Can babies LOSE weight on solids?

[besjoux]

I am EBF right now and am going to start solids soon. My LO is 5 months old next week. I'd like to start cereal soon but what can I do to ensure that he doesn't slow his weight gain? I only ask because he went from the 25% to the 4th in both weight and height. He is otherwise very healthy and meeting all milesstones. I also don't want my supply to go down but I am going to pump a bit more to get some BM for the cereal and other foods (to thin them). Any other tips?

My doctor gave me a handout and some things surprised me.....
1) you can start meats after 6 months (I think that was a bit early).
2) it recommended fruits but I always thought to hold off on fruits so that my LO will eat veggies (some prefer only fruit).

[anna*]

The main thing is to make sure that his solids are in addition to, not replacing, milk. He should definitely still be having just as much milk when he starts on solids as he is now, and won't drop any milk feeds at all for several months. Remember that food before one is just for fun!!

[besjoux]

OK, sound good to me. I LOVE BFing anyways so I am ok with that. Say, do they tend to eat less breastmilk once I get started? How can I be sure he eats as much as he is now? It's hard for me to guage and I am asking now so that we don't have problems down the road.

[anna*]

The main way is to offer BF at your normal times, and then do solids an hour or so later. That way your LO will take all the milk he needs when he is hungry, and solids are actually just an Activity for now, experiments with new tastes.

In the beginning, solids are just a taste, he probably won't take any real volume for several weeks at least, and even then, pureed vegetables and fruit don't have fats and lots of calories in them like BM does. As he gradually starts to eat more, he will naturally start to take less milk. I really don't think it's something you need to worry about.