[amazing_love]

I took a baby care basics class last night. Most of it were things i already knew but i learned a few new things. Anyway, the instructor was talking about breastfeeding and when to introduce solid foods. She said to introduce them at 6 months which i know a lot of moms choose to do but i've also heard from a few different sources that babies don't actually need solids at that point and that it's fine to only breastfeed. I've been thinking i'd like to breastfeed at least the first year and only introduce solids before then if i choose to. BUT here's what i'm confused about now... i told the instructor that i thought babies could survive just fine on breast milk alone until one year and she said "No, they NEED solids at six months." She said breast milk doesn't have enough vitamins such as Vitamin D and Iron so you need to start giving them cereal and other things. So..... Now i'm super confused!

I'm not against giving my baby solids or anything, but i would just like to know the truth about what babies actually need since i've heard conflicting things. Can someone help me with this?

[♥Ashley♥]

I think she is a completely uninformed woman!! That is not true whatsoever!

[SandKmommy]

They can breastfeed as long as they want, we let Kieran decide when she wanted solids, we first tried at 6.5mo and failed with cereal and pureeds and stopped till 9mo and given her big people foods.
From what my pedi has said and WIC (my pedi is supportive of child lead weening) as the child gets older they will get less vitamin d and iron from breastmilk and sometimes offer a vit d supplement to the baby. Or as my pedi said just up my intake of it and its fine.
Kieran is 10mo and only eats 1 meal (dinner) and the rest is strictly breastfeeding on demand and she is healthy as can be

[IamMom]

the instructor was partially wrong and partially right. They do not NEED solids....(who calls the pureed crap six month olds eat solid anyway he he he). But they do need Vitamin D which does not come from breast milk. There are drops you can get at any drug store if your baby is 100% BF. I had to start giving Nora the drops before I weaned her to formula...its called Tri-vi-sol....any other ladies give tri-vi-sol to your breastfed babies?????

[SandKmommy]

I think thats what was suggested to me but I didnt' get them (and I dont give Kieran or Seamus their fluoride...bad parent I know)

[♥Ashley♥]

Originally Posted by IamMom

the instructor was partially wrong and partially right. They do not NEED solids....(who calls the pureed crap six month olds eat solid anyway he he he). But they do need Vitamin D which does not come from breast milk. There are drops you can get at any drug store if your baby is 100% BF. I had to start giving Nora the drops before I weaned her to formula...its called Tri-vi-sol....any other ladies give tri-vi-sol to your breastfed babies?????

Ive always wondered the same thing?!

[**jessie**]

Originally Posted by ♥Ashley♥

I think she is a completely uninformed woman!! That is not true whatsoever!

I don't think that's necessarily true. She does have a point, but I don't think it necessarily has to be exactly 6 months.

There is differing research, and this is one at least my pediatrician (head of the pediatrics department in one of the biggest hospitals in our area) shares. Yes, the main source of nutrition up to 1 yr old is formula/breast milk.

There are risks to starting solids too early, but there are also risks for starting too late. Allergies (only eczema, hayfever, and asthma) are associated with starting soldis too early AND too late. Also, after 6 months breast milk is deficient in iron and Vit D for growth.

My pediatrician recommends starting solids between 4-6 months if your family does not have a history of those 3 allergies. He says if you start earlier than 6 months you can ease them into it with pureed veggies, and whatever. He likes to have them on meats by 6 months to combat iron deficiency anemia. Of course he recommends that the main source of nutrition is milk, and no water, cows milk or juice be started before 1 yr.

I know TONS of people on this board will disagree, but there is research to support starting solids around 6 months of age. No one is going to force you to start then, so you just have to do what is right for your family.

[SandKmommy]

Originally Posted by **jessie**

Also, after 6 months breast milk is deficient in iron and Vit D for growth.

This is basically what I've been told too

[♥Ashley♥]

I took what Krista said as the woman meaning you have absolutely cannot breastfeed only past 6 months. She didnt say that the woman mentioned anything about it being okay with the vitamin & iron supplements. Thats the only reason I said its not true whatsoever.

[~*sierra*~]

i think i just plan on starting solids when my kid seems interested, that makes the most sense to me. just do what feels right for you!

[Chelnae6]

I plan on introducing solids at 6 months little by little to get my daughter acclimated to different tastes other than breast milk.

[amazing_love]

The instructor didn't mention any sort of supplements at all so it's good to know there are other options!

[..Christine..]

I plan on possibly introducing solids at 6 months- if she is interested. If not then I have no problem just continuing with BFing....Ultimately I think it's up to you and your baby. You might also want to talk to you Ped when it gets closer.

[sara~b]

Gemma wanted to eat every couple hours until we started her on cereal around 4-5 months. If you have a BIG and/or hungry baby then starting solids early may make sense. I couldn't get a good nights sleep unless she had some cereal or a little baby food mixed in her formula. Some babies just seem to need them earlier.

[Resi]

I started at 6 months but very slowly. Oliver was ready but could have still waited if I wanted.

