need advice on giving milk after stopping breast feeding...

Chelsea - posted on 10/24/2009

I forget to mention that formula is not supposed to be used past 12 months of age so regarless of what you choose formula should not even be an option.

Johnny - posted on 10/24/2009

I'm still nursing my 14 month old daughter several times a day, she's a booby nut. But I have always had low milk supply, and now that she's nursing less frequently and that I'm back at work unable to pump more often, my supply has dipped. So I've started giving her whole cow's milk at meal times only, which is what my LLL leader and my doctor recommended. If a child is getting a good round diet, there is no need for formula at this age (I totally agree with you about the stuff). By giving it to her at meals, it's not replacing what would otherwise be a breastfeed (or pumped milk when I'm at work). And if you are hoping that she'll start BFing again, you'll probably want to avoid specifically replacing your nursing with something else. Good luck!

Chelsea - posted on 10/24/2009

I would suggest that you keep offering but not forcing. You can also pump and give it to her in a sippy cup. I would not recommend giving milk because hoenstly it is not meant for humans and so many young children have allergies to it. It is also hard to digest and can cause stomach upset. Just give water in a sippy cup all throughout the day to head of dehydration. Keep the foods she eats nutrient dense.

Amber - posted on 10/24/2009

you could pump and give it to her in a cup...that way she still gets the nutrients and doesnt have to use formula or cow's milk.

Kathy - posted on 10/24/2009

I would still offer the breast to her. She doesn't need formula though. Vitamin D whole milk and expressed breastmilk plus solids is what I would do. Just keep the breast as an option for her.

Michelle - posted on 10/24/2009

Id recommend asking her pediatrician. If you pump will she drink from a sippy cup? I've heard of whole milk because they need the fat. LOL, reminds me when my grandma told me "formula" when my folks were babies was whole cows milk with karo syrup and molasses! (scary...can't even imagine the flavor! EW) Best of luck for everything working out well!

Kirsty - posted on 10/24/2009

thanks lisa. i'm going to keep offering her the breast, she started refusing about 10 days ago, since then she's had the odd feed, like you said, on a night when its bed time. the rest of the time if i offer she either shakes her head and says no, or licks and gives me a cheeky smile then trys to jump down lol. she has 14 teeth already so i dont think anymore are due, but you never do know sometimes. i really do hop she starts to nurse again, i think i enjoy it more than her. made me realise shes not a baby anymore. argh. lol

Minnie - posted on 10/24/2009

It's quite rare for a child to truly wean under 18 months- of course your daughter could be one of them, but have you considered there might be other reasons for her stopping nursing right now? It could be a nursing strike- maybe teething, maybe some other upset in her life. How long has it been since she chose not to nurse? If you keep offering your breast, maybe in the bath, maybe in the dark lying down, or during the night when she's sleepy, or when she's just woken up she might begin to nurse again.



Really, you CAN'T force her. It's not like you'd be stuffing her on your breast. If you keep offering and she takes it again it means she was just on a nursing strike. It'll be her choice to begin nursing again.