It is perfectly appropriate to offer the breast before solids during the
first year of life.  Solids are required in small quantities at this age
(10 months), even at 12 months, human milk should make up 50-75% of a
child's calories.  Human milk is a complete food, solids offer some
nutrients and need to be eaten in great variety to supply all needed
macronutrients and micronutrients.  The most important function of
offering solids in the second half of the first year is for practice, so
the child gets used to eating gradually before they need to rely solely
on solids for nutrition.  Encourage mom to offer attractive, bite-sized
fingerfoods such as whole peas, grains of rice, bits of meat or
vegetables at mealtimes when the rest of the family sits down.  Many
older babies don't like pureed, tasteless "baby" foods, but will eat
some of the family dinner.  Some babies normally eat fewer solids than
others, breastmilk gives them the cushion they need to increase their
solid intake slowly.  The other point that is important to remember is
that babies maintain energy balance: solids replace breastmilk, calorie
for calorie.  It is not desirable to replace a complete food with an
incomplete one before the child is able to eat a wide variety of solids.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  mailto:[log in to unmask]