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Should i feed my baby milk or solids first


Give breast milk or solids first?

Many babies will begin to show an interest in solid foods around 6 months of age. Some babies take to solid foods right away, while others may find the new flavors and textures unappealing at first. (To learn more about spotting clues that your baby is ready for solids, read A guide to starting solids.)

To help make your baby's first attempts at eating solids easier, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you can give your baby a little breast milk first, followed by very small half-spoonfuls of food, and ending with more breast milk. If your baby is very hungry, she may get frustrated more easily with trying a new food so having a little first course of breast milk in her tummy may help the process go more smoothly. 

You can use the same method when introducing solids to formula-fed infants, giving formula first, then solids, and ending with more formula.

Enlist help

Your baby may be more accepting of solid foods if another caregiver (e. g., the baby’s father, a grandparent, an older sibling) is willing to spoon-feed the baby or if the solids can be offered as finger foods that the baby can pick up by herself. Begin by breastfeeding your baby for several minutes. Next, hand her off to your partner for some solids. Then wrap up the feeding with another breastfeeding session.

A contrasting view calls for giving your baby solids first “or else she won’t eat anything," but remember, the first solid food feedings for most babies are about the experience rather than the nutrition. During their first year, babies typically get the bulk of their nutrition from breast milk (or formula). Compared to breast milk, solid foods are typically low-calorie and low-nutrition. Plus, even those babies who are eager to start solid foods take in only small amounts—a tablespoon or two several times a day.

Be patient 

Don’t worry if it takes a while for your baby to accept solids. For most babies, this is a slow process. However, if acceptance is going slower than you expected, you may want to reassess your baby’s readiness.

Keep the experience positive. Give your baby one or two small pieces of soft table foods (click here for a list of age-appropriate finger foods) as soon as she seems interested and able to handle them. Expect that she might spend more time feeling the foods and exploring the textures and less time putting the foods in her mouth.

As baby grows...

Once your baby is consistently eating three meals a day plus snacks, you might consider breastfeeding apart from mealtimes and snack times. Many mothers continue to breastfeed their growing babies "on demand" (following baby's cues for when to feed), but as your child takes in more solid foods, she is likely to breastfeed less often. 

A natural step is to eliminate breastfeeding at mealtime. As your child’s appetite for solid food grows, you may find that breastfeeding your child first thing in the morning, before naptime, and before bedtime, will satisfy your child’s breast milk needs. (Starting solids is just one step in the process of weaning.) If you and/or your child would rather continue breastfeeding at mealtimes, simply continue to breastfeed "on demand" and keep offering a wide variety of solid foods. Remember, weaning is a process not a moment."

Remember that every child is different. Your child’s needs will change over time—perhaps even from day-to-day. Some children consume a steady diet of solid foods and breast milk, but revert back to exclusive breastfeeding when sick. (Many mothers have been relieved, in such instances, to know their babies are staying hydrated and getting the nutrients they need.) The goal here—as in so many aspects of parenting—is to recognize your child’s changing needs and strive to meet those needs in a way that keeps your child happy and healthy.

Click here for additional guidance on starting solids.

Balancing introducing solids with milk feeds

At around 6 months of age babies need to start having solid foods as well as breastmilk or formula. Find out how to get started with solid foods and what are the best foods to start with.

When to introduce solids?

At 6 months, your baby will still be getting most of their nutrition from breast milk or formula.

As you introduce solid foods, continue feeding with breastmilk or formula until at least 12 months of age.

Start to introduce solid foods at around 6 months of age when:

  • your baby can sit up with support and has good head control
  • your baby starts to show interest in food such as watching and reaching out when they see food

Even though some babies show these signs from an earlier age, continue to offer your baby breastmilk or formula if they appear hungry. This is usually all they need until around 6 months. It’s recommended that you don’t introduce solids before 4 months.

How to introduce solid foods into your baby’s diet

Start feeding your baby solids once a day. Your baby will take only small amounts of solid foods at first. Try one teaspoon at first of pureed vegetable, fruit, or rice cereal in between milk feeds.

From 6 to 9 months continue to give your baby breastmilk or formula first, then try solids after the milk.

From 9 months you can try to give solids first, then breastmilk or formula. This allows for your baby to naturally transition to solids by around 12 months.

At around 8 to 9 months try giving your baby solids as part of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Continue breastmilk or formula through the first year of life while foods are being introduced. From around 6 months you can try small amounts of cooled boiled water out of a sippy cup.

Which foods first?

From 6 months of age baby’s first foods should contain iron. Foods that have iron, include:

  • iron-fortified baby cereals
  • meat
  • poultry
  • fish
  • legumes - lentils, beans, or chickpeas

Guidelines recommend that you can introduce foods in any order and at a pace that suits your baby, family, and cultural backgrounds, as long as some foods servings contain iron.

Your baby’s first foods can be smooth, mashed or have soft lumps.

Choose from the 5 food groups.

Vegetables and legumes

Give your baby cooked and pureed:

  • pumpkin
  • sweet potato
  • carrots
  • potato
  • peas
  • broccoli
  • cauliflower
  • zucchini

Over time puree them less so the texture gets lumpier.

