Don't Be A Weaner.
I have always had it in my head that I would let my baby breastfeed as long as he wants to. That means I have no plans to wean him.
We have introduced solids, once a day, a new food each week. But he really isn't THAT into it. yet. Once a day, in the afternoon, we set him up in the chair with the bib and we get the baby spoon out and spoon feed him. First we did oatmeal cereal, then we tried carrots and sweet potatoes and just yesterday we tried apples. We have stuck with organic so far, not that we follow a completely organic diet ourselves but if the option is there, we figured we would just choose that as it is the simplest ingredients. I have had every intention of making my own baby food, but at this point in time, he is not eating enough for it to be worth making it myself in a big batch. We can get a small jar of Beech Nut for 50 cents at the local Walmart. And even the smallest jar doesn't get finished, since you have to use it within 2 days after opening, and the baby just doesn't quite each that much yet.
So where am I going with this post... I have been thinking more and more about this lately. 'This' being the idea that I am not going to wean him off breastfeeding. I am going to let him self wean. He can decide when he is finished and if that is not til he is 2 years old... SO WHAT?!
There is such a stigma against extended breastfeeding in this country, it really is ridiculous. Along with the idea that babies should be weaned by 1, there is also wildly inaccurate information circulating within peoples minds. The thought that people think breast milk isn't the optimal nutrients is insane. The negatively that I have heard about: "yeah, you'll wean when he bites you."...what if he doesn't bite?! there is nothing to suggest that he absolutely will bite. ?!!!!
Or I hear things like: "well you won't be able to keep up with the breastfeeding when he needs more fat and calories and nutrients"....Well obviously I am not going to give him ONLY breast milk for the rest of time. Of course breast milk will be in addition to solids. That's just silly.
THIS says it all.
Breastfeeding is recommended as the PRIMARY nutrition for the first year of life. Which means you breastfeed first and then offer solids. After that, it is recommended that breastfeeding continues in addition to solids for as long as desired. Which means the baby will eat solids and then breastfeed as much as he wants to.
I don't understand why this is such a hard topic for people to wrap their heads around. Breast Milk is the absolute best option for babies. period.
clearly I am having strong feelings about this and just had to write about it. I like to say I am a lactivist and this post is just something I had to say.
love & light.
We have introduced solids, once a day, a new food each week. But he really isn't THAT into it. yet. Once a day, in the afternoon, we set him up in the chair with the bib and we get the baby spoon out and spoon feed him. First we did oatmeal cereal, then we tried carrots and sweet potatoes and just yesterday we tried apples. We have stuck with organic so far, not that we follow a completely organic diet ourselves but if the option is there, we figured we would just choose that as it is the simplest ingredients. I have had every intention of making my own baby food, but at this point in time, he is not eating enough for it to be worth making it myself in a big batch. We can get a small jar of Beech Nut for 50 cents at the local Walmart. And even the smallest jar doesn't get finished, since you have to use it within 2 days after opening, and the baby just doesn't quite each that much yet.
So where am I going with this post... I have been thinking more and more about this lately. 'This' being the idea that I am not going to wean him off breastfeeding. I am going to let him self wean. He can decide when he is finished and if that is not til he is 2 years old... SO WHAT?!
There is such a stigma against extended breastfeeding in this country, it really is ridiculous. Along with the idea that babies should be weaned by 1, there is also wildly inaccurate information circulating within peoples minds. The thought that people think breast milk isn't the optimal nutrients is insane. The negatively that I have heard about: "yeah, you'll wean when he bites you."...what if he doesn't bite?! there is nothing to suggest that he absolutely will bite. ?!!!!
Or I hear things like: "well you won't be able to keep up with the breastfeeding when he needs more fat and calories and nutrients"....Well obviously I am not going to give him ONLY breast milk for the rest of time. Of course breast milk will be in addition to solids. That's just silly.
THIS says it all.
Breastfeeding is recommended as the PRIMARY nutrition for the first year of life. Which means you breastfeed first and then offer solids. After that, it is recommended that breastfeeding continues in addition to solids for as long as desired. Which means the baby will eat solids and then breastfeed as much as he wants to.
I don't understand why this is such a hard topic for people to wrap their heads around. Breast Milk is the absolute best option for babies. period.
clearly I am having strong feelings about this and just had to write about it. I like to say I am a lactivist and this post is just something I had to say.
love & light.
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