Please tell me not to worry...not much solid food at all
Hi,
I'm kinda new here and I thought I'd post this in Toddlers too. I think I just need reassurance and especially with the holidays coming up and anticipating family comments, can some of you mamas offer insight?
Ds is 17 months almost and a pretty big nurser. I work in the week and dh keeps him but when I get home, we NURSE! Usually just once and then once before bed but more if he is tired/sick/cranky/gets hurt etc. and on the weekends it can still be lot too.
I'm just worried I am somehow keeping him from developing an interest in solid foods. He is not a picky eater because he likes a lot of things just youc an never know when. I usually just fix him some bowls or a plate of what I am having ( adjusting the flavor or texture if I know he likes it that way) and put it in front of him and if he eats it, fine and if not, fine too. He's pretty moderate, doesn't eat too much of any one thing but definitely preferes bread/crackers/rice and fruit. i give him mostly organic food and we are switching over to all whole grain pastas etc. But I guess my question is: is this normal? Is it OK? Is extended breastfeeding keeping him from learning to eat more foods? If I feed him when I get home and then he doesn't eat dinner.....I feel like I am messing up somehow. On the one hand, I sure wouldn't want to cutback ( I just kinda follow his cue) because it seems like his nutrition would only get worse but on the other hand, I wonder if not cutting back is keeping him from being hungry enough to try things?
What do you all think?
^_^:
Keep up the good work. After you read this forum for a while, you will see how normal your son is. Please remember, the gold standard of formula is promoted by an industry. Your milk does not make money for the formula industry, the medical industry, or any other group which will promote its goods. No one solicits doctors to buy breasts.
A recent study finally made some sense. Maybe rice cereal and highly processed food aren't good for baby. He should eat like mom does because that is what he is used too. Your milk is the best baby can get. 17 months is way young for weaning. Weaning is adding more solids, and water to get him off my chest.
That milk is better for him than dinner. Please resist the industries which attack wholesome free milk. Your family has been programmed. Please explain that industries have brainwashed them. Ask where they got the idea. Mention how bottlefeeding is not the standard, nursing is normal.
Possible replies:
I'm the mom, it's my choice.
My doctor would not agree with that.
Where did you hear that?
How do you know?
That's very nice, here's some bean dip.
^_^:
My 15 month old eats just the same way. Toddlers tend to be pretty erratic in their eating habits in general. I know how hard it is not to worry, my 3yo is super picky and has long since weaned and I am always worrying about his nutrition. At least with my second I know he is getting lots of nutrition via breastmilk which really sets my mind at ease. As far as nursing keeping him from trying new things; it sounds like he eats a pretty wide variety. If quantity is what you're worried about keep in mind that toddlers have pretty small tummies, they don't need much. I think the way you are doing things is just fine! Look at your son: is he happy, healthy, meeting milestones? I would continue to follow his lead. When your family starts questioning you, I prefer the bean dip response :lol
^_^:
Sounds like you're doing great! Keep it up! It sounds healthy on so many levels - wholesome food, lots of variety, sharing what you eat, offering him food and letting him choose whether to eat it or not. That's healthy for his body, heart and mind!
My DD didn't eat much in the 2nd year, and was on the petite side (no idea where that came from, as I come from a long line of Amazons.) Sometimes DH worried that bfing was preventing her from taking in more solids. But taking away the single most nutritive source of food that she was guaranteed to accept at any time of day or night, well or ill, just did not make sense to me. What if I weaned her and she STILL didn't eat much? Not a risk I was willing to take. I was confident that even if she only ate rice crackers for 3 days running, that she was getting her baseline nutrition from bm.
Remember that solids are meant to be an addition to, not replace, bm. Watch the baby, not the scale. Keep up the good work - you sound like a super mama!
^_^:
No worries.
-Angela
^_^:
with lots of links about exclusivly breastfeeding beyond a year.
^_^:
You are not alone! My dd is 17 months and still gets over 90% of her daily intake from nursing. In fact, the only solids she will eat is bananas and yogurt. I can sometimes get her to try a cracker or a noodle or something, but that is not the norm. I am really just following her lead on things and figure when she is ready to eat more, she will let me know!
^_^:
thank you all so much. i feel much restored in confidence. We are OK and I wont worry about it ( haha for the next 6 months anyway...)
Thanks again, you don't know how much you have put my mind at ease.
I'm ready to go out and be fierce now!
