This is a question I've been meaning to ask for some time, and wish I had found these boards when my first child was still an infant. I nursed her exclusively for 6 months, and then slowly introduced rice cereal, and homemade purees. It was hard to hold out THAT long. I was being pressured by everyone to start solids practically as she left the womb.
Her pedi was the only person that made me feel good about holding out until 6 months. She didn't start eating purees regularly until about 8 months, and gained weight just fine, so I don't know what my family/friends were babbling about. 
Anyway, with the new baby on the way, I started thinking about holding out on food for longer. Breastfeeding is just so convenient. You don't have the mess and headache of making babyfood, cleaning goop off the baby, taking little tupperwares of puree with you everywhere, etc. Breastfeeding is so tidy.
I'd like to nurse her exclusively for as long as possible. I'm sure my family will not approve, and I haven't had a chance to ask the pedi about it yet, but I wanted to ask here to see if any of you had any advice/links regarding waiting on introducing food. How long can you nurse exclusively for? Is it still a sufficient source of nutrition after 6 months? What's the deal with having to introduce rice cereal? Is all that stuff necessary, or is the "discovering texture" thing a load of crap?
Anyone know?

Anyway, with the new baby on the way, I started thinking about holding out on food for longer. Breastfeeding is just so convenient. You don't have the mess and headache of making babyfood, cleaning goop off the baby, taking little tupperwares of puree with you everywhere, etc. Breastfeeding is so tidy.

