Hey there mamas!! Me and my partner were wondering, how long does the baby breastfeed only?? And when do you generally introduce the baby foods and things?? I feel silly asking, but it seems ages ago since my younger brother was a baby, 22 years, lol!! thanks, mommyLustre

Hi,

I believe what is meant by exclusive breastfeeding is no formula for the first year of life. But doctors suggest introducing baby foods at about 4-6 months, closer to 6 months. Start with strained, then start trying chunkier baby foods. Don't keep your baby on strained too long, they need to get used to different textured foods. Believe it or not, but my 3.5 year old had to see a speech therapist because she strained foods slowed down her speech. They even have special spoons invented with a textured rubber surface so kids get used to a different feel. But like I said, I think exclusive means that formula can never replace breastmilk, breastmilk has components in it that help the brain continue to develop much better than formula ever could. Although Mom's should not beat themselves up if not able to exclusively breastfeed the first year of life. I have older children who were exclusively formula fed, and they are doing fine, along with my nursed babies. Do what feels comfortable to you. Hope I helped you, and not confused you. Good luck.

Evelyn is dead on! I think that most Dr's will say that 6 months is the magic age to introduce solids and definately introduce them one at a time, that way you know if an allergy develops, what it is. The very first solid the baby should eat is cereal, it doesn't matter much which kind, but it is nice and bland and is made using some pumped breast milk. Good luck! Oh, I also wanted to add, I supplemented with formula as well, I couldn't seem to pump enough once I returned to work and I was still able to nurse the second until he was 10 months old.

With my first son I started him on the cereal around 5months and fruits and veggies around 6months, he was formula fed, I was able to nurse my second son for just over a year and we started him on cereal around 3 1/2 months and the fruits and veggies around 4 1/2 months.  I know some people who wait until 7-9 months before starting on cereal.  I guess it all depends on the baby, try it and you will know if baby is ready for the food or not.  Good luck! 

exclusive breastfeeding has no time frame.  Its what you feel is best for you and your baby..  Generally you introduce foods to your new addition at about six months but stay away from honey until the age of one.  But every baby is different, baby rice and oatmeal can be given to baby a little earlier....everything just depends on you and how you feel your child is growing.

 

Im exclusively breastfeeding my daughter until she hits 6 months before i try to introduce a bottle, but lately I have been preparing bottles with milk in case i have to leave my daughter behind due to an emergency or something and i cant nurse her right away.

 

The question i need answered is how do you introduce a bottle to a baby after all you have done is breastfeed? 

The same way they tell you to introduce a sippy cup. Make sure she is not hungry, so give her a bottle with some pumped breast milk in it after you feed her. That way it has a familiar taste, she won't get frustrated due to hunger and she can experiment with the feel of the nipple in her mouth. Good luck!

 I stopped breast feeding when my son got his teeth and decided to use them! My son was a big boy and hungry ALL the time. I started giving him diluted cereal when he was about 4 months. Breastfeeding ended with the first bad bite. I think it was around 8 months. Now he is 15, is almost 5'9" tall and weighs in at 178 pounds of pure muscle!

Good luck!