8 Months and Still Exclusively B-Fed

[Anguschick1]

So, the comments have started. Well, actually, intensified.

When is he going on cereal? He really wants this cookie. When is he going to start real food? If you don't start real food now he won't be able to eat cake and ice cream for his birthday. You know after 6 months breastmilk doesn't have the nutrients he needs (from his ped!) After a couple of months if you're still breastfeeding, it's all for YOUR benefit. Now that he has teeth, breastmilk will rot them and you need to start food or they'll fall out. And on and on and on......

So, I was feeling comfortable in our desicion to hold off on solids, but he's only gained 6 ounces or so in the last month / month and a half. He's seems to be growing longer, is happy, just started scooting and pulling himself up this past week. Mama's milk is all he needs, right?

Geez, the one week that MDC is down is the week that everyone decides our breastfeeding relationship needs to end. ARGH!!!

[Quirky]

You're doing a good job, mama. Don't listen to them. They don't know what they're talking about (especially your moronic ped! )

My almost 18-month-old ds hasn't gained weight in I don't know how long. He eats solids, but still gets at least half his nutrition from breastmilk, I would guess - who can tell for sure? Some days he eats solids, some days he won't. But he has chub on top of his muscle, and he's getting stronger and more agile every day. He is hardly ever sick, and when he is he gets better fast.

Mama's milk is all he needs until he tells you otherwise - i.e. begins mugging you for food!

Check out http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/index.html for information to back you up against your oh-so-helpful critics, but most of all trust your instincts! You know your baby, and you'll know when it's the right time to start him on solids.

Hang in there!

[luvmy3boys]

You're doing a good job, mama. Don't listen to them. They don't know what they're talking about (especially your moronic ped! )

ITA....btw, my baby will be 10 months tomorrow and is exclusively breastfed.

[Meiri]

So, I was feeling comfortable in our desicion to hold off on solids, but he's only gained 6 ounces or so in the last month / month and a half. He's seems to be growing longer,

I distinctly remember DS following a several week pattern of getting rounder for a while then getting longer while not gaining weight. Mom remembered us growing that way too. I haven't seen it as clearly with DD, but with DS it was So clear.

Don't worry about the ignorant, though the pediatrician being so extremely ill-informed would worry me. What other aspects of childhood growth/illness/development has he failed to keep up-to-date with???

[pageta]

If your baby has become more active (trying to crawl, etc.) that may also affect weight gain. Chubby babies slim down once they start moving around. If your baby isn't acting hungry like he isn't getting enough, I wouldn't worry about it.

My ds is only 6 1/2 months, but I've been getting comments since he was 4 months, especially since he is so big (20 lb 13 oz at 6 months and only 7 lb 6 oz at birth). He's been the 95th percentile all along, and I expect him to slim down as he is becoming more mobile. My reason for waiting is potential allergies and his complete lack of interest in food. Once he shows clear signs, I'll feed him solids. Until then, I am not upset not to have to deal with the mess as I think young babies play more with their food than they eat anyway.

Granted, I hate getting flack for things that I do, but I always tell myself, if I started making a list about the things other people do...

[Anguschick1]

Another question for you..... I know the AAP reccomends ebf for 6 months, just wondering what exactly does the WHO say? I'd love to have a medical source to quote.

I just had to remind myself that the mdc mamas would know the facts and don't have any "wanting to babysit" agendas or distorted sense of "food is love". Thank you mamas for reminding me to trust myself and to look at ds anytime I start to doubt.

[indie]

Originally posted by Anguschick1
Another question for you..... I know the AAP reccomends ebf for 6 months, just wondering what exactly does the WHO say? I'd love to have a medical source to quote.

The WHO says to start sometime in the second half of the first year, which of course could be anywhere from six months to 12 months. I read one baby book (can't remember which one) that said breastfed babies should wait a few months longer than formula fed babies to start solids.