There are certain things to consider and plan for when you are getting ready to start your infant on solid foods.
Breast milk is all your baby has had and if she is ready for solids, it will be an exciting experience for both of you.
The first thing to consider is when to start adding the solid foods.
The majority of the studies you read, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, will tell you that the recommended age for starting solids is six months.
Breast milk is all they need until they are six months old.
Even until the time your infant turns one year, breast milk should be the main source of nutrition.
One of the reasons to start food at this age is because after six months, your baby needs additional iron in her diet.
The World Health Organization recommends introducing iron rich complementary foods in addition to continued regular breastfeeding.
One of the reasons to wait until six months to start solids is to wait until your infant's digestive system is ready for it.
Breast milk is designed to be easily digested and specifically made to be perfectly balanced with what she needs nutritionally on a daily basis.
Another thing to consider when starting your baby on solid foods is when in your daily schedule to offer these added meals.
The most important thing to remember when deciding this is no matter what time you offer this meal, to make sure you breastfeed first.
This is beneficial for several reasons.
One is that you don't want your baby to fill up on the solid food and not be able to fit the breast milk, which is the main source of nutrition.
Another reason is that you don't want to introduce a new experience to a baby that is extremely hungry.
It is more likely for the food to be refused simply because your baby is cranky from hunger.
It will not be clear whether she is just cranky and not welcoming a new experience or really does not like what you are offering her.
There is no perfect schedule for adding meals to your baby's schedule.
A basic recommendation is to only offer one meal per day of solid foods at first to allow her digestive system to ease into the food.
A general rule is to offer one more meal per day per month until eight months old.
For example, one meal per day of solid food at six months, two meals at seven months, and finally breakfast, lunch and dinner by eight months.
Of course every child is different and you will have to adjust according to the needs of your child and your schedules.
One last thing to consider when starting your baby on solids is the change in your breastfeeding schedule.
Do not confuse a changed schedule with weaning.
Your baby most likely will not be nursing the same times and amounts.
You may notice that your baby still nurses as much in volume but stretches her feedings from every three hours to every four hours.
If your baby was not making it through the night without a feeding, she may now.
If you are not falling into a natural schedule, sit down with a piece of paper and pen and try and map out a few possible schedules to try out and use the next few days to test them and see which one works best for both of you.
Remember to consider bedtime when making these schedules.
Sometimes it is easier to work backwards from there.
As always, your milk will naturally adjust production according to the needs of your baby.
Remember there is no right or wrong schedule, only what works best for your baby and your family.
Breast milk is all your baby has had and if she is ready for solids, it will be an exciting experience for both of you.
The first thing to consider is when to start adding the solid foods.
The majority of the studies you read, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, will tell you that the recommended age for starting solids is six months.
Breast milk is all they need until they are six months old.
Even until the time your infant turns one year, breast milk should be the main source of nutrition.
One of the reasons to start food at this age is because after six months, your baby needs additional iron in her diet.
The World Health Organization recommends introducing iron rich complementary foods in addition to continued regular breastfeeding.
One of the reasons to wait until six months to start solids is to wait until your infant's digestive system is ready for it.
Breast milk is designed to be easily digested and specifically made to be perfectly balanced with what she needs nutritionally on a daily basis.
Another thing to consider when starting your baby on solid foods is when in your daily schedule to offer these added meals.
The most important thing to remember when deciding this is no matter what time you offer this meal, to make sure you breastfeed first.
This is beneficial for several reasons.
One is that you don't want your baby to fill up on the solid food and not be able to fit the breast milk, which is the main source of nutrition.
Another reason is that you don't want to introduce a new experience to a baby that is extremely hungry.
It is more likely for the food to be refused simply because your baby is cranky from hunger.
It will not be clear whether she is just cranky and not welcoming a new experience or really does not like what you are offering her.
There is no perfect schedule for adding meals to your baby's schedule.
A basic recommendation is to only offer one meal per day of solid foods at first to allow her digestive system to ease into the food.
A general rule is to offer one more meal per day per month until eight months old.
For example, one meal per day of solid food at six months, two meals at seven months, and finally breakfast, lunch and dinner by eight months.
Of course every child is different and you will have to adjust according to the needs of your child and your schedules.
One last thing to consider when starting your baby on solids is the change in your breastfeeding schedule.
Do not confuse a changed schedule with weaning.
Your baby most likely will not be nursing the same times and amounts.
You may notice that your baby still nurses as much in volume but stretches her feedings from every three hours to every four hours.
If your baby was not making it through the night without a feeding, she may now.
If you are not falling into a natural schedule, sit down with a piece of paper and pen and try and map out a few possible schedules to try out and use the next few days to test them and see which one works best for both of you.
Remember to consider bedtime when making these schedules.
Sometimes it is easier to work backwards from there.
As always, your milk will naturally adjust production according to the needs of your baby.
Remember there is no right or wrong schedule, only what works best for your baby and your family.