How do you start solids but keep up your milk supply?

Ally - posted on 01/31/2009

I started at first with rice cereal around lunch time after nursing when my daughter was about 5 and a half months...we did that for a while then started some rice at dinner time as well. Then we moved to oatmeal in the mornings then to veggies fruits and just recently meats and yogurt and basically whatever we are eating. If you start slow and make sure to nurse first your milk supply should stay up. I do make a lot of my own baby food but i also use the jarred organic stuff as well and my daughter hasn't found a food she doesn't like yet!



oh also i did like one food a week at first to make sure she tolerated it and still always start a new food at breakfast or lunch so if she does have any reaction to it it wont be right before bed! good luck!

Emily - posted on 01/27/2009

Yep, nurse first, then offer solids, preferably after 6 months. My kids show interest in food around 5-6 months but aren't interested in eating until 8-9 months... before that they just want to play with it. I also don't do pureed or jarred food, or cereal. We just start with small bits of table food from our plates.

We like to start with veggies, then fruits, then yogurt & cheese (our kids LOVE dairy and don't seem to have any difficulties digesting it), then meats (shredded chicken & ground beef), then grains.

Laura - posted on 01/26/2009

I'm hoping to hold off on solids until she's a year old. If she is really showing signs that she's ready, I may allow some but not before 8 months. I will give her one feeding a day and it will be at the end of the day when my supply is at it's lowest. I will also nurse first and then feed. I will continue to nurse first as I introduce new foods and add on more meals. Eventually your milk supply will diminish as the baby transitions onto solids.



On another note: I've got so much milk frozen the I figure i'll just make her mama's milk smoothies.

Crystal - posted on 01/08/2009

You should definitely nurse first and then give the solids. Keep in mind that for the first year of life, your breast milk is supplying his nutritional needs. Solids are there to play with texture and taste and coordination. I've known people who exclusively breast fed and nothing else for at least the first full year with no problems. With my first, we did some baby food because she was in childcare and the provider was pushing it, but with my second he started solids just shy of 7 months when he picked up some of his sister's chicken breast and started eating it. We only ever did table foods with him. Follow your baby's lead, but remember that you should definitely make sure he's still nursing as much as before.

Auntie - posted on 12/22/2008

Babies don't really need to start solids until after 6 months which is when they lose the iron supply they were born with ( breastmilk has no iron in it.). Don't push solids too much until he really seems like he wants it. Let him decide! Then make sure you start him on iron rich foods. Usually an infant rice cereal fortified with iron. Breast feed BEFORE solids to make sure he's getting your milk. Breast is best!
I would start him on just one feeding a day and not add another until he's completely comfortable with that one solid feeding, opening his mouth for the spoon and eating a good amount.
I know how scary starting solids can seem.... they can't TELL you and you want to do what's right!
Don't worry about your milk supply, it will adjust to his needs!
Good Luck!

Rachael - posted on 12/16/2008

I nursed before I would give her solids and never pushed them. Your milk supply will keep up with your baby's needs no worries! And you may also find that after he tries them he will lose interest for a while and come back. My daughter wanted them at first, I gave them to her and she was lets say... unimpressed and didn't really care too much about them again until about 9 months. (then Bf'ed until she was 2.5 and then only reluctantly weaned)

Stasia - posted on 12/15/2008

I was told (because i had previous problems keeping up my milk supply) To start with just one feeding a day, and to do it when my supply is lowest. That way babe can still empty your breast After he is done his solids. In the beginning he will probably want to nurse after anyways. I am still at the beginning of it (about a month) but my little girl still nurses ALLLL the time, I think they see nursing as more of comfort and bonding time so solids shouldnt interfere. good luck!