The One-Year Mark
July 24, 2009 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under mothering
Last week my family celebrated my daughter’s first birthday and this week my husband and I celebrated 15 years of marriage (nearly 21 years together since our days as high school sweethearts!) So let’s talk numbers!
My one-year-old on her birthday!
My nursling now joins the 21.4% of American babies that are breastfeeding at the one-year mark according to the National Immunization Survey breastfeeding statistics. She falls at the 75th and 80th percentiles for height and weight, which puts her right in between her oldest sister who always topped out at the 95th and her other sister who hovered around the 50th.
If I add up all the months I have been breastfeeding — from this precious moment with my first born, through this funny moment with my second nursing toddler, up to my third baby — I have been lactating for seven years now, which is about 19% of my life. I have to say, that gives me a certain sense of accomplishment. It’s not because my nurslings and I breastfed for any particular length of time or met any particular milestone, but because I have the satisfaction of knowing I worked hard to overcome the challenges I faced along the way — the challenges that inspired me to start blogging about breastfeeding — and because I have had the satisfaction of providing my milk for my babies.
Hi,
Your daughter is so cute!! I was wondering if you could help me. I am a first-time mom and my son is now 17 months old. I have been breastfeeding him this entire time and plan on nursing him until he weans naturally. The problem (or I guess it’s more of a worry that I have) is that my son still has not eaten ANY solid foods at all. He will put them in his mouth, but then spit them out instead of swallowing. So for the first 17 months of his life, he has only had breast milk. He is currently only in the 9th percentile and everyone ALWAYS tells me how “tiny” he is, or “oh he is sooo small”. He weighs 19.5 lbs and is 29 inches tall. At what age did you start feeding your children solids? What is the right age? Sorry for my ignorance. I just found your blog and I was wondering if u could help me? Thank u sooo much,
Saleema
Hi Saleema,
You might find these articles helpful:
Exclusive Breastfeeding beyond Six Months
Tips for When Your Baby Resists Solid Food
Of course you should also consult your child’s pediatrician and consider any physical or other causes why your son rejects solids.
Good luck!
Happy birthday!
She’s too sweet!!
What a sweet baby girl..
I nursed my first born for 22month (until I discovered I was prego again) ouch!
I tried feeding her a little cereal at 6mo..(just for fun) she was not interested..I tried at about 8mo..and just kind of played with it..
NO forced feeding..When she was ready for solids she let me know..However nursing was her main source of nutirtion along with vitamines until she was one..After a year we just took introducing food slowly..
Number 2 was not as interested in nursing so he only nursed until about 18 mo
BUt the food process was about the same..
God Bless all the moms who are successful at nursing their little ones..and for those who are not successful..God Bless you too..As mothers we need to love and support one another no matter which road we take.