When to Stop Breastfeeding: Baby is Ready But What Do You Feed Him?
Your baby is growing up so fast, that you have the feeling that the answer to your “when to stop breastfeeding” question is “now”. Unfortunately, the weaning/breastfeeding process doesn’t set a specific time for application – you usually have to rely on gut feel and on what your baby is trying to tell you.
Yes, your baby. Although he doesn’t talk yet, he does want you to know that he’s ready to wean when he shows some signs that it’s time to wean. If you baby is older and is happily tucking in to solids, then the question of what do you feed him isn't that big of a deal.
However, if you are weaning him from breastfeeding early, then what you substitute will definitely be a concern. In this respect, it is best to get your pediatrician's advice on what formula to use.
If you are thinking of introducing your baby to solid food as well, here are some of the tell-tale signs that your baby is ready for it. Remember, your baby must be able to have at least all or most of the signs mentioned below to be able to say that he is truly ready to have his first meal:
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Head control. You brought him out into the world, head first. Out of all the body parts, the head and neck area is the most delicate of all. Constant care and attention have always been given to it, especially if you need to breastfeed him. But as time goes on, they eventually strengthen. Once he is able to fully master and hold his head up rigidly with no support (or with at least a little of it), then he may be ready to feed.
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Teeth. The teeth, mouth, tongue and the rest of the digestive system all develop at the same time in preparation for weaning to proper solid food. Your baby will also be less likely to drool since he now has total control over the ability to swallow (although there may be times when he just does so, but of a lesser frequency than when he didn’t have teeth).
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Weight gain. Your baby should be at least 6 months old and should’ve doubled their birth weight by now. (Some may wean as early as 4 months, but this is not recommended due to possible serious food allergies that may arise at such a young age.)
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A growing appetite. An increasing appetite means that baby is not contented with just milk; he needs solid food to give way to his body’s need for it. Also, at this age, milk alone just isn't enough to meet his nutritional needs.
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Curiosity. If he is already eyeing the family’s food during mealtimes, then it is a big indicator that he is ready to chew on some food. If he imitates your chewing or tries to grab your food, then he may be ready for the real thing.
That said, here are three suggested first-foods that you should let baby try:
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Iron-fortified rice cereal. This is the most common food first given to babies as it is store-bought, safe, tried-and-tested by a lot of mothers. It is also the first solid food that is usually recommended by the child’s pediatrician. At this stage, the amount that your baby will eat will be very little, so serving rice cereal makes it convenient to prepare and serve small amounts.
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Pureed vegetables. You may need a blender for this to fully puree the vegetables. Before pureeing however, t is better to wash and cook (or at least, blanch) the veggies to kill possible bacteria. DO NOT GIVE BABY UNCOOKED VEGETABLES to prevent possible tummy problems. Start on yellow or orange vegetables (carrots, squash, or sweet potato for examples). You can do a combination of green (peas and green beans) and yellow veggies to add more flavors to the mix.
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Pureed fruits. Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals to help your baby’s digestive track absorb and flush out toxic waste materials. Applesauce, pears or bananas are the most common fruits given. You can also give 1 part fruit juice to 2 parts of water.
Follow the four-day rule in giving new foods – if after 4 days, he doesn’t develop an allergic reaction, then you can continue feeding it to him. If he gets a rash or a tummy-ache, then discontinue and reintroduce said food at a later time.
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