This is a question a mother asked me.

Q: Hello Dr Ketch, my baby is 10 months old. She doesn’t like baby food… not even milk. She takes very little solid food. My mother-in-law is telling me to stop breastfeeding so she can eat properly. I did exclusive breastfeeding for 7 months. What should I do?

A: First of all, well done for exclusively breastfeeding your baby. That is a big deal!

Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs in the first 6 months of life and also helps build strong immunity. That is why we strongly recommend it.

However, after 6 months, babies need additional foods, especially because breast milk alone does not provide enough iron at this stage.

Now to your concern…

You do NOT need to stop breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is recommended up to 2 years.

What you are experiencing is actually quite common.

Many babies resist weaning. They are used to breast milk and may initially reject new foods, textures and tastes. Even adults resist change, so imagine a baby

Exclusively breastfed babies usually look very healthy as they eat and absorb all the delicious nutrients in breast milk.

What you should do:

• Continue breastfeeding

• Offer a variety of healthy foods

• Be patient and consistent

• Introduce one new food at a time

• Avoid relying on processed foods

Weaning is not always easy, but it is very important and requires patience.

Explain to your mother-in-law, very gently, that breastfeeding is not the problem. In fact, it is beneficial and should continue alongside proper weaning

So, do not stop breastfeeding to “force” your baby to eat