Breastfeeding 7 Month Old and Solids

I am breastfeeding my third child now. I have always read that you should breastfeed first and then supplement with the baby food. Also while a child is breastfeeding they do not need any water. I started giving water in a sippy cup with meals to get the baby used to a sippy cup. This was more when my boys were old enough to have some finger foods and cup. I hope that this helps.

If he's that big at 7 months (my 13 mo isn't even that big yet!), he's fine. Nurse him first, then feed solids, whatever he wants. If he's still peeing enough, he doesn't need much water, but it would be a good idea to get him used to the taste of it. My son doesn't like plain water, so I have to get creative. Maybe if I'd given him water when he was younger, it wouldn't be a problem now...

Sounds like you're doing a great job! :)

Way to go with the breastfeeding :)
Your son should still get most of his nutrition from breastmilk, until he's about a year old (give or take, all babies are different). I would just go with what you both are comfortable with. My son went in phases, really liking solids and then one or two weeks of primarily breastfeeding.
The important part is that you are breastfeeding. The solids I think just serve as a "getting used to it" type of thing.
Good job!

I have an EBF 7.5 month old. He seems pretty healthy to me. I personally am in no rush on the solids because he doesn't seem to be particular about foods (when I give him itsy bitsy tastes of my fruit and veggies) and because I have a sensitive milk supply. Anyhow, I once asked the pedi about water because my MIL was insistent that this was common practice. His response was - the baby gets all the hydration he needs from you. If you give him water, you are filling his belly with empty calories and in turn he will demand less milk from you. Since my MIL is much older (76), I imagine that the urgency to give breastfed babies water is a bit of a dated concept.

Alice-

Here's a website from the American Academy of Pediatrics that should answer your questions.
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/f...

At 7 months, our kids were primarily on breast milk/formula. But, we were introducing more and more solids as they will quickly shift to that as the primary food source in a few months.

We never gave our kids water at that age - no reason, we just preferred to keep their main source of liquid breast milk (for our son), formula (for our daughter).

I'd honestly ask your pediatrician what their recommendation is as well. Our pediatrician was very opinionated but very liberal on when to introduce solids, what kinds (which changed between kids only 21 months apart), etc.

Our son got ONLY breastmilk till he was 9 months old. And yes, it felt like he was nursing a lot........LOL.

Do not give him water on a regular basis yet. It's okay to introduce it in a sippy but at this age MOST of his nutrition should be breastmilk or formula.

A lot of people feed their babies solids 2 to 3 times a day at this age BUT again, it is not necessary.

My son will be six months old next week and here's his estimated schedule for eating:

5am: Breast
730: Cereal/fruit at daycare (1/2 jar and a few tsp cereal)
3x during day: 4-5 oz breastmilk or formula
Around 12: Veggie (1/2 - 1 jar)
Around 4/5pm: Breast / 1 jar baby food (usually do 1/2 fruit / 1/2 veggie)
7pm: Breast then off to bed

Sometimes he eats more often (milk) but usually food wise he's eating 2-3 jars a day. I think he's a hungry baby though. He's 18 lbs (sounds like your son is doing just fine!). I don't give my son water but have given him sips of juice (V8 Fusion) mixed with equal parts water but he doesn't seem to like it so I'm not pushing juice with him.

You and he sound like you are doing great. You are doing exactly the right things, following your baby's cues. He needs no water at this age. Your milk is pleny of hydration for him. Food is just for fun at his age and should never be substituted for a nursing session. You are doing just great and great job for breastfeeding your baby. It's an invaluble thing you are doing for him.

I wouldn't really give much water at all if any. Maybe a 4 ounce serving once a day after he eats or between meals, not before because it has the tendency to fill their little bellies up. If the urine in his diaper looks dark yellow, then you may want to make sure he gets a 6 oz serving a day.
As for the food, when my daughter was that age, she nursed when we woke up at 7 or so, 10, maybe a little after a solid food lunch, nursed a little again at about 4, solid food dinner at 5 or so, then nursed again before bed.
She would nurse for AT LEAST 15 minutes on each side.

MIne had to start on rice and solids early too. By 7 months he was on breast milk with fruits, veggies and starches from the organic baby food section. I stayed away from proteins because they can be hard on the little systems. Mine is now a 12 year old healthy eater - stays away from junk food and eats plenty of fruits and veggies. He is also super healthy so for him this worked out fine. Good luck, having been raised around girls, I had no idea how much a boy would eat. But it's worth it to go for the healthy and organic foods at this age, it sets the stage for the rest of his life.

At that age both my boys were still mostly formula fed (couldn't breastfeed). I gave them a vegetable or fruit at "lunch" and cereal with "dinner". I held off on juice and water until 1yr.