Then introduce vegetables that are cooked but not pureed.

Fruit

Give your baby stewed and pureed:

  • apples
  • pears
  • peaches
  • apricots
  • berries

Your baby might also like to try mashed ripe banana.

Gradually introduce pieces of cooked fruit, banana, peach and grated raw apple.

Avoid larger pieces of raw apple; babies can choke on them.

Grains and cereals

Give your baby fortified infant cereals (e.g. rice cereal) to start.

Move to cooked rolled oats, wholegrain breakfast biscuits (Weetbix, Vita Brits) or thick infant cereals.

Don’t add sugar or honey or offer cereals with chocolate or added sugar.

Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, legumes, tofu

Meat, fish, poultry eggs, legumes, tofu should always be pureed when you start introducing solids.

When your baby accepts this, offer them bite size pieces of:

  • chicken
  • minced meat
  • flaked fresh or canned fish (in spring water)
  • mashed tofu
  • mashed legumes
  • scrambled or mashed boiled eggs

Don’t add salt. Also avoid processed meats as they have a lot of salt.

Milk, cheese, yoghurt

Formula should be used only until your baby is 12 months old. Then small amounts of milk can be added to foods like porridge. Breast feeding is recommended to continue until the age of 2 or longer.

Grated cheese is good in mashed vegetables.

Choose yoghurt without added sugar. Add fruit for extra flavour

What drinks should I be giving my baby?

After 12 months of age breastmilk, water (clean tap water or bottled water) and full fat cow’s milk should be the main drinks you offer your baby.

Keep breastfeeding for as long as you and your baby like.

Switch from formula to full fat ordinary cow’s milk after 12 months. Your child doesn’t need toddler milk products. Offer your baby a cup to drink from rather than a bottle. Your one-year-old should be exclusively drinking from a toddler cup.

From about 12 months, you can try rice milk and oat milk (fortified with at least 100mg calcium/100mL) if you want. But these drinks don’t have enough protein and vitamin B12. Your baby will need to have plenty of meat, poultry, fish, eggs, yoghurt, or cheese to make up for what they’re not getting from cow’s milk.

How much should I feed my baby?

Your baby will grow at different rates at different times. Their appetite can vary, even from day to day.

Babies don’t know what to eat but they know how much. Provide wholesome, healthy unprocessed food choices. Take your cue from your baby. Babies tend to turn away or lose interest when they’ve had enough to eat.

Finger foods and self-feeding

By 9 to 12 months, most babies like finger foods. Finger foods are foods they can hold themselves.

Some also like to hold their own spoon at that age. It will be messy! But learning to feed themselves is important.

By 12 months, your baby can eat the same healthy food you serve your family.

Foods to limit or avoid when introducing solids

There are some foods and drinks you should limit or avoid:

  • coffee and tea, herbal drinks are not recommended
  • fruit juice
  • honey until 12 months (to prevent botulism)
  • processed foods
  • raw or runny eggs (bacteria in raw eggs can be harmful to babies)
  • sugar sweetened drinks
  • unpasteurised milks

Low-fat milks are not recommended in the first 2 years of life. Goat’s milk, sheep’s milk, soy milk, coconut milk and almond milk should also be avoided before the age of 2 unless your doctor recommends them.

Avoid small hard foods such as whole nuts and uncooked vegetables until 3 years. These can be choking hazards.

If your family doesn’t use animal products, your baby may need a vitamin B12 supplement. Discuss this with your doctor.

Seek help from your health care professional if you are worried about your baby’s eating or development.

Fruit — give your baby stewed and pureed apples, pears, peaches, apricots and berries, or mashed ripe banana. Gradually introduce pieces of cooked fruit, banana, peach and grated raw apple. Avoid larger pieces of raw apple; babies can choke on them.

Grains and cereals — give your baby fortified infant cereals (e.g. rice cereal) to start. Move to cooked rolled oats, wholegrain breakfast biscuits (Weetbix, Vita Brits) or thick infant cereals. Don’t add sugar or honey and don’t use cereals with chocolate or added sugar.

Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, legumes, tofu — make them pureed at the start. When your baby accepts this, offer them pieces of chicken, minced meat, flaked fresh or canned fish (in spring water), mashed tofu, mashed legumes, scrambled or mashed boiled eggs. Don’t add salt and avoid processed meats as they also have a lot of salts.

Milk, cheese, yoghurt — breast milk or formula should be used for up to 12 months, then small amounts of milk can be added to foods like porridge. Grated cheese is good in mashed vegetables. Choose yoghurt without added sugar. Add fruit for extra flavour.

How much?

Babies grow at different rates at different times. Their appetite can vary even from day to day.

Babies don’t know what to eat but they know how much. Take your cue from your baby. Healthy babies turn away or lose interest when they’ve had enough.

Finger foods and self-feeding

By 9 to 12 months, most babies like finger foods.

Some also like their own spoon at that age. It will be messy, but learning to feed themselves is important.

By 12 months, serve the same healthy food you serve your family, but without hot spices.

Encourage infants to feed themselves.

