At five months, baby started showing signs that she was interested in what we were eating. Within a week of her first sample of solids, she is asking for 3 meals per day. She’s going through a jar of Earth’s Best chicken or turkey combos and I’m adding a couple tablespoons of home pureed carrots, peas, or banana/apple/peach/prune + oatmeal mix with each serving of meat. She’s still nursing vigorously at night and half heartedly throughout the day, generally when she’s drowsy. Should I pump to try and keep my supply, or let her continue to wean? Nursing was going great, and I’m home with her. I had hoped to nurse for her first year, but I feel certain my milk will disappear as she grows more dependent on solids. Any ideas or experience to share?
I say let her take the lead. If she’s hungry and “asking” for the food, I’d go for it.
However - why did you start with meat? I would probably reverse the meals - mostly fruits and vegetables, with a side of meat.
I started with oatmeal and fruit. She showed so much interest in savory bites of mashed potatoes and soups sampled from our fingers that I picked up a jar of meat combo just to test the waters. She was all over it. Diapers are great, weight is good, no tummy complaints.
Sounds good to me. If baby’s happy, everybody’s happy.
Regards,
Shodan
Re asking for food: drooling and chewing her fist while I’m cooking and eating, watching every bite I take with rapt attention. When she wants to nurse, she leans forward and dives into my chest, grabs boobs with both fists. Motorboats me. Hilarious, and decidedly different from her obvious interest in solid foods.
She has reached an age when getting their attention to feed can be tricky - I have to go into a dark room with no distractions otherwise there can be too many other interesting things to look at. So try that? Otherwise consider your feeding schedule - feed about an hour before a meal so she gets her hunger sated by the milk (which is good if you can do it for the antibodies, calcium, iron etc) and then the food is more about exploring flavour and texture.
She sounds pretty young to be self weaning - 10 months was the earliest baby of my acquaintance - but babies are tricky beasts and she might just need a little extra coaxing. What does your paed/health nurse/dr say?
A good site for breast feeding info is Kelly Mom, or perhaps you have a La Leche league near you?
All else fails - food with formula/breast milk in a sippy cup is fine - if is no reflection on the mother so you houldn’t feel guilty or anything.
Just thought - they get really quick feeding around this age too - a couple of minutes a side and done, but they are efficient at getting lots out. Could that be it?
It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing proposition. You can day wean onto formula and keep night nursing for a long long time to continue the bonding and nutrition of breastmilk.
Either way she needs either breastmilk or formula through the first year and not just solids. Solid food at this stage is about exploring tastes and textures and babies require the additional nutrition from formula or BM still.
The advice above of going into a darker quieter place is great. You may also want to make a nursing necklace to keep baby interested in what’s happening in your chestal area instead of the world around. (You don’t have to buy an expensive one, link just for illustrative purposes)
If in the end you go completely to formula, don’t sweat it - the most important thing is to have a happy healthy baby, and happy healthy mom. The exact nutrition delivery system is secondary.
Sounds like me with my first girlfriend.
She’s such an enthusiastic eater, grinning and smacking and really enjoying her food, maybe just decrease her servings? I will try the darkened room and nursing after cooking but before eating thing right now Girl From Mars. And the nursing necklace seems like a great idea Hedda Rosa, so glad I asked.
I would continue to offer to nurse first, and after baby is done offer other foods.
At some point she may just decide she’s not interested. At 9 months, Junior started crying when he saw my boobs (great for the ego! :p) so nursing was done. I tried pumping for about another month but eventually I started supplementing with formula till he was 18 months and then whole milk after that.
I would keep trying with nursing for a little while more, particularly if she’s super keen at night, because it is a bonding thing, as well as a feeding thing, but if she decides she’s done I wouldn’t worry too much - sometimes babies just want to try something different. 
Here’s a good article on sub-12 month weaning - she says its really uncommon, and offers some good tips which could help.
It actually sounds like you’re doing a great job, and your daughter is healthy and happy. But we’re moms, so we have to worry, right?
Babies often go through a period or two of less nursing or outright refusing the breast during the first year. Generally this is not categorized as self-weaning, but a “nursing strike” or simply a variation in the nursing routine as the baby grows. Almost all babies will return to the breast even after a short period of refusing it entirely.
As noted above, nursing in a place with low light and few distractions, or giving the baby an item to focus on while nursing will often help at this age, and the protocol is nurse first, then offer food. Under one, food is largely for fun and exploration, and basic nutrition still comes from milk or formula.
As long as she is nursing fairly regularly, there’s no reason to assume your milk will dry up. (Sometimes around this time your breasts stop being so enthusiastic and full-feeling, and many women assuming they’re losing supply, but it’s just your body learning how to provide just-in-time inventory.)
