[jandj'smomma]

Please tell me that I'm not alone.
I'm exclusively breastfeeding 10 month old DS. I feel ridiculed, shamed and made to feel as if I'm neglecting my son. He's 20 pounds and 29 inches. He's great with his feedings, he has a full little belly before he goes off to play, and I don't think that he needs any supplementation from the cues that he gives me. Occasionally, he will make chewing gestures as if to copy me, and sometimes I'll let him have a taste of whatever it is that we are trying, as long as it is somewhat liquidy.
But I get so much crap for it. From I'm starving him, to he'll never know how to eat to I'll give him the wrong idea.
I have no one to talk to or relate to. No one breastfed in my family or out of my friends. I feel alone.
Can someone else tell me how long they EBF for? Am I doing the right thing?

 

[Goddess3_2005]

My 3rd baby EBf for the first 12 months. She would have nothing to do with food and then on her birthday she go a taste of cake and decided she liked food and self weaned at 16months, LOL. Don't feel alone. You can start solids on your time, as long as he's happy and well fed, why worry?

 

[ladybugchild77]

My dd was EBF until about a year when I was 2 months pregnant and my milk supply decreased. She had had a few tastes of food here and there but was just not interested. I got all of the comments too - don't worry, Mama - you know what is best for you and your family. HTH! Off to nak!

 

[Tummy]

You are not alone.

I have a MDC/IRL friend who EBFs her 12 mo old. He has dental problems and just does not care to eat any foods.. he is not lacking in any way... almost 30#.

I will send her this link, and she will post her story for ya, give you some support

 

[~member~]

You are not alone. My dd is 17 months old and still only takes bites/tastes food, she's basically still exclusively breastfed.
She does like to have a few cups of water, but I think it's the heat wave that hit us. We both got a little dehydrated.

 

[zak]

My son didn't have a single bite of food for 9 months, he was EBF from the tap!

So sorry you don't have any support IRL. Have you tried attending any LLL meetings?

You are most definitely not alone in your choices! Our son was thriving on only breastmilk - we probably will wait longer with the next if the cues are the same. And believe me he LOVES food now! LOVES to eat! No way is he missing out and "won't know how to eat" later.

 

[hellyaellen]

we're almost at 10 months and still only playing with food. ds certainly doesn't depend on solids for nutrition. i don't even offer every day.

 

[alegna]

No worries- you're doing great!

-Angela

 

[zen_monster]

My son is 16 mo old and still only tinkers with food. His primary source of nutrition, and best source, is still breastmilk. He's huge and healthy

 

[mothragirl]

my 12 mo eats about half a cup of food (little snacks off of my plates) total a day. breastmilk should be their main food for the first year anyway. he'll let you know when he wants something else.

 

[MelKnee]

No you're not alone! My ds didn't start eating anything beyond a taste until he was 12.5 mos. Follow your babe, he knows what he is doing.

 

[Aura_Kitten]

you're not alone!

you're doing great.

 

[salmontree]

I get some of the same comments some times but I try to just let them slide off my back or give a look that says it's not up for discussion.
My dd is 10 months old and is pretty much ebf. She will sit in her highchair and nibble on a cracker (she's got 8 teeth!) or other finger foods once a day but it's never much more than just a few bites.. most of it just ends up as mush on the table or floor.
People are often surprised that she's ebf cause she's such a chunky monkey.. no question that she's being well fed!

 

[MamaRabbit]

DS is 11mo and exclusively breastfeed. At meal times, he sits in his highchair and I give him a piece of food to play with. And he plays... could care less about actually eating it. IRL here it seems that people think that the baby must be developmentally delayed if he's not interested in solids. Well, he is interested, but as something to play with... that's why at 6mo old people think the baby is asking for food when it's not.

 

[turtlewomyn]

Well, my DD is not EBF and is ten months old, 18lbs, 11oz, and 27 inches. I know she is above average on the growth curve, so your son must be doing just fine on the boys growth curve as well.

When people bother you, just tell them that your doctor is fine with it and drop it. It is none of their business any way.

You are doing fine.

 

[Mindful Mom]

I think you're doing great as well -- my daughter didn't eat any real solids until she was almost 18 months!!! Your son is getting all the nutrition and calories he needs from your BM!!

My only suggestion (and this is not in any way related to nutrition or calories!) is that you might want to expand the textures of the foods you do offer. You mentioned that you only offer foods if they are liquidly -- and, at 10 months, many babies are interested in a wider variety of textures!! Just a thought!!!

 

[Aliviasmom]

I EBF for 6 1/2 months before starting solids. I would have liked to go longer, but I had to put her in daycare (so I could return to school). She's 20 months and still nurses 1x a day.

 

[lalaland42]

You know, at 9 months DD couldn't eat too much in the way of solid foods. She had a very strong gag reflex and if there was the slightest lump or bump in the food she would vomit. Gross, no? She bf and I chilled out on the solids, no problems arose from it. At 16 months, she eats *everything* except salad. She eats vegetables, fruit, rice, spicy food... everything.

 

[hubris]

Reese was a slow starter for solids, had very little interest and a major gag reflex until about 10 mos. Then he started wanting tons of table food and now, at 14 mos, he's quite the solid-eater. My mom was weird about his being an exclusively breastfed 9-10-month-old and had a bizarre need to stuff his mouth with adult food. LAME and counterproductive. Listen to your instincts, your little guy will get interested in food in his own good time. You're definitely not starving him, I'm sure you can look at his plump baby rolls and healthy cheeks and see that.

 

[LessTraveledBy]

Dd is 16.5 months old and is not eating almost any solids. She has been sick once in her life... I would much rather have it this way than having her eat too many solids at this point.