6 month old feeding

[shouldistop]

Ds2 is 6.5 months and Im breastfeeding him plus some purées and finger foods - just small amounts so far.
I breastfeed him on demand which is roughly every 2 hours during the day and once or twice overnight. I've had a few comments about him feeding so often. I don't mind feeding him often, he's very quick and it's no hassle for me.
Just wondering what's 'normal' do you all still feed your 6 month olds on demand or should I be encouraging him to drop feeds?

Should add that I didn't bf ds1 for long as his latch was awful so this is my first experience of breastfeeding a 6mo.

I still feed my 8.5 month old every 2 hours or so. She can go longer when we're out but at home, I think it's more tempting to snack! Like an all you can eat buffet.

Feeding on demand is the best thing for your supply (and baby!) if you're happy to do so 🙂 he won't only be feeding for hunger - also thirst, comfort, teething pain, boredom, etc etc...

That's good to hear that it's normal. I think people expected me to stop breastfeeding at 6 months. It's a bit disheartening when I tried so hard in the beginning (he had a tongue tie, i had an infection and ds1 nursery closed when the baby was 2 weeks old), I feel proud of myself that I kept going and that I'm still feeding him, especially after failing miserably with ds1.
Even my dh made a comment the other week about how it would be easier if he was formula fed, I don't see why it would be easier though.

My 18 month old toddler feeds that much sometimes - absolutely normal. They get super duper quick and good at it and he knows I won't feed him out & about anymore so he doesn't ask. At home or at our usual places etc he can have as much milk as he likes although he's usually far too busy to bother with it and catches up at night. Thankfully we co-sleep in the latter half of the night and he doesn't even wake me up half the time.

Breastfeeding is very different to FF. you never have to drop feeds, your milk simply adapts to meet your baby's changing needs and nutritional requirements and they can't have too much. You only need to drop feeds as and when you no longer want to offer them.

Also you don't have to give up breastfeeding until you want to, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Milk is nutritionally beneficial until age 2 and breastmilk is by far the most nutritious and healthy of all of them. There are huge health benefits for both you and baby. You are lowering their chances of diabetes, heart disease and other Heath complications in later life and you're cutting your chances of breast cancer hugely. Not to mention the benefits of comfort, security etc you're providing.

If you're both happy then ignore what anyone else thinks and do what you feel is right for you and your baby.

I did think they couldn't have too much.
I was asked by a paediatrician recently if I could be over feeding him because his reflux is back. Erm no, his omeprazole has stopped working because he's big and chubby now and you set the dosage at 6 weeks old

Even my hairdresser this week. "Are you still breastfeeding!?"

He's still a tiny baby, I don't get the surprise.

Don't get caught up with feeding your baby too much. I have heard people feeding 6month old breakfast/lunch/snack/dinner.

Babies don't necessarily need extra food besides breastfeeding until about 1 year old and some people don't even offer it. I started offering my children food (soft broccoli florets) at 6 months but 2 of them only started actually eating at nearly 8months.

Same with water: 1st child didn't drink until nearly 1 year old, and apparently that's perfectly normal as well

Yeah, he's not too fussed about solids yet, some days I've forgotten to give him any
He mainly wants to try a bit of whatever I'm eating. I haven't offered him any water yet actually, he'd probably spit it out.

Ah that old chestnut. Yep been there and got that t-shirt. My DS had horrific reflux and was also on omperozole - his was caused by severe allergies so he was under a consultant and I was so bloody fortunate to have one that was very knowledgable and pro breastfeeding. However I was told so many times that my life would be easier if I just stuck him on neocate - what they meant is their life would be easier because they wanted to know exact in and out measurements etc.

Anyways - ignore ignore ignore. Breastfeeding is best for you baby. I don't want to ignite a BF/FF row because ultimately happy mums mean happy babies and we're all free to make choices.

LLL (La Lache Leauge) have some fabulous resources on reflux and breastfeeding and are a wonderfully supportive network.

If it reassure you almost like clockwork DS got to around a year old and his very problematic reflux got better and we are now medication free and I can't remember the last time he had any issues.

Omg!!! The memories!!!!! You should have seen the amount of times my first just spit all the water on their top I just kept trying and trying, silly me

If it reassure you almost like clockwork DS got to around a year old and his very problematic reflux got better and we are now medication free and I can't remember the last time he had any issues.

That's great to hear, thanks. I've to stop the omeprazole at 7 months and see how he gets on so only a couple of weeks away

Ignore the judgemental comments! I always had a goal of 6 months in my head but once I hit that, I realised that it's waaay easier to just continue bf rather than learn how to start using formula. And like @dopeyduck breast milk is just amazing stuff anyway!

I gave my daughter 3 meals a day at about 7.5 months but still not much was swallowed - it was more for exploring new textures and getting used to scheduling in mealtimes. You can introduce water whenever you'd like - I think the nhs recommends offering with meals. I have babycups and they're great - I can now hold it for her and she'll sip water/breast milk out of it. Just for when you do start experimenting 🙂

Still feed 9m DD every 2/3 hours unless we're out (she won't feed outside, too nosy) when she can stretch to 3/4 hours if she's having a good snack or lunch instead.