Anyway, I know a lot of kids who are several years old and eat like starving jackals at every opportunity, and their mothers still have plenty of milk to nurse them (yes, I hang out with hippie weirdos).
Keep us updated! And post pictures, darn you!
Hmm. Should I cut the small amount of pureed solids with breastmilk, or just offer less and restrict her to the breast? I have to admit it has been convenient to offer her solids in restaurants rather than struggle with a blanket and peek a boob. Even though her pediatrician recommended introducing cereals and fruit, it certainly sounds like I made a mistake by offering too many solids so soon. I fed her earlier in a dark room, and only offered a couple teaspoons of veggies and cereal. She asked for more, lunged for the spoon and bowl, but handled it fine when I changed activities. I’m pleased that she appears to have an adventurous appetite, but I would rather filter 99% percent of her diet through my liver first for as long as possible. I appreciate the advice, thank you all.
So true about the supply and demand thing, Unauthorized Cinnamon. I’m not sure if I miss my giant boobs or not, but even half the size seems to produce enough for my fat little girl. I will get some pictures up soon I’m so glad you guys are helping me instead of spanking me. I’m sure I’d get thrashed on most parenting boards.
Our first daughter woke up one morning at about that age and decided she was DONE with nursing. We had a few worrying days until we gave in and offered a bottle. Well, no. First we offered a bottle and she rejected it. A few days later, we in desperation gave her a bottle with a different brand of formula, and it was The Greatest Thing EVER MADE. She inhaled it and wanted more.
The point is, give in and give the baby what she wants. It’s good training for the next 18 years.
That makes me sad. I used to be a lot more judgmental I guess, but as I age I realize more and more that only the people involved know the nuances of their situation, and the mom and dad know their own baby a lot better than anyone else on the planet, including doctors, breastfeeding advocates, and parenting experts!
It certainly sounds like you’re observing your baby and following her cues. What could be a more important part of parenting?
As for figuring out exact timing and portion sizes, I have to admit that with my second one I embraced a much more “free range parenting” approach and just let her snag stuff that wasn’t too chokable off my plate, or made a baton shape out of something we were having for dinner and let her hold it and gnaw on it.
Oh, for crying out loud!
My son weaned himself at four months, my daughter about eight months. Both are grown and healthy.
Working moms are especially given the guilt trip for not breastfeeding for a year. A baby needs breast milk OR formula for the first year, to receive complete nutrition. You haven’t failed your child or ceased to become “a good mother” if the nursing stops before twelve months. Some groups are downright militant (La Leche is one) about MANDATORY breast feeding.
If your child is showing appropriate development, is within normal range for weight and height for her age, SHE’S FINE. Let HER take the lead.
ANY breast feeding a baby gets after birth is a bonus. There are nutrients, immunological agents, living cells, all KINDS of good things in breast milk. But the world isn’t going to come to an end if breast feeding stops, for whatever reason.
Enjoy your daughter!
~VOW
It’s not parenting guilt on my part, Vow. Here’s the thing: when all my friends were busily raising babies, I was childless and hadn’t planned for one, so I didn’t pay attention. I’m learning all this via docs, books, instinct and advice in no particular order. Because my baby is so young and seriously enthusiastic about eating, she has attracted a lot of attention. She doesn’t even make a mess, cleans the spoon, tries to help, reaches for her milk or water…and several people have made quite a fuss over her behavior. So I thought I’d better ask. Since I’m home with her and nursing has been a breeze, I don’t want to give it up before I have to. And I admit the ingredients list on a can of formula gives me pause. I’d really like to keep nursing as long as possible but this kid is a gourmand. I’m sure she’s getting good diet; her weight, energy, skin, and diapers prove it. I’m just looking for guidelines and experience, but a little less overthinking might help, too.
I remember nursing just at night for the last few months, so it’s possible to let her have as much solid food as she wants and still breast feed for health and comfort before bed time. Your supply will go down but as long as you’re nursing daily it will keep up with her (lower) demand.
I do want to offer one piece of advice though. Please don’t immediately assume you’re doing it wrong when people remark on your parenting. Through the years you’ll hear a lot of comments, like wow! you let her…eat solid food/skip naps/touch germy things…etc. And it’s natural to think oh, maybe I shouldn’t be doing that, maybe strangers/grandparents/all the other moms know better than I do. But usually they don’t, remember that when you’re feeling confused or insecure. You are the expert on your baby. An adventurous eater is a really good thing. Enjoy it!
You could offer expressed milk in a cuppy at mealtimes, she’s still getting the benefits of breast milk, and its a good time to introduce the sippy cup anyway.