How much food should I give my breastfed 6 month old?

Question

He is about to turn 6 months old and he is a real little piggy! It often seems he would rather eat than nurse. He will refuse to nurse and then cry for food. He eats a lot of peaches, pears, tofu, avocado, pumpkin and healthy stuff like that. But how can I make sure he is nursing enough? His older brother nursed as often and as long as possible (he did quit when he was 2) so I am surprised his baby brother doesn't seem to want it as much.

Answer 1

Wow, that's a lot of food! Have you tried breast compressions when he's nursing to make sure he gets more? Also, offer food only after he nurses. Hopefully that will decrease the amount of solids he wants so he'll have more breastmilk in his diet. Really breastmilk should be 90-100% of his nutrition at this age, and by a year breastmilk should still make up the majority of his diet.

Answer 2

You need to get more breast milk in him and less food because it is full of nutrients and helps his immune system. Nurse him a lot and take away the food except for cereal and a little fruit or veg.

You are not supposed to start feeding a child around 7 or 9 months and then introduce very slowly one food at a time in case the child has allergies or digestive problems.

Answer 3

As long as he's eating healthy that's all that matters. You could always mix in b-milk in with his food. Each baby is an individual after all. Enjoy his personality

Answer 4

At only 6 mos, foods are for fun and practice. He should still have breastfeeding as his main source of nutrition. At 6 mos, my kids didn't even get solid foods every day yet.

Answer 5

try pumping you breast milk and give it to him in a bottle or sippy cup with a soft tip.