happen in the middle of the night.


In general, I think that most peds suggest starting to give a little bit of plain water along with the solids, even if you are diluting them with breastmilk, as you don't want your baby to become dehydrated. We used commercial rice cereal as a first food as it is fortified with iron [rice congee is not, of course], and diluted it until it was pouring off of the spoon. Our ped suggested egg yolk as a first food as it is high in iron, but she wasn't a fan until significantly later. Then we used a juicer to make veg juices -- starting with spinach and carrot, then started to add some fruits. We introduced lentils/beans before meat, and started meat with chicken breast pureed very very finely. Bananas were the one thing that she hated at first [though loves them now], even though they are supposed to be a good first food.


And of course, if you make your own, no salt, no sugar, no oil.


You won't be reducing the amount of breastmilk that she drinks at all -- just adding food to supplement and to teach her about new tastes. Let her drive in terms of how much food after a new food has been sufficiently introduced.


Later on, once she was an established eater, but still eating pretty finely pureed stuff, we froze things in ice cube trays and would always offer 1-2 cubes of 3-4 things at each meal. I'd always give her a bite of her favorite fruit [mangos] right after her green veggies, and now that she's two and her little friends are refusing to eat anything that isn't cheese or bread, she asks for more green veggies if she hasn't eaten any in a few days, and is almost always willing to try new things.

Hi Z,


Thanks for your reply!


I am going to start feeding solids tomorrow - yikes! I'm quite excited about it.


Does anyone have any tips regarding ease of preparing food and pureeing - should I buy a little steamer/puree machine thingy?


What's the best baby rice to buy? Has baby rice been affected by the food scares in China, or is it only the formula?


Thanks.

Here's how i did it. I did not stop breast feeding till the milk dried out. Though as the baby grows the frequency also lessens, like from every 3 hours to every 4-5 hours.


I suggest you go visit a baby shop and browse carefully on the baby food section. Your doctor's advice of course is essential. But youd be surprised to know that there is tea given for 1 month old babies. at 5 months your baby should be eating all sorts of things. at 4 months im giving my baby boiled rice water and fruits that i have juiced and boiled. I use the best quality japanese rice, its called koshihikari. i dont know if its available in hongkong. if you find it please let me know also.


I also let her taste whatever fruit im eating, strawberry, banana, melon, watermelon...etc. my doctor was surprised...but she said if my daughter starts having diahhrea, i should stop feeding her whatever it is i fed her. God blessed she has a good digestive system, so i never had that problem. right now shes 7 1/2 months but i even made her try food for 9 month old. some of them she liked soemof them shes just too young for. youll see it by the time and effort she makes in swallowing the food. so then i stop not because of diahhrea but she may not eat as much and might take tool on the digestion.


her diet is my own made food and store bought food plus of course milk.

If you are looking for a good book as a guide, I really liked the Gina Ford Book of Weaning (although I did not like her Contented Baby book). Very descriptive about how much milk and what solids to introduce when etc. I found it very useful as I was finding it all a bit confusing too. I exclusively breastfeed too and that book is very supportive of that too. Also has great recipes for later on. It is a very exciting time but always helps to have a helping hand.


All the best. My baby is now 10 months old and eating all sorts of meals from the Gina book including moussaka, chicken casserole, beef hotpot and fish pie. He loves them all.


SB2

First foods should be almost like soup -- go to the supermarket and buy a jar of babyfood carrots to get an idea of the texture. I used a combo of food processor and blender, depending on the item that I was preparing. Oh, and there are certain foods [I'm going to have to look them up again soon as my son is 5 months today and will start solids in another month] like carrots that can contain high levels of nitrates, so they aren't really recommended for people making their own babyfood unless you are really really sure of their provenance.


Another book that we really love is Le Petit Appetit by Lisa Barnes.

Hi - thanks for the advice. I might go look for the books you both mentioned!

Hi

My girl is 5 months and till now also exclusively BF, she has not taken even a sip of water before!

I plan to introduce solids when she is 6 months, so please share with me your experience and how did it go Slammy, thanks!

Cheers

Hi Elly,


I was reading on the internet that for exclusively breastfed babies, you can delay solids until 7 months or even later.


http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html


So I decided to wait a few more weeks, even though baby looks very keen to start food now and is making those chewing motions with her mouth whenever we sit down to eat! Sometimes I feel a bit sorry for her, not having anything to eat - but I'm confident that she is still getting everything she needs from breastfeeding and I also feel that it's more beneficial for her to delay solids a bit longer - even though we don't have any history of allergies in our family.


I've bought some organic baby rice from Bumps to Babes because that seems the best thing to start with. I was also planning to make congee at home but a friend's doctor said that you shouldn't give babies congee until they are 9 months old (although many people do...).


Also, I went to the Matilda Well Baby Clinic, and the midwife said that there was no need to introduce just one type of food a week. This is done to make sure the baby doesn't have a reaction and can also accept the taste. Her theory was that breastfed babies have already been eating a wide variety of foods through you. Anyway, I think I would still introduce each food for at least 2-3 days to see how baby goes with it.


I also asked her about sippy cups and whether they interfere with nursing. She said to give the baby the sippy cup maybe when they're around 8 or 9 months old, but it's not a big deal really. As long as baby can sit up unaided, then they can start trying to drink by themselves. She also said that babies do not NEED water in the first year because they get all the water they need from your breastmilk.


I also haven't given my baby any water. I think breastmilk provides everything a baby needs up to even 9 months of age. Besides, for families with allergies, usually it's recommended to breast feed baby for the whole first year until their digestive system matures.


So if you end up feeding your baby solids before mine - please share your experiences with me!!


Good luck and cheers!