I didn't do the tri-vi-sol because it has food coloring in it. I bought a brand by Carlson's on line that was just a Vit D and I still give it to him.

[Mars]

There isn't a rule of thumb that says it has to be 6 months but a baby will need to be introduced to additional nutrients in addition to the breastmilk/formula before 1 year old. Most use 6 months as an average since most babies digestive systems would have strong enough to handle certain basic, non-allergenic foods but you don't have to start then. You can choose to begin as early ad 4 months since the same applies or you can choose to start after 6 months.

I started at 6 months and slowly began to introduce pureed foods with breastmilk being the main source of nutrition and I gradually increased the solids as Amara got older but I never cut back on her breastmilk until we started on whole milk after she turned one.

[soImarriedAnerd]

Babies can go up to 1-3 yrs on BM alone (some 3rd world countries do this). Here in the USA we tell everyone that BM is and should be the MAIN food till 1yrs old at least. So if you choose to do solids at 6 months then its more of a dessert but should NOT replace BM. They CAN easily make it to 1yrs old with no solids (anna's LO is good proof--those chunky cheeks are all boobie milk!) there is no medical reason a healthy BF infant needs solids before a year.
And 6 months is a guide line...*I* think its more important to teach the THINGS to look for not just give an age since kids do things a different rates.
-they should be able to sit unassisted for at least 30 min
-their tongue thrust reflex should be gone (this is the only way you know that they CAN swallow things properly) London STILL has his at 6.5months (boys are slower to lose it)
-they should be mimicking you eating (london does this now--its like he is chewing when he sees us chewing LOL)
-They should be grabbing for the FOOD (NOT spoon or cup---babies will grab for ANYTHING mom and dad are holding LOL, let them play with the spoon and cup-they will go for food differently) Not really sure how to describe this one...London JUST started doing it this week--its a different grab than a "play" grab...if I didn't wait I wouldn't have know what to look for though LOL

The vit D thing....her info was right 5yrs ago. NOW we know (and this could change LOL) but the latest and greatest info says if mom's Vit D level is good then baby's will be good also. HOWEVER over 60% of women in the USA aren't good! So thats were the confusion comes from. Its a quick and simple blood test to see if mom's levels are good (we actually prefer a little high). I get mine checked every fall because low-normal and low levels increase your chances of FLU/Illness by ALOT! I take 5,000mg of Vit D3 a day because my level was low this year (its only been normal once and that was the winter I was in Thailand laying by the pool in a bikini everyday!). You will have some people tell you, you only need 20 min of sun a day--which IS correct if over 80% of your skin is getting that 20 min (which isn't happening in the winter anywhere in the USA! HAHA) SOME research show that Low levels of Vit D MAY have an impact on the pre-e issues we have in the USA also. So being tested while preggo would hurt (its a REAL cheap test!)

[soImarriedAnerd]

Originally Posted by SandKmommy

I think thats what was suggested to me but I didnt' get them (and I dont give Kieran or Seamus their fluoride...bad parent I know)

I don't give it on purpose! LOL

Originally Posted by ~ChelNae6~

I plan on introducing solids at 6 months little by little to get my daughter acclimated to different tastes other than breast milk.

BM isn't just one taste though---I have tried mine several times ...it takes on the taste of the things I'm eating. This is why more often BF babies don't have taste issue...because their "menu" of BM changes each meal, where a FF infant DOES have the same flavor meal after meal.

Same thing with the iron....if MOM has good levels then baby should also. The trick is again with iron....many women are lacking in it.

some cool links-
kellymom.com :: Does my baby need vitamin D supplements?
kellymom.com :: Is Iron-Supplementation Necessary?
kellymom.com :: Solid Foods and the Breastfed Baby
EXTRA VITAMINS

[SandKmommy]

Originally Posted by soImarriedAnerd

Babies can go up to 1-3 yrs on BM alone (some 3rd world countries do this). Here in the USA we tell everyone that BM is and should be the MAIN food till 1yrs old at least. So if you choose to do solids at 6 months then its more of a dessert but should NOT replace BM. They CAN easily make it to 1yrs old with no solids (anna's LO is good proof--those chunky cheeks are all boobie milk!) there is no medical reason a healthy BF infant needs solids before a year.

I wish Kieran was chunky she was soley bf for 9mo (i doubt the couple bites of the pureed crap counted for anything ) and shes still primarily bf she gets 1 "meal" which is like 1/8 of a cup of corn or peas, or avocado, or chicken pieces, etc
I would have loved to make it to a year but I was also tired of the full on screaming fits when we ate infront of her
But I'm also one that most likely has low vit d because I dont go out side much, don't drink milk(makes me want to puke), but I do eat a good amount of cheeses but Kieran went from 5lbs 9oz to over 18lbs solely on bm so I think I did a pretty good job

[soImarriedAnerd]

London is right in the middle on 100% mama milk at 6 months....he will get a thing here and there once that stupid tongue thrust reflex is gone but 90% will be BM for a while.