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Hi Leanne,
My name is Jacqui, and I have a 6 and a half month old boy, who weighs 10kg and is 73.5cm long, I felt I had to start him on solids when he was 4.5 months, so has been on solids for a while now. I have noticed in the last few weeks, he is not content when I breastfeed him; he fights me, cries in between breasts, and will only settle if I top him up with formula after each feed. Could you offer some advice as the whether I should feed him more solids, or if he is weaning himself naturally? He is currently eating 3 meals a day; rice cereal & fruit at brekky, yoghurt or custard & fruit at lunch, vegies at dinner. I also would like some advice on how much food to give him; most of the literature I’ve read suggest feeding your baby until he turns his head or appears to not want anymore. The problem I’m having is that my baby never turns his head or spits out food so it appears to me that he wants more! I’ve been limiting him to 4 tablespoons at each meal, which still seems like a lot of food for a little tummy! I am offering him breastmilk before solids, and would also like to know when I should change this and offer the solids first? Sorry, lots of questions but am confused! Thanks.
Yes all very normal questions about solids. Firstly, as long as you are offering breast first yes you can feed him a little more, some bubs by 7 months might eat as much as 1/2 cup of solids a couple of times a day. You swap to solids first at 9 months which is of course also when finger foods start so it is a good time.
I have some tip sheets and a book on Huggies about solids, the links are:
You may be finding that because milk flows very easily from a bottle that he prefers that, it take a lot more effort to empty a breast. So it may be your call on this, perhaps try expressed milk in the bottle if you wanted to persist with the bottle? I would do my best to stick with the breastfeeding as long as possible as it has more health benefits. It’s a bit of a dam wall in a way, in that once you start topping up it can be hard to go back.
I would really recommend you buzz a lactation specialist; the Australian Breastfeeding Assoc have lovely gals on their help lines.
All the best
Leanne