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Thats so odd, I've never heard of the recommedation for when to start solids varying from breast fed to formula fed babies. We formula fed, but plenty of my friends breast fed and we all received the same general recommedation to wait until 6 months, but if you felt your baby was ready it was ok to start a little earlier. We started playing around with solds at 5.5 months.

Sending hugs to you.

My LO was EFF too - like you, I didn't produce milk - and I was pretty f*cked up about it for a while. It does get easier with time, I promise, and FWIW my 16 month old is anything but obese!

As for the question, I have no idea! It seems pretty weird to me!

Well, first of all: hugs! I know how much you would've liked breastfeeding to have worked but you have in no way failed E! My C was formula fed from 5 months on (lost milk with my second pregnancy) and was EFF from 8 months on and he is perfect (I'm not biased I swear hehe!) and not overweight.

That said he started solids at 4 months while he was still EBF because he was SO curious and wanted to! I let him lead us in that area and it worked out well - he is a great eater now at 17 months and we've never had digestive problems, etc. M is EBF and 4 months and is showing absolutely no signs of readiness or interest when it comes to solids - I don't even think she knows what food is.

My point is I think all kids are different and it has absolutely nothing to do with EBF or EFF. They are both great options for feeding your baby. Formula babies thrive just as much as BF babies, that's for sure.

I have never heard that breastfed babies should wait until 6 months while formula fed babies can start earlier. My ped also gave us the go ahead at 4 months but we decided to wait because the latest research says that their gut is more developed and ready at that point (plus we did BLW so we had to wait until then anyway).

Babies do not NEED solids at 4 months (with the exception of pretty rare circumstances). They get all of their nutrition from formula or breastmilk.

Hugs mama. I'm right there with you. T was EBF for 9 months and we just started EFF basically because he is underweight. I'm having the same feelings. But I also feel bad that I didn't start sooner.

Formula absolutely provides proper nutrition, so please don't let that get into your head! The recommendation varies from pediatrician to pediatrician. I was only partially breastfeeding my LO at 4 months, and his pediatrician still said I could start solids at that point, as long as he was showing an interest in eating solid foods and could sit up assisted. We started at about 4.5 months with oatmeal cereal, and he loved it.

I had a lot of guilt as well, I started losing my supply at 3-4 months due to stress, and I was probably losing it sooner than that, because LO dropped off the scales for weight. I started EFF him right before he turned 5 months and he did so well on it! I told his pediatrician how guilty I felt, and she looked at me like I was crazy, haha. I think the internet can really play into guilt over formula feeding, because "in real life" most babies are formula fed. Please don't feel guilty!

FWIW, I was 100% formula fed, and I am healthy and not overweight.

In my area they recommend BFing moms only starting at 6 months because they don't want to interfere with moms supply and the hospitals get more $$$ if their exclusive BFing rates are high. It sucks that it translates into guilting moms who can't/don't want to bf.

I combo fed my dd and switched to FFing exclusively at 6 months. She is healthy, happy and so smart!

@cookiemomster: This is so ridiculous to me. A happy healthy mommy is what is best for baby, regardless of what he or she is fed.

My brother was ff and I was ebf. He's thin and I'm overweight. So there goes that theory.

In all seriousness--you're doing great. Your baby is healthy. You have not failed.

@cookiemomster: i had read whilst researching (can't remember where) that ages ago when FF was very popular BUT formula was pretty crap. It was recommended that FF babies start solids earlier because they weren't getting enough nutrients so this is maybe where all the stuff you are reading is coming from.
However, tge same article said that this is now outdated because formula is not what it used to be and FF babies are better sticking to their milk just like breast fed because they are both providing more nutrients than solids.
So basically the advice that FF and BF babies should be treated differently is outdated, early formula was pretty terrible stuff.

