Exclusive BF past 6 months

[Hottbutterscotch]

My baby has just turned six months and thriving on breast milk alone.
Ideally I’d carry on as we are for a while but I can’t seem to find any information on extended exclusive feeding.
Has anyone continued beyond the recommended six months or slight any advice on such?
Thanks in advance

Is baby showing signs of being ready for solid food?

Hi, not really but then I’ve never noticed that with my others at this age either. I’ve begun weaning just to adhere to guidelines. Last time I was happy to as I had twins & the eldest child is a lot older. Advice was 16wks then.

She’s got covid at the moment and really struggled to swallow tiny bits of calpol at a time. Not the same as food I know but wondering if I should take that as indication that she isn’t able to move food to the back of her mouth yet?

I'm not an expert, but I think the main nutritional concern is iron. After six months, I believe they don't get enough from breast milk.

@110APiccadilly

I'm not an expert, but I think the main nutritional concern is iron. After six months, I believe they don't get enough from breast milk.

Yes I’ve read that too but then suggested first foods are hardly iron rich which seems contradictory!

There's no reason to stop breastfeeding at 6 months if you don't want to. I fed my eldest to 13 months and my youngest to 17 months when she decided to stop.

You just introduce solids, as they eat more food they have less breastmilk. No need to do anything else.

@Twizbe yes I plan to continue to breastfeed. Likely for the next couple of years but I was wondering if I can hold off on the solids for a while longer!

Also just realised that one of my posts reads as though I have previously stopped breast feeding at 6 months, I haven’t. I’ve fed all three for several years. I meant weaning as the introduction of other foods.

I am also not an expert, but I've read that eating solid food is important in developing the mouth and jaw and practising movements the baby will need to use when she begins to talk.

Hi there! I understood what you meant - you want to continue breastfeeding but are wondering whether it’s ok to delay introducing solids for a bit because you’re unsure whether baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex yet, right?

There is some evidence that delaying the introduction of solids by several months can impact speech development and, as others have mentioned, depleted iron stores. But delaying by a few weeks? I wouldn’t personally have a problem doing that. Really your baby’s primary source of nutrition remains as breastmilk until they reach 12 months, so there’s no point rushing it if they’re not ready. You can offer a baby vitamin with iron too (I think Wellbaby?) if you’re worried about that. FWIW I introduced solids at 7 months with DS1 with no ill effects.

Sounds like you’re doing a great job.

[quote Hottbutterscotch]@Twizbe yes I plan to continue to breastfeed. Likely for the next couple of years but I was wondering if I can hold off on the solids for a while longer![/quote]
Ahhhh I misunderstood.

Weaning is a process and some babies do take a bit longer to get the hang of it.

We had to wean my eldest at 4 months and youngest started herself at 5 months so Ive no experience of even waiting until 6 months lol

Thanks to you all for some very helpful advice. I think I will carry on as I am for another month and then get started. A lot can change in that time with a little one can’t it.
Thanks again.

Weaning from 6 months is important as their gag reflex is quite far forward atm so they can practise moving food around their mouth without choking as often. I think the longer you wait, the risk of choking may increase.

Is there a reason you don't want to start weaning?

I started weaning DC1 at 6 months, but she didn't really eat anything until she was 9 months old. She did handle food though, and put it in her mouth. If you want to make sure that your baby is genuinely ready for solids, I'd go with a baby led weaning option, and just stop putting salt in your food and hold your baby on your lap at mealtimes, and let her help herself to food when she's ready for it, which might be now or might be another month.

The evidence seems to be that it's not great for babies not be offered food after 6 months, so I'd make sure that the option is there for her when she is ready for it.