For how Long should i exclusively breastfeed??

Question

My mom told me that it was recomended to do it for 6 months but that was when i was born (21 years ago) Is it still the same?

& should i not give him anything but breast milk for 6 months or is tea/water good too?? I have lots of questions =]

i am 33 wks pregnant with my 1st baby, a little boy <3

Thank you && God Bless

I plan on breastfeeding for 9mo-1year..

But just wanted to know when to start giving him solids & other stuff too

Answer 1

Great for you!!! The AAP recommends at least a year of breastfeeding, while the WHO recommends at least two years. Any breastfeeding is better than none at all, though. I breastfed my son until he weaned himself at 14 months old. Don't let anyone tell you it's too long, or that you have to wean when he gets teeth. My son got his first teeth at just shy of 8 months, and I breastfed for over 6 months longer. And yes, my nipples are still intact =) They can be easily taught not to bite.
No, they should not have anything else before 6 months. It's fine to introduce solids at 6 months, but all a baby really NEEDS for the first year is breast milk. Any solids the baby has before the first birthday are just for practice, not for nutrition.
I would suggest contacting your local chapter of La Leche League. They can give you lots of support and advice on anything to do with nursing. We even had a support group here for nursing mothers, which was great. It was wonderful to get to socialize with other moms who understood breastfeeding, and to discuss certain issues with them.
Again, kudos for you for deciding to give your baby the very best. Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 2

Hey, My mom had 7 kids. The first three she breastfed exclusively for six months and then added solid foods while continuing to breastfeed for one year. The last four she decided to breastfeed exclusively for a year and introduce solid foods after that. We all turned out fine without any health problems. However, the four that were exclusively breastfed have had almost no weight problems, where the first three have had trouble keeping their weight down.... possibly a coincidence, but who knows. So it really can be a choice that you make while following your child's lead. If they do not seem satisfied or aren't growing right, you may need to add solid foods....but as long as the mom is eating healthy her milk will provide what the child needs. My mom also said that at one year they can practically go right to real "solid" foods, without have to mash or blend things up or feed them baby food. So they don't really need those six months of practicing how to chew... I just had a baby seven weeks ago and I am planning on exclusively breastfeed for a year. I am already planning what to say to doctors and others who think it is wrong. But in all honesty it is my choice and I know it is the right one! Good luck! Glad to know you are planning to breastfeed. It really is the best!

Answer 3

The recommendation is exclusive breastfeeding (ie: NOTHING but mamma-milk) for the first six months.

Starting around six months, solids should gradually be introduced.

The World Health Organization recommends continuing breastfeeding for a minimum of two years, longer if possible.

When my son (now 3) was about six months and was eating solids, I'd let him have a sip or two of my tea. In this country, we're paranoid about caffiene. In the East, tea is a normal part of life. I was give tea as a very young child whenever I was ill. Your call, but he should still be getting most of his fluids (and, indeed, nutrition!) from your body for the first year.

Teeth are not a big worry... My son nursed with all his teeth in, no problem. My little girl's cutting her first two right now.

When they bite, tell them, "No biting" and end the feeding. It won't last more than a day -- they learn fast when milk is at stake!

Answer 4

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding (nothing else, just breastmilk) for the first six months and then continue to breastfeed (with other foods as well) until one year. The World Health Organization recommends continued breastfeeding for the first two years. You can check it out for yourself at www.who.org and www.aap.org. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Editted to add the following- The whole tooth thing is rediculous! Babies don't generally bite when breastfeeding and if they do, they only do it once or twice if you react correctly. I've breastfed all 3 of my kids. The youngest is nearly 2 and still doing it. She has a full mouth of teeth and doesn't bite! It doesn't hurt either!

Answer 5

It is currently recommended that you exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, however every baby is different. Some babies may need to wean a little earlier others a little later. It is now believed that a baby can manage solely on breast milk for up to a year. The reason for this is because breast milk has plenty of natural iron in it. It is more easily absorbed by the body whereas artificial iron that is put into formula is not easily absorbed in the body, so after about 6 months the baby would start to run low on iron supplies. Get as much advice as you can before the baby is born, breastfeeding is wonderful but it can be tricky to get the hang of at first. It would also be worth finding out if there are any breastfeeding supporters and groups in your area, you never know. I have just finished my training as a supporter working for surestart in the UK, so if you have any questions please feel free to email me before or after your baby arrives. Good luck and Congratulations xx

Answer 6

Nothing but breastmilk for the first 6 months definitely, then you may be able to try juice after that. But, I would recommend breastfeeding as long as possible. A year to two years is ideal, but do whatever you feel comfortable with, not what someone else says.

Answer 7

nothing but your milk until 6 months

never give a baby tea very bad for them
tea after age 2 its full of caffeine
at 6 months start cereal and keep breastfeeding talk to your babys doctor after the baby is born

Answer 8

6 months minimum... you can (it's not mandatory) add solids at 6 months, you can (again not mandatory) add whole cow or soy milk at 12 months.

BUT... at 6 months, the breastmilk should still be like 95% of the baby's diet... solids should be just some treats, snacks, not full heavy meals until closer to a year... and ideally breastfeeding would also go beyond 12 months.

best breastfeeding site: http://kellymom.com/bf/index.html

Answer 9

Your mother is right. The best thing for his first six months is breastmilk. Don't give him anything else except tylenol and pedialyte if he needs it. At six months, you can start introducing baby food, but you should try to continue breastfeeding through his first year.

Good luck.

Answer 10

From a nurisment stand point, you can exclusively breast feed for more than a year.

But from a practical point, you will likely breastfeed exclusively for only 4 months. At that point, your baby will have lost the tough reflex and you will be ready to begin solids (i.e. infant cereal) to start the transition to normal adult foods.

At first, the solids will just be a 'play' thing to get him used to eating solids, the real nurishment will continue to come from breast milk.

By the time 6 months is up, you will have likely already progressed in eating solids that you are probably feeding #2 baby foods. They will be more like a suppliment, while the main nutrition continues to come from breast milk.

Between 6 to 9 months, some of the solids will begin to substitute for some of the breast milk, and breastfeeding will begin wane.

Sometime between 9 to 12 months, you'll likely drop breast feeding all together as regular adult food (like bread, cherios, and soft foods) are introduced in addition to the #2 baby foods.

By 15 months, you will likely be cutting out the baby foods all together and feeding your baby exclusively adult foods.

It will all be a gradual process, and the exact times of everything I'm saying will vary based on how fast you try to introduce new foods and how redily the baby will take to new foods.