If you have stopped breastfeeding, switch to ordinary cow’s milk after 12 months. Use a cup rather than a bottle. Limit the amount of cow’s milk to around 500ml per day. Under health professional supervision, you can use full fat rice milk or oat milk with at least 100mg calcium per 100mL if you want, as long as other sources of protein are included (meat, chicken, fish, eggs, legumes or nut butters).

Your child doesn’t need toddler milk products.

If your family doesn’t use animal products, your baby may need a vitamin B12 supplement. Discuss this with your doctor.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Breastfeeding GBUZ VFD Kopeysk

Breastfeeding

is natural, useful, convenient and cheap. Nobody has come up with anything better than breast milk for a baby. And no formula, even the most expensive and enriched with vitamins, will replace mother's milk, because laboratories cannot synthesize or isolate most of the important components that are contained in breast milk from cow's milk. For example, protective cells of maternal immunity.

Breastfeeding is also good for the mother herself. Long-term breastfeeding is a proven prevention of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and the development of diabetes.

And one more thing. Any woman can breastfeed, regardless of breast size, the baby was born on time or not, and other factors. True milk deficiency occurs in less than 2-3 percent of cases.

Advice for breastfeeding mothers

There are many difficulties that a breastfeeding mother may face. Here are some important tips for breastfeeding moms from a lactation consultant Anastasia Kulikova .

  • It is important to ensure that the baby is properly attached to the breast. Otherwise, he will not completely empty the breast, this may lead to a decrease in milk production, and may also injure the nipples. Please note that the newborn should capture not only the nipple, but also the areola, and its main part is from below, that is, the attachment should not be symmetrical. Mom's posture should be comfortable and relaxed.
  • Night feedings are very important for successful breastfeeding, namely in the interval from 3 to 6 in the morning. It is at this time that the brain releases large amounts of prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production.
  • Drink plenty of fluids - 2-3 liters per day. It is also very important for a sufficient amount of milk. At night, put a bottle of water near you so as not to run to the kitchen.
  • Do not be nervous, try to get enough sleep and be sure that you will be able to feed your baby for a long time. The calmness of the mother, her good emotional state is the key to successful breastfeeding of the newborn.
  • If you have problems that you cannot solve yourself: you cannot establish proper attachment, you feel that there is not enough milk and nothing helps to increase lactation, or vice versa, you are experiencing milk stagnation, seek help from a lactation consultant . There are such specialists in some antenatal clinics, there are also special services that work on a paid basis.

How to start breastfeeding correctly

It is important that the newborn is put to the breast immediately after birth, in the delivery room. In most maternity hospitals, the joint stay of mother and child is practiced today, which is also very important for the successful establishment of breastfeeding. In the first 1-3 days, colostrum is produced - it is very small, just a few drops, but enough for a newborn. Then comes the milk.

While in the hospital, breastfeed your baby more often to stimulate milk production. Remember, you need to feed the baby on demand, and not by the hour, as was customary in the past. This is the key to successful and long-term breastfeeding.

In the first month when lactation is established, discard bottles and nipples. Sucking from a bottle is much easier for a newborn, so there is a risk of rejection of the breast.

According to WHO recommendations, newborns should also not be supplemented with water. It is enough in mother's milk. And supplementation can lead to a decrease in milk production, as the baby will eat less of it.

Until what age can a child be fed?

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until two years of age.

- In fact, there is no unambiguously correct answer to this question, - says Anna Levadnaya , pediatrician, PhD, author of the blog about pediatrics on Instagram @doctor_annamama. - I am convinced that you need to feed as long as both the baby and the mother enjoy it. If there are no objective reasons for stopping breastfeeding, up to a year, mother's milk must be present in the baby's diet. It is optimal to keep it up to a year and a half.

There is an opinion that after a year milk no longer brings much benefit to the child, but this is not so.

- Studies show that even after the first year of life in breast milk there is a high amount of protein, the concentration of immunoglobulins, lysozyme and lactoferrin, which help to form immunity, Anna Levadnaya notes. - Long-term breastfeeding reduces the risk of atherosclerosis in adulthood, diabetes and obesity, and many other diseases. Long-term breastfeeding helps the correct formation of the maxillofacial skeleton, the likelihood that the child will not have the correct bite is much lower. And some studies suggest that babies who breastfeed for a long time have higher IQs.

The benefits of breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding cannot be overestimated. It is not only a source of valuable nutrients. During feeding, a strong emotional bond is formed between the newborn and mother. Scientists have conducted many studies on the benefits of breast milk. Here's what they say.

  • Breast milk contributes to the maturation of the child's immune system, reduces the risk of cancer.
  • Children on breastfeeding have a lower risk of atopic dermatitis, they are less likely to get otitis media, they need to remove the pharyngeal tonsils less often, they have better vision.
  • Breastfed babies are less likely to experience constipation, diarrhea and intestinal infections, as well as food allergies (when breastfed for 6 months or more). Adults who were breastfed as children are less likely to develop Crohn's disease (severe inflammation of the intestines), ulcerative colitis (inflammation of the colon), and appendicitis.
  • Breast milk contains less protein and salts, so there is less stress on the baby's immature kidneys. Less common are urinary tract infections.
  • Improves the growth of nervous tissue - this is facilitated by cholesterol and other fats of breast milk.
  • Breast sucking improves jaw muscle development. And if you feed your baby for more than a year, this reduces the risk of malocclusion. In addition, the gradual changes in the taste of breast milk with age prepare the baby for a variety of solid foods.
  • Breastfed babies develop less respiratory tract infections and are much milder, less likely to develop bronchial asthma, pneumonia, and influenza.

