Breastfeeding and solids

[Casey44]

I thought I heard somewhere that you shouldn't give solids right after you breastfeed- is this true? And if so- why? I feel like it takes up my entire day to breastfeed, wait an hour, offer solids, nap an hour later etc. Maybe I am making this harder than it needs to be, but DD is 9 months and is taking 2 to 3 solids per day. I feel like when I just give her solids right after nursing it makes things a little easier, but I also don't want to do this if it's bad for her? Does anyone know? Did I read this somewhere or just make it up... now I can't find it?

Thanks!

[ChetMC]

Haven't Heard

I haven't heard this. I'll be interested to see if anybody knows.

I actually thought it was the other way around... breast milk first and then solids to make sure that breast milk continued to be the baby's primary source of nutrition until at least 12 months.

[sunnygir1]

I never worried about it...just sure to nurse frequently and when babe acts hungry.

[JudiAU]

Breastmilk has easily absorable iron and other goodies. Adding solids at the same time can make it less easily absorable. That said, I'd rather have a baby who nurses and eats soldis after than a baby who eats solids and then nurses, or worse, a frantic momma.

[Knitting Mama]

I've always heard that you're suppose to breastfeed first, then offer solids, since solids under 1 are just for exploration and not for nutrition. I suppose you could give it 20-30 minutes between the two, but I personally will be nursing before offering solids when we start with solids.

[mamazee]

I would take this way off your worry list. I'd generally nurse and then offer solids so as not to replace the breastmilk, but I wouldn't really worry about how or when the solids are offered, so long as she's still nursing well. This is not something that is going to cause your baby problems.

[RaeDyCo]

Definitely nurse first then solids. Make sure baby gets the good stuff (all the good fats, immunity, etc.) and then solids.

http://www.mother-2-mother.com/samplemenus.htm

[wombatclay]

moving to breastfeeding!

Kellymom has a great page for how to introduce solids while keeping breastmilk the primary source of nutrition here... if that's the goal then yes, nurse first!

[Casey44]

Thank you for the links! Sorry- I think I confused some of you with the way I phrased my question. I know I should nurse first then offer solids, but I was wondering if there should be a certain time in between nursing and offering solids. The Mother-2-Mother link does say wait 30 minutes to an hour. But I think most of you are right- not a huge thing to worry about- when it works out that way, great, but if not- oh well! Thanks!

[Llyra]

I never made a big deal out of timing solids and breastfeeding. I would offer solids at the times the rest of the family was eating-- so baby could feel part of mealtime, ya know? And then nurse on demand the rest of the time. Sometimes I'd nurse right before the meal, because it helped baby to sit more contently while I was getting the food served. But sometimes there wasn't time, and we'd nurse right after dinner. The only time I'd worry about this is if I thought baby was taking a LOT of solids and getting less interested in food-- then I'd want to nurse right before each meal.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by mamazee

I would take this way off your worry list. I'd generally nurse and then offer solids so as not to replace the breastmilk, but I wouldn't really worry about how or when the solids are offered, so long as she's still nursing well. This is not something that is going to cause your baby problems.

I so don't worry about the order after 9 or 10 months, I just do which ever is more convenient for me at that time. Granted, neither of my babes were big solid eaters, so I never had to worry about them wanting solids over breastmilk.