Hi there
It's difficult isn't it? It's the time in your life where you last feel like a confrontation and additional stress!
You are doing a great job in looking out for your little one's interests.
The question is how to handle this touchy situation.
My story is that my parents were a little the same. They were not malicious but simply had been taught, when we were little that we should start solids at 3 months! They still have a hard time believing that Zac and I are still continuing our BF relationship at a bit over 6 months.
On my part it took a little "reeducation". I dreaded it. But I spoke to My health nurse who gave me some hand outs about the whole solids thing which included a blurb about the babes not needing any additional nutrition until 6 months and solids initially it being about discovery rather than nutrition and to keep sugar and salt and the extras out of their diets for as long as possible etc etc.
I ended up sitting down with my mum and dad (and nanna as she kept saying "you are not putting that boy on the TIT again" (which I now LAUGH about but at the time was not too funny)and chatting through the brochure.
They now understand that I would like to try and BF to 12 months at least and that solids are at this early stage a bit of a side issue. It was probably one of the first adult conversations I have had with them (previously when in dispute everyone was inclined to get a bit defensive and yell/storm out etc...) I think having a document with some facts and figures from a reputable source helped enormously. My husband was present when we had the chat and was very supportive too.
Now that Z has started solids I do prepare/provide the food I would like him to eat whilst in their care and encourage them to care for him at my home so that they can avoid the temptation to stray from my desire to keep to the basics at this early stage.
Whilst my little cherub seldom likes to drink from the bottle I also try and keep a little EBM in the freezer just in case something happens and I need to have him looked after at short notice. Sometimes it takes me a number of feeds to build up that little bit extra. If it is any help I have found it easier to EBM in the morn when Z is playing in front of me watching him helps the let down!
If a more gentle approach to this problem does not work the only option in the short term may be to find alternate baby sitters and work at your parents caring for your little one in your care so you can as Ryn suggests, supervise their feeding relationship with your little one.
Good luck
Belinda
PS if you need I could probably dig out the brochures I used and send them through to you by post.