What breast milk should look like

Don't look online for a picture of the "correct" color of breast milk. This is such a unique product that adapts to the needs of the child depending on his age and condition, which can change its composition, fat content and color even during the day. For example, in summer, when a child has a great need to drink, the milk becomes more liquid, the color is more transparent.

But usually with established lactation, the foremilk - the one that the baby receives at the beginning of feeding, is more liquid, it is rich in carbohydrates, its color is less saturated, white-bluish. Back milk, which the baby receives at the end of feeding, is rich in fats, the color is more saturated, yellowish.

If you express milk using a breast pump, you will first see a homogeneous liquid in the bottle. But after standing for quite a bit, it will separate just into these two layers: the top one - the “cream” layer - will be fatter, but smaller in volume.

How to know if a child is hungry

In fact, a child can ask for a breast not only because he is hungry. It helps the newborn to calm down, feel safe, sucking reduces the pain that the baby may experience due to colic. However, there are signs by which you can understand that the child really wants to eat.

  • The child is anxious.
  • He turns his head from side to side, opens his mouth, as if looking for a nipple, starts doing this especially actively if you pass his hand over his cheek.
  • Starts fiddling, groaning, sticking out his tongue.
  • Looks for breasts when you pick him up.
  • Cries, does not calm down with motion sickness and other actions.


Remember, it is recommended to breastfeed on demand, but at least once every 3 hours during the day and 5 hours at night. Within 1-2 months, lactation gradually improves, milk is released during feeding, and the breast gets used to working in a certain rhythm of feeding.

Why breast milk is expressed

It is important to remember that when lactation is established, pumping is not necessary. Advice to a nursing mother: do not listen to grandmothers who are convinced that if you do not express milk after each feeding, then it will disappear. This is wrong.

- The arrival of milk is carried out according to the so-called "principle of direct feedback": the more milk left, the more it will come, - says Anna Levadnaya. - The child himself regulates the amount he needs. If a woman expresses milk after each feeding, she will be trapped: more milk will come, but the child does not need such an amount, it will stagnate in the chest, which threatens the development of lactostasis and mastitis.

However, there are times when it is necessary to express milk. If your baby was born prematurely and is in intensive care, then the mother should start expressing milk as soon as possible after birth. This will help preserve the milk until the newborn can suckle on his own. In the meantime, the expressed milk will be valuable food for him. Premature babies, as a rule, are fed through a tube, as they are still very weak, they do not have a sucking reflex.

Another occasion when it is necessary to express milk is when you feel that there is less or not enough milk. You need to pump after each feeding, including at night. In this case, breastfeeding specialists can help you.

If you have to be separated from your baby, you also need to express milk so that dad or someone else in the family can feed the baby. Also, pumping is necessary for lactostasis and mastitis in order to cope with milk stagnation.

What can be done while breastfeeding

How many unreasonable bans today for a nursing mother. In fact, the list of what not to do while breastfeeding is very small. We will dispel myths and tell you what a woman can do while breastfeeding.

  • No hypoallergenic diet required. We have long been of the opinion that a nursing mother should follow a special diet so that the child does not have diathesis. Meanwhile, in other countries, women eat what they want and how much they want, and the concept of “nursing mother’s diet” simply does not exist. But, despite the widespread practice of diets in pregnant and lactating women, the incidence of allergies continues to grow, and studies have shown that restrictions do not affect its manifestation in any way. Therefore, a nursing mother should eat varied, eat her favorite vegetables, fruits. It is necessary to exclude this or that product from the diet only with a proven food allergy to it.
  • You can drink coffee, many women love it. But the amount should be limited to 2 cups per day.
  • You can play sports. This does not affect the production and quality of milk. But consider important nuances. It is worth returning to full-fledged training not earlier than the child is 6 months old. It is better to give preference to moderate physical activity. During too intense activities, lactic acid accumulates in milk, the child may not like its taste. When playing sports, a lot of fluid is lost, so you need to drink more water to avoid dehydration.
  • Can be dyed and curled.
  • You can visit the sauna, observing all hygiene measures.
  • You can do, if necessary, x-rays, fluorography, treat teeth using anesthesia (it is selected by the doctor, taking into account the fact that you are breastfeeding).
  • You can visit beauty salons and get simple facial and body treatments, including massages that do not affect the chest area.
  • You can drink alcohol in moderation. Yes, don't be surprised. Sometimes you can afford to have a glass of wine and relax a bit. But remember a few important points. Alcohol penetrates into breast milk, and its maximum concentration in it is reached after 60-90 minutes if you eat, and after 30-60 minutes if you drink on an empty stomach. And the rate of elimination of alcohol from the body depends on the weight of the woman (in full it will happen faster), the amount of alcohol consumed, its strength. A glass of wine or a glass of beer is excreted on average in 2-3 hours, strong alcohol - in 13 hours. Therefore, if you want to drink a glass of dry white wine, do it immediately after feeding your baby so that the next alcohol will be out of the body. Or express milk 1-2 feedings ahead if you plan to drink more. But in any case, cut out alcohol until your baby is 3 months old.

