Milk always came very easily from my breasts when the time came for my baby to latch on. There was more than one instance where the milk flowed out like a mini faucet and my husband stared transfixed while I giggled at the amazing things my body could do. On the other hand, my milk production seemed to come to a screeching halt once I brought out a pump.

I was lucky to be able to stay home with both of my babies so technically I didn’t need to pump. It would have been nice, though, to be able to leave for more than an hour at a time when the babies were young without my husband calling me on my cell phone and frantically telling me to come home because the baby was trying to nurse on anything she could get her mouth on.

I tried to pump. When my breasts were engorged the pumping came pretty naturally and helped me to feel a little less like my breasts were going to explode. Once that was over I still tried to pump once a night just to build up a little stockpile in the freezer just in case we ever needed some extra or if my baby ever took to a bottle.

Then my husband got orders to Iraq. I was home with a five month old all by myself and was scared out of my mind. Every time I tried to pump there was barely a trickle, and never enough to put into the freezer. I know that nursing moms are supposed to relax and think about their babies when trying to pump breastmilk, but I guess I was having relaxation issues.

I gave up on pumping. I never liked it anyhow, and I guess I was just one of those moms who never got the hang of it. If I could have pumped like a champ then I’m sure I would have had more time to myself because the babies could have enjoyed some feedings from other people via bottle, but it just never happened for me.

We all know that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is important for a baby’s overall health, but did you know that an infant begins to acquire a taste for leafy greens and sweet succulents long before she even tries her first spoonful? If a woman eats a steady diet of fruits and vegetables while pregnant, her baby-to-be experiences their flavors through the amniotic fluid. Additionally, a breastfed baby is able to distinguish the various tastes of the foods her mother consumes. You can guess, then, what happens if mom has constant cravings for salty chips and sugar-filled cookies.

Once an infant is old enough to be spoon-fed, by around 6 months of age, as is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, you can begin to offer solid food by first introducing iron-fortified cereal with a bit of breast milk or formula mixed in. If your baby pushes a lot of the cereal out with her tongue, wait another week before trying again.

To reduce the risk of an allergic reaction, introduce one new fruit or vegetable at a time. Refrain from mixing fruits and vegetables together before you have had a chance to test each one separately, and wait at least a week before trying something new.

Serve a baby who is 9 months or older pureed meats and soft, chunky finger foods. Wait until your baby is at least 1 year old before giving her cow’s milk, eggs, honey, or citrus fruits.

Until your child is at least 1 year old, continue to give her breast milk or formula as a major part of her diet.

It’s what all moms look forward to – Baby’s first solid food. However, this first step towards weaning comes with a lot of questions that need to be answered: when is the right time, what food to give, and how much.

When

It is well-known that giving Baby solids too early can lead to tummy problems and food allergies. What is less known, based on recent studies, is that a late start into solid diet, say 7 months and beyond, can also lead to health problems, such as diabetes and celiac disease [1]. The rule of thumb is to give Baby the first spoonful between 4 and 6 months. The exact time point would depend whether Baby is ready or not. Baby is ready when it gets hungry soon after breastfeeding. Baby should be able to sit up and turn its head away to say ‘No, I’ve had enough.’ And Baby should be able to swallow properly.

What

As Baby grows older, breast milk alone cannot provide all its energy and nutritional needs. That’s where complementary food – solid food comes in. Cereals, vegetables, and fruits are the most common foodstuff you’ll find in Baby’s first solid. A lot of moms out there are worried about gluten, the food stuff contained in cereals, mainly because of Celiac disease. Celiac disease is a nutritional disorder that makes people sensitive to gluten. However, recent studies show that gluten shouldn’t be left to the very last (beyond the 6th month). Instead, it should be introduced in small amounts, one type of grain at a time, as complementary food to breast milk. No, breastfeeding shouldn’t be stopped at all but should be continued fully while Baby gets used to cereals. This feeding combination can actually delay in babies who are genetically most likely to get it [1]. However, there are certain foodstuffs that you should definitely keep away from Baby till much, much later: fish, eggs, nuts, and citrus fruits.

How much

Baby’s tummy can only hold 200 ml of food at a time so don’t get carried away. Overfeeding Baby is definitely something you should avoid. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that solid food be given 2 to 3 times a day when Baby reaches the age of 4 to 6 months as complementary food to breast milk. This should then be slowly increased to 5 times a day by the time Baby reaches 12 months.

So if you think both Baby and Mom are ready for the spoon, then it’s time for the fun (and the mess) to begin!

Sources:

[1]
Guandalini S (2007). The influence of gluten: weaning recommendations for healthy children and children at risk for celiac disease. In: Agostoni C, Brunser O. (eds). Issues in Complementary Feeding. Nestle Nutr Workshop Ser Pediatr Program 60: 139-155.

[2]World Health Organization (2000). Complementary feeding: family foods for breastfed children.