Some parents choose to introduce solids by letting their baby eat pieces of food on their own. This practice is called baby-led weaning, or BLW, and it can work for most babies. However, certain criteria must be met before you start. Your baby must be

Breastfeeding is not always easy, and for some women it can be downright difficult. Even with excellent support and specialized assistance, your breastfeeding experience might not live up to your expectations. Some women cope well with these difficulties, while others feel sad and frustrated or even guilty because they cannot achieve the goals they set for themselves. Successful breastfeeding depends on a number of factors that you can’t always control.

There is an ever-expanding array of breastfeeding accessories on the market—from breast pumps, nursing bras, and pillows to nursing pads and more. None of them are essential, and some can even interfere with breastfeeding.

However, reusable or disposable nursing pads may be useful if your breast milk leaks. A nursing bra isn’t necessary either, but can be very practical. If you’re thinking about getting a breast pump, community breastfeeding support organizations are an excellent source of information when the time comes to choose one.