need to ween my son off breastfeeding :/

Rebekah - posted on 05/10/2012

Ah, to answer your real question, I'd pump and mix your breast-milk with the whole milk (when the time comes), slowly reducing the amount of breast-milk until he takes the milk. It was a difficult transition from breast-milk/formula to whole milk for both of my kids. For my daughter (the breastfed baby) we found that she took pediasure (mixed with whole milk) better than straight whole milk at first-- but they both drink milk just fine now.

Rebekah - posted on 05/10/2012

A doctor recommended cows milk over breast-milk before age 1... for constipation?! That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard. Wow. There must be another issue going on b/c... wow... I'd find another doctor.

From http://children.webmd.com/toddler-consti...

What causes constipation?
Diet. The culprit in many cases of toddler constipation is a diet that's too heavy in processed foods and sweets, and too light in fiber (like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables). Not getting enough fluid can also lead to constipation, because it makes the stools harder. Any change in diet -- such as when your toddler transitions from breast milk or formula to cow's milk or starts eating new foods -- can also affect the stools.

Melissa - posted on 05/10/2012

Most pediatric doctors do not know much about breastfeeding. Cows milk is not going to help with constipation, and may make it worse. Look at the solid foods he is eating, did this problem begin with introducing solid foods? Some are ready to wean at this age and others are not.

Elizabeth - posted on 05/10/2012

I don't understand your doctor at all. breastfed babies have much much looser stools than formula-fed or cows-milk fed - as a matter of fact, not judgement, it's just the way it is digested. Most doctors will tell a mom that is supplementing and getting a constipated baby to try just breastmilk for a while or if anything supplement with juice, not something that make exacerbate the problem (this is my docs advice - we has minor constipation that went away quickly with juice and increasing MY fluid intake). And if there is any sort of allergy component, same thing - formula and cows milk are going to make it worse. Ordinarily they would also sooner prescribe something like fiber before suggesting weaning.

constipation is a difficult thing to judge - a baby that is straining is not necessarily constipated, and a baby who does not poop often is not necessarily constipated. An exclusively breastfed baby may not poop more than once a week and be perfectly healthy - just with a very efficient digestive system. a baby who is showing distress at pooping, may be constipated, or may just be that kind of baby who likes to make noise while they poop, or may have an issue with gas.

If you have a successful breastfeeding relationship and your baby has not been diagnosed with a bowel obstruction or some sort of impaction - that is, if poop actually shows up now and then. Try this - take a break from the other stuff and just breastfeed for a week. Feed on demand and don't restrict quantity at all, focus on your own diet to remove possible gas causing issues (broccoli, cheese), incerased your own fluid intake substantially, and pay attention when the pooing happens so that you have some data of your own - is there distress, is it long-lasting, is it considerable, does helping gas issues help (mylicon, moms diet, colic hold), how much poop shows up, how often.

Again - Pooping once or twice a day is NOT the gold standard. Healthy babies, exclusively breastfed, with good digestion, may only poop once a week and it can be FINE. Your child has a pattern, determine that first - or you may know it, has he always been like this? if so it's probably normal, if not, what changed recently?

If you trust your doctor, fine, but it is ok to get a second opinion or at least more data if this advice rubs you the wrong way. If your doctor seems eager for you to wean in general and asks about solids a lot (other than the normal - "what does your baby eat" question), you might take the push towards cows milk and formula (likely very unnecessary for a 10mo old who has been nursing successfully - even in the presence of real constipation), as a sign that they are just not nursing-friendly. I don't want to judge your do, because i really don't know them, but there really are some doctors that for some reason, just don't like nursing. I find it odd in a pediatrician, but it happens.

Celeste - posted on 05/10/2012

I agree that switching him to cows milk would not be a good idea for constipation. Also, if you a going to try formula, do not start him on the toddler stuff until after he is 12 months. Toddler formula is designed for children over the age of one. And you should never mix formula with anything but water. What solids does he eat because it is most likely something from the solids. A lot of pediatricians push for formula but babies need breastmilk as long as they can have it. The World Health Organization encourages breastfeeding until 2, which I know is not for everybody. Formula is not designed to be mixed with milk so if you are going to go the formula route you need to mix it correctly or it could cause further digestive issues. My daughter was breastfed for 6m (only quit because of supply problems), then we switched to formula, and then after she was 12months we did the whole milk. She rarely has digestive problems but if she gets a little backed up we give her a small amount of juice in water and it clears her right out :)

Janice - posted on 05/09/2012

It is extremely rare for breastfed babies to get constipated. I agree with Dove that the breast milk is not the likely culprit. Whole milk is actually a common constipating food so I personally would be cautious about your doctors advice. I have gotten a lot of terrible breastfeeding info from one of the doctors at my children's pediatrician's office. i hate when their actual ped. isn't available.
You may already be doing this, but I began giving my daughter water with a little splash of juice in a sippy cup when she began solids and she never had constipation issues.

I'm not sure what is exactly the solution but I would take your pediatrician advice with a grain of salt and do some more research before switching your little one to cow's milk early.

If you do switch you may want to do both breastfeeding and milk since babies really need the nutrition in breast milk (or formula).

Dove - posted on 05/09/2012

I don't see how cow's milk could possibly make him LESS constipated. Breast milk itself supposedly (no, I've never done the research myself) has stuff that makes them poop easier and looser.

Did you start solids around 4.5 months? That would be my guess of where the problem was started. Either that or something in your diet. Sorry I don't have any other suggestions.

Celeste - posted on 05/09/2012

I wouldn't wean to be honest. Formula and cow's milk can make it worse.

How are you defining constipation? When did you start solids?

Crystal - posted on 05/09/2012

Thanks so much for the tip Kaitlin, i will definitely try that!!!

Kaitlin - posted on 05/09/2012

try a toddler formula mixed with 2% milk. (so, half formula half milk). My kids didn't take to whole milk right away because it was so heavy, and it made their bowels a little grumpy. I purchased some toddler formula and that did the trick, got them completely hooked on milk and they still got the nutrients they needed from the formula. :D Good luck.