@cookiemomster: the only thing I have heard is that it's good for FF babies to get used to different flavors sooner, since formula always tastes the same but BM varies based on moms diet. (Like @Mrs. Champagne: said).
C was EBF and our ped gave me the go ahead to start whenever I thought she was ready, at her 4 month spot. we started closer to six months because she didn't seem ready before, that's all.

@blackbird: I totally agree that introducing them to healthy eating for a lifetime is way more important than Breast milk or formula!

I'm not sure what the reason is, I've never heard that. But it's hard to google anything about formula feeding vs. breast feeding and have the info not be distorted by the opinion of whoever wrote it.

@cookiemomster: This is not about your solids question, but I just want to let you know that I am one of 6 kids and my mother fed the first 2 the old-fashioned combo of "formula" that mothers made at home in the 60's-70's (Canned condensed milk + whole milk+ Karo syrup). Then she fed the 3rd child raw cow's milk starting at 3 months. Then store-bought formula for kid #5. Then breastfed me (kid #5) and my little sister (#6).

The oldest and the 3rd kid have never struggled with weight. The 2nd, 4th, and 5th (me!) have (and I was breastfed). And one of us struggles with severe mental issues (my little sister, also breastfed).

SO breast milk can be convenient for some, but it's not some magical liquid that will guard against illnesses and obesity.

I just wanted to tell you I know how you feel. We've been supplementing our LO since 2 weeks old. She's now 10 months, and exclusively on formula. The guilt is overwhelming at times. Just know, formula is not poison. Formula is keeping our babies alive!!

We chose to wait until 7 months to introduce food, as we wanted her digestive tract to be closed and really ready. Every now and then, a friend will post something about "poison formula" on FB, and it hurts ... But like you said about your doctors, a lot of wonderful people were formula fed, and that makes me feel better.

You're amazing, and strong. It gets better, and easier!!

@cookiemomster: I have soooo many thoughts on this subject. You are amazing and you know why? Becuse you are feeding your baby and are concerned about your baby's well being. End of story. Formula, breast, whatever. You are a great mom. I wrote about the tough parts of the "breast is best" mantra on the HB blog a while back: http://www.hellobee.com/2013/06/19/why-i-think-formula-is-awesome/

As for the ff vs bf solids, sounds like internet crazy to me. Start now or at 6 months - whenever you and your baby are ready.

BF propaganda really infuriates me. I wanted to BF so badly after I had my daughter and couldn't because of her mouth issues. I pumped, but not every woman responds well! But seriously, don't listen to the online propaganda and don't feel bad.

BM is beautiful and everything, but if you think about it, moms can be deficient in certain vitamins, which can affect BM. Diet affects BM no matter what some people say, which is why some BFing moms have to give up certain foods like spicy foods and dairy. Formula doesn't need to be added to or supplemented -- it has the recommended amount of vitamins and minerals in every serving. This is why formula was invented: to save babies and feed them when BM isn't a choice or option. You are feeding your baby -- THAT is what's important. Formula isn't poison and it isn't going to make your baby fat. It's remarkable how much we focus on what constitutes less than a year (or in some cases, 2 years at most) of a baby's life. Teaching your infant/toddler/child/adolescent proper eating techniques and healthy eating is more important than breastfeeding or formula feeding. Formula might be a bit tougher on the digestive system, but there is no COMPLETELY CONCLUSIVE evidence that states it's poison. Just sucks that we use GMOs and such in it

I've seen tons of infants and toddlers fed crap after being weaned from BM, like BM set them up for life or something. SO not true!

Anyway. I've never heard of a difference in solids, just that you should start your baby when they're sitting with assistance, interested, not pushing things out of their mouth with that certain reflex, etc. I think that depends on the baby, so some (like my baby) can sit at 4 months and start solids while others sit at 6 months? IDK! It would interesting to compare.

I want to extend so many hugs. In the beginning, I wanted to pump and got into this funk about not being able to nurse that nearly killed my self worth and mental health. I cried all the time. I wish you the best with this and just want to say that you're a great mom and doing the best you can