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Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Weaning

Breast feed before or after solids?

16 replies

Scubes · 28/01/2008 09:25

Hi

Been weaning for 3 weeks now, lo just turned 6 months. This week started breakfast so now on 3 small meals a day plus usual milk feeds.

I've been giving solids first followed by solids as I was worried she would be too full of milk to take solids. 'The books' all say to do it the other way round, milk first and then solids.

I don't know the reasons behind this theory but would appreciate advice. The only time I do this is in the morning as there is a gap between first milk feed and then breakfast:

7 BF
8 breakfast
11 Veg puree then BF
2.30 BF
5.30 Baby rice with puree small BF
7.00 BF

Just not sure which way round to give the milk!! Sometimes she gets upset during solids and I wonder if she wants her milk?

Thanks

OP posts:

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Pannacotta · 28/01/2008 09:27

Milk first, its the most important source of nutrition in a baby's first 12 months.

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TinkerbellesMum · 28/01/2008 09:36

If you do solids first or when they're hungry it teaches them that solids control hunger and they can come off of their milk too quickly. As they need milk more in their first year then it's important not to give them this message (like I did [oops] but that is why I'm saying because I know the problems we had)

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Scubes · 28/01/2008 10:08

Oops sorry about mistake in second paragraph! I meant solids followed by milk...not more solids!!

Ok thanks that makes sense, so should I be giving a full breastfeed before all meals or 1 breast then solids and then top up of milk afterwards?

Ta

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TinkerbellesMum · 28/01/2008 10:11

lol I didn't even notice that.

Thats about right. Try to make it about an hour after milk as you don't want to try to feed a drunk baby solids! At that point they should have come out of the coma and be interested in having a play without being too hungry and angry to deal with it.

That's a reason I left out, if they are hungry then you will have a game to feed them because they want food and don't know that's what you're trying to give them.

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Scubes · 28/01/2008 10:37

Oh, so if I'm giving milk and then waiting an hour before giving solids will I ever be able to get out of the house again?!!

I'm all a bit confused about timings now!

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Pannacotta · 28/01/2008 11:24

The main point is that at your baby's stage and really until they are 12 months it is important to offer a full breastfeed before a meal, then offer some food after a bit, think before an hour should be ok.
I find it helps to feed DS2 (9 months) inbetween meals, so he tends to feed at around 9/9.30am, 12-1 ish, 3/4 pm then his last feed just before bedtime (and lots through the night too!).
Is some good info here
www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-how.html

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TinkerbellesMum · 29/01/2008 09:37

As long as your baby isn't drunk or at a point where they are too full to be interested, which tends to be about an hour later. You don't want to cut back on their feed either to make them less full, it's more important they get their milk in at the moment.

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terramum · 29/01/2008 13:49

I like that kellymom link with the graph it sums it up quite well.

I never thought of it as solids before or after milk when we started 3 years ago. I just treated them as completely separate entities. DS was bf on demand & then offered solids to feed himself (blw style) whenever he was awake during our own mealtimes. If he happened to want some bm during mealtimes he got it, if he didn't he didn't! No fuss & no second guessing. The first few months he ate solids at supper only but then gradually started wanting a little something at breakfast as his appetite grew more than his early morning feed could satisfy, then he finally started sleeping less during the middle of the day & was awake & able to have some lunch with me. Then after about 12+ months he started having the odd snack mid-morning & mid afternoon, but still being bf every few hours. It wasn't until he was 18 months+ that his food intake started to overtake his milk intake. I have made sure, since he started solids, that if offered bm at regular intervals during the day to make sure he kept his intake up & to encourage him to bf for as long as possible. Even now at 3.5 yrs I still offer it occasionally if I think he might want some (although mostly he only has a quick morning sip & then a longer bedtime feed).

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Scubes · 30/01/2008 12:29

Thanks for all the advice. Just been to HV clinic and of course they have contradicting all of it! Told me to give solids first and then milk!!!

So continue to be confused and have lost sight of my own instincts on what to do. LO has a cold so has refused solids for last 2 days anyway, (whichever way round I have done it). I now understand the theories behind both 'methods'. She's not interested in breakfast so maybe I introduced that too quickly. Tried giving milk feed first and then solids a bit later but she's not been interested.

Why oh why is there not one set of guidelines rather than all this conflicting advice that makes us feel paranoid and concerned?!

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Pannacotta · 30/01/2008 13:00

NOt sure I would trust my HV with regards to any breastfeeding advice, they are sometimes a bit ill informed.
Kellymom however is a pretty reliable source of info re breastfeeding.
Your call at the end of the day.
But 6 months is still very small and milk is the most important nutrition source for now.

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Seona1973 · 30/01/2008 13:03

I always did food in between milk e.g.

7am - milk
8am - breakfast
11am - milk
12pm - lunch
3pm - milk
5pm - dinner
7.15pm - milk

I always thought of solids feeding as more of an activity than a part of a milk feed and the solid timings can then match up with our own mealtimes. Splitting them also means they have more room for each without making them cut back on their milk too quickly.

There is no right or wrong way to do it as it is whatever works for you and your lo.

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Bodkin · 31/01/2008 14:08

Thanks for that Kellymom link Pannacotta - that has just totally cleared up all my confusion about solids!

And Terramum - I like your laid back approach, like you say, when they still have so much day sleep, it is difficult to fit in BFs, naps and solids!

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charleymouse · 02/02/2008 23:55

TBM thanks, I'm afraid I don't know what TOF is so would say he did not have it although obv not sure.

TTM thanks, it is really difficult isn't it, I'm so grateful for what I have but feel so ungrateful with regard to what I should have had. No idea how to broach this in the future with DS will just see how it goes.

AG, OMDB, JW, MMN, ELM, WT thanks for your kind words.

RTKM so sorry my boys are identical also.

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charleymouse · 02/02/2008 23:58

DOH sorry posted this on wrong thread I do apologise.

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gigglewitch · 03/02/2008 00:00

Just to confuse you further (unless someone has already said it) I bf'd half a feed, then gave some baby rice or whatever, then the other half with DS1; with DC2 & 3 i just cut out that bf and gave them fruit or veg puree with baby rice (all tiny quantities) and a drink - usually water. thus more of a 'normal' meal. Always did this at lunchtime too.
Hope this helps or gives you something to think about rather than causes confusion.
good luck

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Scubes · 03/02/2008 09:33

I remain confused but I think that's what motherhood does

Hello Charleymouse, no problem on crashing this thread! I'm glad you explained tho cos I had no idea what you were going on about!

It's all gone to pot this week anyway as I think lo is teething so she's not really wanting anything. I've stopped giving breakfast as I don't really think she was ready and for now we'll just concentrate on lunch and tea until normality resumes.

Another qestion tho - when did people start using highchairs? We started with bouncy chair and then dh put her in highchair, this seemed fine but I'm not sure it is helping with weaning or hindering. She can't sit unaided yet but is chushioned in the highchair. Just wondered what other people's experiences were?

Ta