Parents wishing to use a pacifier may benefit from education about alternative methods to comfort infants, the importance of frequent suckling in establishing and maintaining milk supplies, and the benefits of full breastfeeding during the first 6 months of life and thereafter with the
appropriate addition of solid foods for at least 12 months.
Your doctor may suggest
the addition of solid foods to your baby's diet around this time.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and that mothers continue breastfeeding with
the addition of solid foods through age two.
Because of its ability to protect against a wide variety of diseases in infants and children, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life, followed by breastfeeding with
the addition of solid foods until at least one year, with the continuation of breastfeeding for as long as is desired by the mother and baby.
Many of us — I was one of these parents — are hoping that
the addition of solid foods will be the magic bullet that makes our babies sleep through the night!
Because of
the addition of solid food, Baby's dependence on milk as a primary source of nutrients drops, however intake of milk is still important at snack time and before bed.
Then, as children grow, breastfeeding continues to be a nutritious part of a child's diet alongside
the addition of solid foods.
The addition of solid foods at this time is also helpful.
Breastfeeding Along With Complementary Foods: Breastfeeding along with
the addition of solid foods is called complementary feeding.