already mommas- can you answer breast feeding questions?

[annag1991]

Hi. Ftm here and I'm not due for awhile but I'm really just wondering how long you breastfeed for and how do you know when to stop? After breastfeeding is formula next? I'm just wondering how long each stage lasts and how do you know when to switch from breast milk to formula to baby food etc? I'm just confused I guess cause I don't have a baby yet. Any feedback you guys give me would be great !! :)

[jjolfert]

We breastfed for almost a year. My daughter was able to sit up on her own, hold her head up, and not spit food back out at 5.5 months so we started solids. We also let her have a bit of water as well as breast milk at 6 months. New recommendations are you can introduce cow's milk any time between 9-12 months rather than switch to formula. But it should be the 3.25%.

Also rice cereal doesn't provide much nutrition and my doctor said to give meat purees like chicken and beef as first foods. Eggs too.

[angeloflemons406680]

I would do the research on antenatal expression. I didn't, and I was fine. Not only is the milk best fresh, but the bonding of giving baby colostrum from you is irreplaceable. Some say it may cause you to go into labor early, as well, which could be dangerous for you and baby.

[ksarahd]

Also you could try looking onto your local La Leche League. It is a support / educational group for breastfeeding mothers. They have a very informative website and you can seach for your local chapter. My mom was a leader for a number of years and I used to go to meetings with her when I was about 10. I m going to join my local chapter when I get closer to the due date for my little one.

[pc010305]

I nursed my oldest for 15 months.  My child weaned on their own. Started solid food at around 6 months when baby showed interest.  I loved using the mesh net that I could put a piece of frozen fruit in. Baby could feed themselves and it helped with teething. My child eats pretty much anything nowm

[Bubs2]

To establish a milk supply antenatal expressing, or expressing your milk while pregnant, can also help. Usually you would start at about 36-37 weeks and keep what you express in the freezer so you have some colostrum at the beginning. That way if you have difficulty latching baby already has some milk ready to go.
In terms of solids you can also try baby led weaning or baby led feeding. Skips the puree stage and they start on soft finger foods when they are able to pick it up and feed themselves. Helps to limit their risk of choking, improves their fine motor skills and helps to make them less fussy eaters. Worked great for my son, he started feeding himself at about 6 months after playing with food from about 5 months. He will now eat anything at 18 months.

[annag1991]

Thank you!! So this is good info for me! I was so unsure with how it all worked but now I feel more clear about it. Thanks for the input ladies, you really did help! :-)

[Rachel__grace_]

If you're going to breastfeed, try to do that until you stop. A common age that moms stop breastfeeding is 1 year old. Some say its recommended to breastfeed them until they're 2 years old. However, at 1 year, like the above posts say, you should be giving them vitamin d/whole cows milk as it has the fats needed for the little guys developing brain. So I stopped at 1 year for that reason. Also, my milk started drying up around then too since i was working and only pumping (instead of actually nursing thr baby from my breast) so that was another part in my decision to stop at 1 year. Some people will breastfeed their kids all the way up to 5 years, to each their own lol.

As far as solids... if your baby can't sit up on their own (or 'supported sitting') then they're not ready for solids. Their little insides are not usually developed enough to handle solids until 4-6 months. People usually start with baby rice cereal as the first solid, then move to babyfood when they feel the baby is ready. My kids never liked babyfood or cereal much, so it was just milk and whatever finger foods I could get them to eat =( I'm cursed with picky kids that hardly each much of anything lol but they're healthy, so I can't really complain.

[annag1991]

Thank you both! That info was all too helpful :)

[mummah_stiles]

You can breastfeed for as long as you want as long as your comfortable and providing that baby gets enough. Solids (puree) is recommended to start around 6 months although breastfeeding / formula will be still be a big part of baby's diet. If you can't breast feed / want to stop before 12months old then formula is what you give. After 12 months they say to put on full cream cow milk but baby should be eating meals and snacks / drinking water after leading up to or after 12 months.
For a lot of it, you will need to follow your baby's lead. For example, my son wasn't getting enough milk from me so I had to put him on formula at 6weeks old, at 5months old he was showing interest in our food so I started him on purees for breakfast / dinner but kept his formula routine, introduced him to water to sip on at 6months, by 10months he had cut down on formula and was having breakfast lunch and dinner (no longer pureed). On his first birthday he refused formula and only wanted his water. Now he is 16months, he eats all day , drinks water and He has a 250ml bottle of cows milk before bed

[MamaJackson0522]

You breastfeed as long as you want or until baby stops wanting it. If you stop before its 1 then you give it formula if over 1 they drink whole milk. Baby food starts at about 6 months but every baby is different, they may not want it yet. If they do though, they still drink a bottle.