I’m looking for sources which I can reference in discussion with my family doctor about my 6.5 month old eating solids.
Background: at my sons 6 month check up we discussed starting solids. I’d started slowly at 5.5 months (when he showed signs of readiness) with a mostly BLW based approach, following a lot of information I’d seen on Solid Starts, and occasionally spoon feeding based on his cues. I’d also been taking the approach that breast milk was supposed to be his main source of nutrition til 12 months, and solid food was mostly for learning to eat, as well as iron and allergen introduction, and thus not really worrying about how much solids he ate at this age, as long as it was being offered.
My doctor really surprised me by saying the following:
1) breast milk after 6 months is “just a drink” he solids should be his primary source of calories and nutrients (I thought this was after 12 months?). He should have 3 meals per day already (we do 2, working up to 3).
2) he needs to be night weaned immediately as nursing overnight means he’s taking too much milk and won’t be hungry for solids. (He nurses 1-2 times over night, which I thought was pretty common for his age).
3) offer solids when he’s hungry, before breast milk, so he doesn’t fill up on breast milk (I thought he’s supposed to have milk first as it’s more nutrient dense…also he’s crabby when he’s hungry and doesn’t know solids will make him full, so idk if he’d want to eat)
4) he should have infant cereals twice per day to get enough iron, these should be spoon fed rather than used for grip on slippery foods (e.g. avocado rolled in cereal), to avoid choking hazards. Other sources of iron just aren’t good enough. (I prefer to offer a variety as part of a BLW approach, he’s pretty good at self feeding)
All this advice really caught me off guard, and seems really old school and the opposite of what I’d read and what other moms I know have done. My doctor is GP who cares for the whole family, not a paediatrician.
I’m looking for sources to bring up in my next discussion with my doctor, to potentially challenge her on these points. She is very authoritative, and I don’t expect it to be a productive discussion if I don’t have sources to back up my questions (yes I know this isn’t how doctors should act, but I live in Ontario so having a family doctor is a privilege unfortunately, and paediatricians aren’t common). OR IF I’M WRONG THAT’S OKAY - I just haven’t been able to find official information backing up what she said, but if it’s out there please send it my way to clear up my confusion.
Thanks!
Background: at my sons 6 month check up we discussed starting solids. I’d started slowly at 5.5 months (when he showed signs of readiness) with a mostly BLW based approach, following a lot of information I’d seen on Solid Starts, and occasionally spoon feeding based on his cues. I’d also been taking the approach that breast milk was supposed to be his main source of nutrition til 12 months, and solid food was mostly for learning to eat, as well as iron and allergen introduction, and thus not really worrying about how much solids he ate at this age, as long as it was being offered.
My doctor really surprised me by saying the following:
1) breast milk after 6 months is “just a drink” he solids should be his primary source of calories and nutrients (I thought this was after 12 months?). He should have 3 meals per day already (we do 2, working up to 3).
2) he needs to be night weaned immediately as nursing overnight means he’s taking too much milk and won’t be hungry for solids. (He nurses 1-2 times over night, which I thought was pretty common for his age).
3) offer solids when he’s hungry, before breast milk, so he doesn’t fill up on breast milk (I thought he’s supposed to have milk first as it’s more nutrient dense…also he’s crabby when he’s hungry and doesn’t know solids will make him full, so idk if he’d want to eat)
4) he should have infant cereals twice per day to get enough iron, these should be spoon fed rather than used for grip on slippery foods (e.g. avocado rolled in cereal), to avoid choking hazards. Other sources of iron just aren’t good enough. (I prefer to offer a variety as part of a BLW approach, he’s pretty good at self feeding)
All this advice really caught me off guard, and seems really old school and the opposite of what I’d read and what other moms I know have done. My doctor is GP who cares for the whole family, not a paediatrician.
I’m looking for sources to bring up in my next discussion with my doctor, to potentially challenge her on these points. She is very authoritative, and I don’t expect it to be a productive discussion if I don’t have sources to back up my questions (yes I know this isn’t how doctors should act, but I live in Ontario so having a family doctor is a privilege unfortunately, and paediatricians aren’t common). OR IF I’M WRONG THAT’S OKAY - I just haven’t been able to find official information backing up what she said, but if it’s out there please send it my way to clear up my confusion.
Thanks!