What not to do while breastfeeding

  • A breastfeeding mother should not smoke. Continuous smoking reduces the level of prolactin, the hormone responsible for the production of sufficient milk. In a child, it can cause nausea, vomiting, colic, problems with stools, and irritability.
  • You can not drink alcohol in large quantities, in a state of intoxication to feed a child.
  • You can not do complex cosmetic procedures involving injections, the introduction of various drugs. For example, mesotherapy of the face and scalp, apparatus treatment, photo and laser hair removal, and others, their impact on the body of the mother and child during this period has not been studied.

What to do if mother gets sick

Unfortunately, mothers get sick during breastfeeding. And often women unreasonably stop breastfeeding because of this. In fact, it is possible and necessary to feed a baby with SARS (perhaps, mothers get sick most often with them). Together with milk, the child will receive the necessary antibodies. And a woman can bring down a high temperature with drugs based on paracetamol or ibuprofen, they are allowed when breastfeeding.

But even more serious illnesses that require medication, including antibiotics, are no reason to stop breastfeeding. First, there are many drugs allowed during this period. And secondly, despite the fact that the instructions for the medicine often say that it can be taken only if the benefit to the woman outweighs the risks to the child, this does not mean at all that the remedy is dangerous and should not be taken.

- The fact is that studies on the safety of drugs during breastfeeding are very expensive, and manufacturers usually do not conduct them, - says Anna Levadnaya. - It is easier for them to write that the drug is not recommended for breastfeeding, for fear of liability. But such studies were carried out by other independent organizations, for example, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics. And in most cases, the drug is allowed during feeding. Or you can choose a safe analogue.

Moreover, this information is publicly available and you can check the compatibility of the drug and breastfeeding yourself.

- There are several sites for this, the simplest is the Spanish site. All data here is based on scientific publications and medical research.

Despite the fact that there is no Russian version of the site, it is not difficult to use it. Here are some tips for breastfeeding moms on how to do this. First determine the Latin name of the drug or active substance. On the site, select English, enter the name of the desired medicine in the search bar. A rectangle of green, yellow, orange or red color with a description will be highlighted. Green means very low risk, which means the drug is safe for the baby. Red - the risk is very high, which means that the drug cannot be used, you need to choose an analogue. But the final decision whether to take this or the drug during breastfeeding or the abolition of breastfeeding, you still need to work with your doctor.

Feeding after caesarean section

Women whose babies are born by caesarean section often worry that they will not be able to breastfeed their baby. Of course it isn't. There are some difficulties that a mother may face, but they are all surmountable. Milk after a cesarean may come a little later than after a natural birth. To speed up this process, take the baby to you from the nursery as soon as you can take care of him yourself, breastfeed more often.

If for some reason it is not possible to stay together with the baby in the maternity hospital after the operation, then the mother needs to express milk in order to maintain lactation, start doing this as soon as possible after the birth. True, in this case, the baby, who will receive the mixture at the maternity hospital, may refuse the breast at home: sucking from it requires much more effort than from a bottle. Do not despair! Try not to use nipples and bottles, offer breasts more often, and you can feed with expressed milk from a spoon or pipette.

Feeding premature babies

Breast milk is very important for premature babies. The baby receives the necessary nutrients, protection from infections. Breast milk is easier to digest, which is very important for the still immature digestive system of the baby.

Unfortunately, often children born prematurely can be in intensive care, sometimes for quite a long time. They cannot suckle on their own, they are fed through a tube. In this case, in order to save breast milk, the mother needs to start expressing as soon as possible after childbirth and continue to do this until the baby gets stronger and can not eat on her own. “If a premature baby is discharged from the hospital with a normal weight for his age, then the mother can only feed the baby with breast milk,” says Anna Levadnaya.

- If the baby is underweight, breast milk fortifiers should be used. These are special supplements that give a premature baby extra calories, vitamins, macro- and microelements. They are available in the form of a powder or a ready-made mixture. Add to expressed milk just before feeding.

There are two points of view, in many ways different.

The first is followed by many pediatricians and, in particular, the famous Dr. Komarovsky: the baby should be weaned when he is one year old, and do it quickly, decisively and irrevocably . Doctors assure: by this age the child has already received everything that is needed from mother's milk, and is able to eat coarser food, since teeth are already growing. Not delaying feeding is also good for the mother, in terms of social needs: for example, going to work.

Radical completion methods are proposed. For example, for a few days to leave the baby with his grandmother. Of course, the child will cry and look for his mother, but he will have to be firm. Mom, meanwhile, takes lactation suppressant pills and pumps. If you do everything right, the stress will be minimal and quickly forgotten. Weaning should be postponed if the baby is sick, teething, or there is a change of scenery (moving, going on vacation, etc.). But the time of year doesn't matter here. Previously, pediatricians really dissuaded from completing breastfeeding in the summer to protect the baby from intestinal infections and disorders. Now this is not relevant: it is enough to follow the usual rules of hygiene.

