When/how did you start to make the switch?

[candelaria80]

This may belong in the breastfeeding forum, but I thought I would try here because it deals with a few kinds of feeding questions.

DD will be 1 year old on the 16th of August and I am wondering when it becomes important to start introducing and offering more solids then BM?

As of now she basically eats everything, we don't restrict too much, but her main diet is still BM. There are days where I realize that I haven't offered anything but BM all day. She loves to eat and we haven't found a food she doesn't like, but we really haven't done a true meal except for the few times MIL or my mom has baby sat her for a few hours and have given her some purees and right when she sees me she wants to nurse even if she has just eaten.

I know people will say to follow her cues and I believe that is the right thing to do, but I would like to know how and when others started introducing solids as meals? When did your babe began to be satisfied with the solids? Also, is there a time when your LO needs solids more than BM?

Thanks in advance.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

With DD, at a year old, I had her sitting at the table with us and having meals with us. A "meal" might be very small, depending on her appetite, and I would usually have nursed before, but not always. I would give her small amounts of what we ate, and see how she did.

[candelaria80]

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario

With DD, at a year old, I had her sitting at the table with us and having meals with us. A "meal" might be very small, depending on her appetite, and I would usually have nursed before, but not always. I would give her small amounts of what we ate, and see how she did.

We do this a lot now, however, it doesn't really seem like she is eating a meal as much as playing.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Perdita_in_Ontario

With DD, at a year old, I had her sitting at the table with us and having meals with us. A "meal" might be very small, depending on her appetite, and I would usually have nursed before, but not always. I would give her small amounts of what we ate, and see how she did.

DS played mostly for a bit, and after a year I started nursing him AFTER his "meals" instead of before them, and he eventually started asking for more food, pointing to the pantry.

Follow her cues. If she wants food, trust me - you'll know.

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by candelaria80

We do this a lot now, however, it doesn't really seem like she is eating a meal as much as playing.

I don't think this is really a cause for concern; she's still learning about meals and food in general! The only way it would become a problem in my eyes is if for some reason you couldn't continue to give her the majority of her food via breast milk. I know that "under one just for fun" is the usual line given by everyone about solid food, but that doesn't mean a switch is magically flipped at one for all babies and they are suddenly ready to get most of their nutrition via solids.

[sosurreal09]

DD is 9 m/o and i give her meals. she has her food and i have mine she eats as much as she wants and i just dont force it but she still nurses 6+ times a day.

[Tattooed Hand]

I was under the impression that the scale toward more food and less milk generally happens from a year to a year and a half, so you are on the early part of that scale, no?

[Ruthla]

At a year old, my kids sat with us for family meals. Sometimes they played with their food and utensils and only nibbled a little bit, and other times they ate as much as the grownups. They continued to nurse on cue between meals. At some point I'd make a rule "I'm not nursing you while I'm eating- you can eat food too or wait til I'm done to nurse" but I forget at what age I did that, or even if it was the same age with each baby.

There wasn't any obvious "switch" from nursing to meals- it happened very gradually.

[sosurreal09]

Originally Posted by Tattooed Hand

I was under the impression that the scale toward more food and less milk generally happens from a year to a year and a half, so you are on the early part of that scale, no?

you mean me right?
i am not on a scale lol idk she eats meals with me. its not like they are big meals...she started solids at 9 m/o so only a few weeks ago. she doesnt have snacks.

i certainly dont think shes replacing any milk. she eats every 2-4hrs daytime and anywhere from 0-4x at night