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Solids??
- May 2, 2008 at 11:52 AM
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- Comments (24) Total Views (900) Everyone can see this journal post.
This seems to be the topic of the day, I have already answered 5 different posts with a similar theme, so I thought I would elaborate here....
Breastfed babies can grow and thrive on mothers milk alone, atleast for the first 12 months, without adding solids. Your milk changes by the day, and adapts to meet a growing babies new needs. The fat content varies, feeding to feeding, and the foods *YOU* eat actually let them get their first tastes of solids! Amazing, huh?
Here is a brief explanation of what we did and how we are making it work for us, even at 27 months....and beyond!
We pracitce child led solids...
Whats THAT??
Child led solids is respecting your childs readiness, and watching their cues, not forcing solids because they hit a certan age....but knowing that all children will start on their own when ready and trusting that. For my daughter, she not only had no interest, she was vehemntly (sp?) against solids. She was nursing on demand, and growing well, so we saw no need to rush it. So, we held back, and sure enough, when she was ready, around 14.5 months, she reached out and tried some steamed broccoli off of my plate...LOL
Child led solids also means not pushing 3 meals a day, either. She eats when she is hungry, and learns to trust her bodies hunger cues. It is supposed to reduce obesity later in life, because the child doesnt just eat "just because", but only when their body signals it needs fuel.
Since she only began solids at 14.5 months, it was mostly just tastes for a while, not "meals". She didnt start eating full meals til probably almost 18 months, and sometimes even then, she would eat maybe one meal and a few snacks per day....
Of course, now that she is a little older (27 months) so she does sit with us at all meal times, and usually will eat most of whats there, but if she isnt hungry then, we dont force it. Luckily, the things she gravitates to when hungry are very healthy, mostly veggies and fruits, whole grains, etc. So, we are comfortable she is getting all of her nutritional needs met. And, of course, she still nurses on demand.
We are also big supporters of grazing, and letting her pick at healthy food thru-out the day. Every afternoon I put out a plate of cut up fruit, cut veggies, cheese, wheat crackers, etc and she munches on it while she plays, when she feels like it. Kinda the same principle as nursing on demand....Which we still do......
I have heard many people assume this leads to picky eaters. I have found just the opposite to be true. She tries any and everything, and is quite adventurous. She also gravitates to healthy, nutrient dense foods, rather than filling up on junk, because she knows what her body needs, and what gives her the most energy, makes her feel good, etc.
~Jada
4kComments:
Love you too, Nellie! Thank you.
I am often saddened when I hear of parents starting just because their pedi, mother, sister, friend thinks on a certain date, all babies should start.
In breastfeeding, we respect our babies needs, and nurse accordingly.
To me, it wouldnt make any sense not to do solids the same way....
OMG Jada, you are the BEST! Thank you for posting this. I am doing the same thing with Dante, and everyone gives me hell about it. But we know we are doing right by our baby, and he eats what he wants, when he wants. He is mostly a breast baby, but likes to try tastes of our food when we have it. And he LOVES cheerios... LOL. But we are letting him set the pace.
Can you imagine, our ped wants him on 3 meals of solids a day... at 9 months old?! Oh, and she wanted me to cut out nighttime feedings, and sporadic feedings throughout the day.... I am NOT depriving my child for the sake of a "textbook baby". YUCK!
i agree with everything except starting so late and grazing:
-i have NEVER met a baby who wasn't interested VERY interested in table food by seven months.
-grazing almost ALWAYS leads to obesity.... because you're constantly eating throughout the day.. not paying attention to how much you're taking in and you're body can't properly cue you when you've had enough...because it never truly does at one sitting....it is good however to say maybe eat six small meals instead of three big ones.
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- Jannell
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