Lactation consultants and perinatal psychologists (yes, there are some) are strongly opposed to such an early termination, and especially disagree with doctoral methods, considering them ruthless. Like, for a child, separation from his mother is a catastrophe and betrayal, such injuries do not go away without a trace.

Breastfeeding should be completed by 2-3 years of age, gradually and gently, the authors of the popular BF blog advise. The breast is not only food for the baby, but also contact with the mother, calm falling asleep, confidence that everything is fine.

The scheme is as follows: from the age of 6 months, small restrictions on feeding are introduced, for example, on the street, at a party - only at home. Then the number of applications during the day is gradually reduced. How? Minimize everything that reminds of mother's milk: do not change clothes in front of the child, choose clothes that make it difficult to access the breast. Distract with something interesting or tasty. Next, we teach the baby to calm down and fall asleep without a breast. First during the day and then at night. Rituals will help here: before going to bed, read a fairy tale, sing a song, stroke ... Night feedings are removed the very last and also gradually, until the attachments become symbolic. This completion of the GW may take several weeks or even months, but it is worth it. And you can “round off” in a day or two, if the child himself is ready and simply outgrew the need for sucking. Sometimes it’s enough just to talk, to explain that mom’s milk is over.

If you have to end abruptly (for example, prescribed a treatment that is incompatible with breastfeeding), consultants recommend regular pumping, but not aggressively and not completely, but only until relief. So milk production will decrease gradually. Cool compresses with cabbage leaves will help relieve swelling, a feeling of heaviness, burning sensation. But you don’t need to tighten the breast: it hurts and can lead to stagnation of milk and mastitis.

How and when to end breastfeeding is, of course, up to the mother. Doubt? Then don't be in a hurry. By the way, there are special tests on the Internet that will help you understand whether you and your baby are ready for a painless transition to a new stage of life.

Breastfeeding after 1 month: what to expect

Do you know when breast milk production stabilizes? And how does the frequency and duration of feedings change as the baby grows? You will find answers to these questions in our recommendations for breastfeeding after the first month.

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Congratulations: You made it through the first month of breastfeeding. Your breast milk has reached full maturity 1 , its production stabilizes and it leaks almost or not at all from the chest. Don't worry, it's not getting less milk, it's just that your breasts are better able to produce and store it now. 2 At the age of six weeks, your baby will begin to delight you with his charming toothless smiles, and by two months you will already have 500-600 feedings behind you. With a favorable development of events, problems with latch on by this point will already be resolved, and you can simply enjoy the convenience and benefits of breastfeeding.

When does breastfeeding decrease?

The "normal" feeding frequency for babies aged one to six months varies considerably, with some needing four times a day, others asking to be breastfed 13 times a day. 3

“After the age of one month, the amount of milk a baby consumes per feeding increases so that he can go without food for longer,” explains Cathy Garbin, a recognized international expert on breastfeeding, “A baby’s stomach grows, so he eat more at one time. In addition, mature milk allows him to stay full longer.”

Feeding can last from 12 minutes to one hour -
the habits of babies vary so much! 3 But if the child is gaining weight and falls within this range, there is no cause for concern.

What is most surprising, no matter how often the baby eats, he consumes approximately the same amount of milk per day - both at one month and at six, when it is time to start complementary foods with solid food. 4

“However, sometimes the baby eats more and sometimes less, especially when he is unwell. It’s better to just listen to his needs,” Katie explains.

Is breast milk enough for the first six months?

Yes. Breast milk contains everything a baby needs for the first
six months of life - exclusively breastfed babies don't even need to drink water! 5 Until about six months of age, a child's digestive system is simply not adapted to the digestion of solid food, and he will be able to drink cow's milk only after a year.

In addition, breastfeeding during this period prepares the child for further development. It strengthens the muscles of the mouth, develops the jaw and helps straighten the teeth 6.7 . All this will come in handy when the baby begins to eat and talk. And because what you eat and drink affects how your breast milk tastes, your baby discovers new tastes even before he starts eating solid foods. 8

In addition, when your baby is sick, your body produces breast milk that is
rich in antibodies that help fight infection. 9 In other words, milk continues to protect the baby for many months as he grows and becomes more active.

Breastfeeding is also very comfortable once you get used to it. Claudia, a mother of two from the UK, notes: “No need to sterilize a mountain of bottles, prepare formula, carry it all with you, warm it up - in general, breastfeeding turned out to be very convenient, especially when my babies grew up and we began to leave the house more often. ".

At what age does a breastfed baby start sleeping through the night?

Waking up at night is normal for babies. Most babies between the ages of one and six months consume a fifth of their daily milk requirement at night, so nighttime feedings should not be neglected if you want your baby to get the required amount of calories. 3

"It really depends on what you mean by 'sleep through the night,'" says Cathy. "And it's better than waking up every two hours anyway! I have met infants who, starting at six weeks old, fell asleep at 19:00 and woke up at 7:00, but most continue to wake up frequently at night after this age. All children are different."