More Topical:
I'm kinda new here and I thought I'd post this in Toddlers too. I think I just need reassurance and especially with the holidays coming up and anticipating family comments, can some of you mamas offer insight?
Ds is 17 months almost and a pretty big nurser. I work in the week and dh keeps him but when I get home, we NURSE! Usually just once and then once before bed but more if he is tired/sick/cranky/gets hurt etc. and on the weekends it can still be lot too.
I'm just worried I am somehow keeping him from developing an interest in solid foods. He is not a picky eater because he likes a lot of things just youc an never know when. I usually just fix him some bowls or a plate of what I am having ( adjusting the flavor or texture if I know he likes it that way) and put it in front of him and if he eats it, fine and if not, fine too. He's pretty moderate, doesn't eat too much of any one thing but definitely preferes bread/crackers/rice and fruit. i give him mostly organic food and we are switching over to all whole grain pastas etc. But I guess my question is: is this normal? Is it OK? Is extended breastfeeding keeping him from learning to eat more foods? If I feed him when I get home and then he doesn't eat dinner.....I feel like I am messing up somehow. On the one hand, I sure wouldn't want to cutback ( I just kinda follow his cue) because it seems like his nutrition would only get worse but on the other hand, I wonder if not cutting back is keeping him from being hungry enough to try things?
What do you all think?
^_^:
Keep up the good work. After you read this forum for a while, you will see how normal your son is. Please remember, the gold standard of formula is promoted by an industry. Your milk does not make money for the formula industry, the medical industry, or any other group which will promote its goods. No one solicits doctors to buy breasts.
A recent study finally made some sense. Maybe rice cereal and highly processed food aren't good for baby. He should eat like mom does because that is what he is used too. Your milk is the best baby can get. 17 months is way young for weaning. Weaning is adding more solids, and water to get him off my chest.
That milk is better for him than dinner. Please resist the industries which attack wholesome free milk. Your family has been programmed. Please explain that industries have brainwashed them. Ask where they got the idea. Mention how bottlefeeding is not the standard, nursing is normal.
Possible replies:
I'm the mom, it's my choice.
My doctor would not agree with that.
Where did you hear that?
How do you know?
That's very nice, here's some bean dip.
^_^:
My 15 month old eats just the same way. Toddlers tend to be pretty erratic in their eating habits in general. I know how hard it is not to worry, my 3yo is super picky and has long since weaned and I am always worrying about his nutrition. At least with my second I know he is getting lots of nutrition via breastmilk which really sets my mind at ease. As far as nursing keeping him from trying new things; it sounds like he eats a pretty wide variety. If quantity is what you're worried about keep in mind that toddlers have pretty small tummies, they don't need much. I think the way you are doing things is just fine! Look at your son: is he happy, healthy, meeting milestones? I would continue to follow his lead. When your family starts questioning you, I prefer the bean dip response :lol
^_^:
Sounds like you're doing great! Keep it up! It sounds healthy on so many levels - wholesome food, lots of variety, sharing what you eat, offering him food and letting him choose whether to eat it or not. That's healthy for his body, heart and mind!
My DD didn't eat much in the 2nd year, and was on the petite side (no idea where that came from, as I come from a long line of Amazons.) Sometimes DH worried that bfing was preventing her from taking in more solids. But taking away the single most nutritive source of food that she was guaranteed to accept at any time of day or night, well or ill, just did not make sense to me. What if I weaned her and she STILL didn't eat much? Not a risk I was willing to take. I was confident that even if she only ate rice crackers for 3 days running, that she was getting her baseline nutrition from bm.
Remember that solids are meant to be an addition to, not replace, bm. Watch the baby, not the scale. Keep up the good work - you sound like a super mama!
^_^:
No worries.
-Angela
^_^:
with lots of links about exclusivly breastfeeding beyond a year.
^_^:
You are not alone! My dd is 17 months and still gets over 90% of her daily intake from nursing. In fact, the only solids she will eat is bananas and yogurt. I can sometimes get her to try a cracker or a noodle or something, but that is not the norm. I am really just following her lead on things and figure when she is ready to eat more, she will let me know!
^_^:
thank you all so much. i feel much restored in confidence. We are OK and I wont worry about it ( haha for the next 6 months anyway...)
Thanks again, you don't know how much you have put my mind at ease.
I'm ready to go out and be fierce now!
More Topical: