Questions about solids, water and cups

[vbacwarrior]

I have a few questions:

1. Does a breastfed baby really *need* to start solids at 6 months?
2. Does a breastfed baby really *need* to begin drinking water at 6 months (in cold weather)?
3. Is there any risk of messing up baby's nursing sucking patters by introducing a cup at 6 months?

[Llyra]

No, I don't think a baby must start solids at 6 months. Most babies will thrive on breastmilk for many more months. I don't think there's any reason to start water at 6 months either, UNLESS a baby has also started a significant amount of solids ("significant" meaning more than the little occasional mouthful). I started offering water when the poops changed, which was usually around when my kiddos started actually swallowing more than a mouthful each day. (What they put in their hair and all over the floor doesn't count! ). I have found that once any solids have been introduced a child can get constipated without additional water. I always offering sips from my cup, although I did offer a sippy cup starting around 9 months, just for baby to mess with and try to figure out.

I don't think a sippy cup is a nipple preference/nipple confusion issue, unless you have a child who's overcome serious sucking issues and you are worried about undermining that. I wouldn't worry for a second with a baby who had a "normal" start with breastfeeding.

If you really want to be careful about that, offer only water in the sippy, not milk.

But I think it's really not something to worry about. My DS and I fought nipple confusion and bottle preference in his early weeks, and he went on to nurse into toddlerhood, and he had no problem with a sippy being introduced in the second half of the first year.

[mamadelbosque]

We started solids with DS1 ~7.5 months and did baby led weaning (so no purees/spoon feeding). I think I started offering water in a sippy ~8 or 9 months when he actually started to eat some and we never had any latch issues. I'm sure its possible to have them, but i just don't think its all that common with a normal bfing relationship. Good luck!!

[ommom]

- they don't need to start solids or water at 6 months. only breastmilk would be perfectly AOK til they are interested or even for the whole first year +

- an open cup is different enough from BFing that i don't think you'll have issues.