In Wales, a study of more than 700 infants showed that almost 80% of children aged 6 to 12 months wake up at least once a night, and 25% of them wake up three times or more. And it did not depend on what type of feeding the child is on - breastfeeding or artificial. 10

And if nighttime awakenings are unavoidable anyway, breastfeeding is at least comfortable! Maina, a mother of two from Australia, agrees: “You can even take a nap while feeding in the middle of the night - both the body and the baby do their job on autopilot. No need to plan, measure, sterilize anything - ready-made food at the right temperature is right in your chest. I think it's ideal."

My child wakes up more often. Perhaps he is hungry?

Around four months of age, a baby's sleep pattern changes as he, like an adult, develops deep and light sleep phases. Because of this, he may wake up more often at night. “At four months, sleep is more of a problem than feeding,” Cathy admits. “It can be exhausting, but try to adapt and be patient.”

Some call this " a four-month sleep regression ", but "progress" is more appropriate here. From the outside it may look like a step back, but in fact the child is approaching an important stage of development. He learns quickly, begins to become aware of the world around him, his perception is sharpened and, perhaps, there is anxiety about being separated from his mother. Crying when waking up and being able to eat milk cuddled up to mommy’s chest is a way for a baby to calm down. 11-13

Resist the urge to "supplement" your baby with formula or start solid foods early
in an attempt to improve his sleep. Breast milk contains
hormones that make you sleepy and help you both relax
. Studies show that, in fact, breastfeeding mothers
sleep longer at night than formula- or formula-fed mothers
. 14

How does teething affect breastfeeding?

Teething usually begins around four months of age. When a baby has gum pain, he becomes restless, throws his chest and cries. All this, of course, is unpleasant.

However, breastfeeding can be an excellent sedative.
Studies have shown that babies who are breastfed
during the vaccination period cry less and forget pain more quickly. 15 Breastfeeding during teething can have the same calming effect.

An unpleasant side effect may be the child's attempts to try out his new teeth on the mother's breast. “Sometimes children flirt and bite their mother’s nipples. This can be felt in advance by how the behavior of the child changes when feeding: before biting, he removes his tongue, explains Cathy, “Usually this is not a problem and only happens a couple of times. It is enough to stop feeding, affectionately say that biting is not good, and the baby will soon leave this fun.

How to continue feeding if you have to be separated from the baby?

It happens that during the first six months, when the baby is still fully breastfed, the mother needs to be away for several hours - or even longer if she has to go to work or go away on business for a couple of days.

But this does not mean that you should stop breastfeeding. You can still feed your baby healthy breast milk - just express it and have someone give it to your baby when you're away. Here's Katie's advice:

“Start expressing milk a couple of days in advance, in small batches, 40-60 ml at a time. So you will have the necessary supply for the time of your absence, but at the same time the amount of milk produced will remain the same.

If you have to return to work, check with your employer about your daily schedule. Many mothers breastfeed their babies in the morning, evening and night, and pump milk at lunchtime to relieve discomfort and create a reserve for the next day.

This usually turns out to be much easier than one might think, and today many companies are well placed to do this, notes Cathy. “Breast pumps make it easy to solve this problem.”

Natalie, mother from the USA, shares her experience: “I feed Dylan as soon as he wakes up, and sometimes again before leaving for work, in order to maintain milk production and not lose contact with the child. At work, I pump twice the next day (in my absence, he eats two bottles of breast milk), and after work I rush home for the evening feed. I don't pump on the weekends - we resume regular breastfeeding."

Is it possible to continue breastfeeding after the introduction of solid foods?

When your baby begins to show interest in food and can sit up on his own - usually around six months of age - it's time to start solid foods. However, it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding, Cathy explains: “A baby’s iron stores during pregnancy are depleted by six months, so he needs additional sources of this element.

Start complementary foods with solid foods, but remember that breast milk remains a more important source of calories and nutrients until the baby is eight to nine months old. By this time, he will be eating much more solid food, but he will still need to breastfeed four to five times a day. By 12 months, the frequency of feeding may be two to six times a day. All babies are different, and many of them at this age are still getting half their daily calorie intake from breast milk. ”

Don't forget that breast milk can be added to solid foods, such as cereals and purees, so that the baby can taste the familiar taste. If possible, use milk expressed just before feeding (not thawed) and add just before serving to keep bacteria and nutrients alive. 16

You may be pressured by others to stop breastfeeding when your baby is six months old, but the longer you breastfeed or pump, the better for you and your baby.

How long can I continue breastfeeding?

“The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding along with solid foods until at least two years of age because it plays an important role in supporting immunity,” says Cathy. feels bad".

At eight months, the baby sometimes breastfeeds four times a day, but by one year old, the frequency of feedings can be reduced to two times a day. You yourself will understand which feeding regimen is more suitable for you and your baby. For example, Jane, a mother of two from the US, breastfed until the age of two: “I breastfed when I was at home - in the evenings and on weekends, when the children wanted to be close to me,” says Jane, “It helped a lot when they were sick . Breastfeeding has become my favorite form of comfort."

“When my son got a little older and bolder, he still often asked me to breastfeed him - as if to calm down and gain strength,” recalls Amy, a mother of two children from Canada, “When he happened to hit or skin his knee , breastfeeding was a wonderful way to comfort him.”

