Hopefully you have breastfed your baby for several months. The general understanding is breastfeeding the first six months of baby’s life leads to fewer allergies and better health. Feeding on demand, meaning feeding baby when she is hungry, leads to a healthy happy baby. Around the age of six months baby’s physical needs begin to change. Baby then needs the introduction of solid food for more protein and minerals.
Some babies are very interested in eating solid foods some not so much. Either way, the process of introducing solid foods is very important. This may be the first time you as parent must push forward a process in your little one’s life. There are many books, websites, and podcasts educating parents on how to do this. In addition, your relatives and friends will have suggestions.
In my lactation training we heard the story of a three year old girl who drank four bottles every night and no solid food during the day! Weird, isn’t it? Some of us don’t like change. Babies are the same way. As Mommy your decisions need to be for baby’s good, even if she doesn’t like it. A three year old who has not learned to eat solid food is delayed. Her weight and development have to have been greatly affected. Her teeth and organs are not in line with those of other three year olds. Her parents have allowed her to run the show rather than helping to teach her what is best for her. It may seem easier to just let baby do what she wants. but in the long run you create so much work for yourself.
Introducing food into baby’s diet should be fairly simple. Do not stress over it. At six months baby is probably still stationary, not walking or crawling. This is in your favor! Baby is not a moving target, for the most part.
Eastman Doula Services Blog 