Tips for NOT Starting Solids Before Your Baby is Ready this Holiday

From the BreastReading Blog "The Breastfeeding Mother's Quick Guide to Surviving the Holidays"

Tips for NOT Starting Solids Before Your Baby is Ready this Holiday
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For even the most conscious of us it can be hard to resist not commemorating baby's first holidays with a milestone-memory. All too often, though, parents or well-intentioned family members want a sweet baby to experience the coming of age of starting solids or starting a food their body isn't able to properly handle. I get quite a few calls after the holidays from concerned mothers who didn't resist the temptation to wait until their baby was ready to start solids, or from frustrated moms whose cousin-in-law offered their baby ice-cream. Whether the temptation is on your part or on a friend or family members', if a baby's gut isn't ready even "just a taste" of something from the holiday table can lead you anywhere from gassiness to full on allergic reaction and an emergency room visit.

First, remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that babies be givenonly breastmilk (or formula) when they are mature enough.

Even if your baby is old enough and ready to start exploring new foods (see last hyperlink for readiness cues), ask yourself the following:

•How many ingredients does this food have? Starting with one-ingredient foods (for example, yams only) will help you identify causes of reactions better than wondering if the reaction came, for example, from the yams, the butter or the marshmallows. What if your baby isn't ready for eggs or dairy, yet you're tempered to offer your baby a bite of that cookie you're eating?

It's a good idea, too, to chat with your partner or support people about resisting the temptations and about being vigilant that others don't offer your baby food they aren't ready for. In fact, lt them know that there's only potential benefit to starting holiday solids before your baby is ready...and that's that they'll get to stay up with your baby all night and be able to catch a glimpse of Santa. ;)

​Did you find these topics helpful? What other holiday survival advice could you use? And if you have some to share, please comment below!

I wish you and your babies the absolute breast this holiday season! 🎄