Rant - so much pressure to introduce solids

[jrand2more]

As the title says, I am getting so annoyed with people putting pressure on me to introduce solids. My son is EBF, and I want to BLW when he is 6 months old. But I keep hear things like "he's not content, he's still hungry, I'm sure he'll be bigger and stronger if he has some rice cereal.." Etc etc. OH cousin asked if I'm allowing him to try foods yet, my mom has said that she doesn't agree with me introducing solids at 6 months, she would start sooner. I'm so tired of it. So my question is, am I wrong in waiting? Are they right?

 

[kalyrra]

Nope! You are definitely not wrong in waiting! It's your child, and you can begin to introduce solids whenever you want! I think a lot of the "introduce cereal at 3 or 4 months" mindset is from all the years of FF babies. As long as your LO is healthy and gaining weight, there's no reason to give cereal. He's getting plenty of nutrition from you!

I can't remember where I read the article, but some studies think that introducing foods before 6 months may actually lead to a higher food allergy rate. I don't know if that's true or not. And from what I've read, until babies are around a year old, solids are more just for fun - your milk is enough for them until then!

So 6 months is a great target for you if that is what you have chosen. Don't let people pressure you into doing something you don't want to do! It's your child!

 

[CandyDay]

you are not wrong to wait. They are wrong in telling you not to wait. Unless your family has more expertise in this area then the following organizations..............

The following organizations recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or any other foods) for the first 6 months of life (not the first 4-6 months):
■World Health Organization
■UNICEF
■American Academy of Pediatrics
■American Academy of Family Physicians
■Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
■Health Canada

https://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/

maybe if you print this off for them and give it to them they may stop telling you to give solids

 

[pinksmarties]

I had all that too, especially from my mum. Off the cuff 'funny' remarks about him fancying a bit of my steak pie or bacon buttie. I know she didn't mean for me to give him those things but she was encouraging me to give him food form 3 months onwards. I waited until he was 1 week off 6 months when I knew he was ready and he has been weaning really well. Stick to your guns, your baby, so you do what is right for you.

 

[jrand2more]

Thanks Ladies I had OH read the responses as well so that he can stand with me next time someone makes those type of comments.

 

[pinklightbulb]

I just told everyone to F off, haha. I didn't care what they thought and waited till 6 months. Even if OH made me "try" with them at 4.5 months I proved they didn't need it and went on to wait till 6 months as I wanted to.

 

[TheNewMrs]

I used to respond with "There has been new research since your children were small and this shows that waiting until 6 months is so much better for my baby than giving it now so we are happy to wait until her system is ready."

-Usually responded by "Well it didn't do my kids any harm"
so I would say "Maybe not, but thats not a chance I am willing to take to please you!"

 

[Mrs Bee]

This is happening to me too... My MIL is very pro solids at 4 months but I have told DH we are starting Alice on solids at 6 months and even then it will be for fun as she will get most of her nutrition from me still... My niece(mil other granddaughter) started eating solids at 4 months and we are constantly told "oh that will be u soon feeding solids"... OH said NO mum,it won't Alice is waiting until 6 months. He was so matter a fact about it she shut right up!