If your baby is over a year old and you are still breastfeeding, people around you will probably tell you that this way he will never wean. But if children are not pressured, they usually refuse to breastfeed themselves between the ages of two and four. 17

“I didn’t intend to breastfeed for so long, but as a result, I still breastfeed my four-year-old daughter and 22-month-old son,” says Suzanne, mother of two from the UK, “I breastfeed my youngest before and after work, and in I express milk on business trips. The eldest daughter likes to breastfeed a little before bed or when she is upset - this is a great way to make contact. When I get tired of it, I remind myself what great benefit and comfort it brings them. I now plan to pursue a baby-initiated end breastfeeding strategy — let them decide when to stop.”

For more information on what to expect and lots of tips and tricks, see our guide Breastfeeding Problems After the First Month.

Literature

1 Ballard O, Morrow AL. Human milk composition: nutrients and bioactive factors. Pediatr Clin North Am . 2013;60(1):49-74. - Ballard O., Morrow A.L., "Composition of breast milk: nutrients and biologically active factors." Pediatrician Clean North Am. 2013;60(1):49-74.

2 Kent JC et al. Principles for maintaining or increasing breast milk production. 2012;41(1):114-21. - Kent J.S. et al., "Principles for Maintaining and Increasing Milk Production". J Obstet Ginecol and Neonatal Nurse. 2012;41(1):114-121.

3 Kent J.C. Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics. 2006;117(3): e 387-395. - Kent J.S. et al., "Amount and frequency of breastfeeding and fat content of breast milk during the day." Pediatrix (Pediatrics). 2006;117(3):e387-95.

4 Kent JC et al. Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation. Breast Med . 2013;8(4):401-407. - Kent J.S. et al., Longitudinal changes in breastfeeding patterns from 1 to 6 months of lactation. Brest Med. 2013;8(4):401-407.

5 Almroth S, Bidinger PD. No need for water supplementation for exclusively breast-fed infants under hot and arid conditions. Trans R Soc Trop Med 1990;84(4):602-604. - Elmroth S., Bidinger P.D., "No need for supplementation of exclusively breastfed infants in hot, dry conditions." Trans R Sots Trop Med Hyg. 1990;84(4):602-604.

6 Victora CG et al . Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):475-490. - Victor S.J. et al., "Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms and long-term effects". Lancet 2016;387(10017):475-490.

7 Peres KG et al. Effect of breastfeeding on malocclusions: a systematic review and meta - analysis. Acta Paediatr. 2015;104( S 467):54-61. - Perez K.G. et al., "The impact of breastfeeding on malocclusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis". Akta Pediatr. 2015;104(S467):54-61.

8 Mennella JA, Beauchamp GK. Maternal diet alters the sensory qualities of human milk and the nursling's behavior. Pediatrics. 1991;88(4):737-744. - Mennella, JA, Beauchamp, GK, "Maternal nutrition influences the organoleptic properties of breast milk and infant behavior." Pediatrix (Pediatrics). 1991;88(4):737-744.

9 Hassiotou F et al. Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clin Transl immunology. 2013;2(4). - Hassiot F. et al., "Infectious diseases of the mother and child stimulate a rapid leukocyte reaction in breast milk." Clean Transl Immunology. 2013;2(4).

10 Brown A, Harries V. Infant sleep and night feeding patterns during later infancy: Association with breastfeeding frequency, daytime complementary food intake, and infant weight. Breast Med . 2015;10(5):246-252. - Brown A., Harris W., "Night feedings and infant sleep in the first year of life and their association with feeding frequency, daytime supplementation, and infant weight. " Brest Med (Breastfeeding Medicine). 2015;10(5):246-252.

11 Infant sleep information source. [Internet]. Normal Infant Sleep Development; December 2017 [cited 2018 Feb] - All about baby sleep. [Internet] "The development of normal sleep in a child", December 2017 [cited February 2018].

12 Baby sleep science. [Internet]. The-Four-Month-Sleep-Regression-What-is-it-and-What-can-be-Done-About-it. March 2014 [ cited 2018 Feb ] - The Science of Baby Sleep. [Internet], "Four-month sleep regression: what it is and what to do about it." March 2014 [cited February 2018].

13 The Myth Of Baby Sleep Regressions – What’s Really Happening To Your Baby’s Sleep? [Internet]. Pinky Mckay ; December 2017 [ cited 2018 Feb ] - "The Myth of Baby Sleep Regression - What's Really Happening to Your Baby?" [Internet]. Pinky McKay, December 2017 [cited February 2018].

14 Kendall - Tackett K ET BI0273 . The effect of feeding method on sleep duration, maternal well-being, and postpartum depression. Clinical Lactation . 2011;2(2):22-26. - Kendall-Tuckett K. et al., "Influence of feeding pattern on sleep duration, maternal well-being and the development of postpartum depression." Clinical Lactation. 2011;2(2):22-26.

15) Harrison D et al. Breastfeeding for procedural pain in infants beyond the neonatal period. Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2014;10. — Harrison D. et al., "Breastfeeding for Relief of Medical Pain in the Neonatal Period." Cochrane Database of System Rev. 2014;10:CD11248

16 Czank C et al.

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