Starting Solids and Breastfeeding
by April
(Forsyth, GA, USA)
I am a mother of three. I exclusively breastfed my second child and am doing the same with my 3rd who is 5 1/2 months old.
With my second child, I began introducing solids at 4 months. I took it slow, and it did not seem to negatively affect breastfeeding. She self-weaned at 18 months.
My 3rd child has been different.
I tried introducing solids at 4 1/2 months. She was not ready. Still, at 5 1/2 months, she is not interested in solids. She loves to nurse! I am glad for that. She is a chunky baby and is above average on the growth chart.
At first I worried that I should be trying harder to feed her solids, but now I feel comfortable with waiting until I have NO DOUBT that she needs something more, even if it means she’s a year old.
She has experienced a great deal of gassiness/fussiness and I wonder if it is because I have tried to start her on solids too soon – even though she didn’t take much at all. She has not received any solids for the past several days, and seems to be doing better.
My advice, don’t rush it and don’t be pressured with the 4 to 6 month “rule”.
Guidelines for Introducing Solids to Your Breastfed Baby.
