How can I prevent unintentional weaning?

[snowgum]

My dd is just coming up to 6 months and will start on some solids soon. However, I would like to continue bfing at least until she's a year (or maybe 2 if it's going well).

I have a few friends who have fully weaned their babies at about 7 - 8 months without meaning to. I know some of the reasons it may have happened (early introduction of solids, not recognising a bf strike) but I don't know anyone who has successfully bf for longer.

So ... for those of you who have some experience with this, what strategies have you used to keep the correct balance?
How can I prevent weaning her unintentionally but still get her eating other food as well?

I just carried on bfing on demand, and had no problems. But neither of my children were big eaters and weren't keen on solids.

same as belgo - dd is still fond of the boob at 15m.

I think feeding on demand (within reason, obv) and not reducing it to a schedule to fit in with mealtimes is important.

Agree with the others (DS2 still b-fed at 18 months, DS1 was b-fed till 2 ish).

Feed on demand and also offer milk feeds before any solids/meals rather than after.
Some good info on Kellymom I think, will see if I can find it and link.

Oh and don't follow the guidelines of Annabel Karmel, she suggests reducing the milk feeds almost as soon as you give solids.

www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-how.html
HTH

It depends on the child. I bf my dd until she was 2 because she wanted to. Ds self weaned at 11 months - despite my attempts to get him to at least a year. He was just a different personality - a much busyier person and couldn't be bothered to bf when there were cars to be thrown and cats to torture! I would just go with your child - sorry that's such a wishy washy thing to say!

I kind of found that milk and food were different things for ds (who i fed until 15 months). He liked both and needed both in different ways. He gradually seemed to reduce his milk and up his solids but had big feeds in the morning and before bed. My supply just seemed to match his demand

He didnt really drink much else until he was weaned either.