What should I give my son who stopped breastfeeding at 9 months?

Bobbie - posted on 03/13/2010

NO, NO FORMULA, normal food, if it is good for you. it will be good for him, just make sure it is well mashed,

Dorothy - posted on 02/24/2010

When my kid were little they had to drink milk they were alergic to all formulas. So to answer that question I can't

Kendra - posted on 02/16/2010

My daughter nursed until she was 11 month. At that point, she refused to nurse anymore, and would not drink breast milk not formula from a bottle or sippy cup. I talked to her pediatrician about it, and she told me since it was only a month until she would be a year, to go ahead and give her whole milk. I would definitely talk to your child's pediatrician first.

Amanda - posted on 02/14/2010

I was unable to breastfeed my kids for very long and they thrived on formula. My daughter was 2 when she went onto cows milk and my son was 14 months. At 11 months children definately need some form of milk, be it formula or cows milk. Im sure the Dr will be able to give you some good advise :)

Kathy - posted on 02/13/2010

I would suggest that you call your pediatrician's nurse and ask her. I am sure that she would know (or else would ask the doctor and get back to you). Sometimes different doctors have different ideas about formula versus whole milk. I also may depend upon how well your son is doing. Good luck.

Tiffanie - posted on 02/13/2010

Whole Milk an still baby food.Until the teeth are in enough to tru to chew small amounts of mashed foods. You can also buy poly vita drops if your worried about nutrition.

Manu - posted on 02/12/2010

oh and i also agree with jacqueline - if he's eating solids, he should get water as well!

Manu - posted on 02/12/2010

mine had semi-skimmed milk at 8 months for 1 week, combined with formula feeds (because whole milk can at first cause runny poos because the fat content is higher than in formula) and then whole milk thereafter. no problems whatsoever. i think the whole milk issue is being over-dramatised to be honest. she's perfectly healthy and happy and the most energetic 14-month-old i've ever met. will eat anything, has no tummy trouble etc., runs like the wind, chats, climbs and loads the washing machine (honestly :-) hahaha. Ergo - nothing wrong with cows milk!
:-D

Jacqueline - posted on 02/12/2010

You must remember, every baby is different, and your parents were brought up on what is very similar to canned milk and maybe even some vitamin additive. Not as sophicisticated, as formula, and much, much cheaper and didn't hinder them at all. Try soy if you feel a little concerned about offering your child cow's milk. However, you can also try goat milk which my son did and it tastes better than soy, and the particles are smaller and digest easier, which is great on little tummies. Goat milk also doesn't cause as many allergies as cow's milk. Don't forget to give him bottles of water too. If the water or the new milk doesn't go down well, then add a spoon full of kayro syrup for taste (breast milk is a little sweet) and slowly reduce it so they'll get used to the taste.

Janet - posted on 02/12/2010

I don't remember when I started giving my kids cow's milk.. seemed like it was before one year. My oldest is 25 now and my youngest 21. Neither one were breast feed longer than 4 months... they had formula from that time on. I started feeding them solid food (cut very small or mashed) by the time they were 9 mo old and they did just fine. I used common sense about what to feed them... veggies, meats, fruit, cereals... maybe an occasional 'goody'. No fast foods, always homemade. Good luck with your little one.... but I firmly believe that you need to use common sense in your decisions and knowledge to support it.

Krystal - posted on 02/12/2010

my mum gave me whole milk when i was 11 weeks old because i wouldnt drink breast milk or formula at all, and im a healthy 19 year old with a 9 month old baby boy and i am giving him 2 oz a day to get him used to the taste hes only had it for 4 days now but hes doing fine with it and its not affecting him in any way ( i dont mix it with his formula as i dont see the point). i also have a close friend whos baby wouldnt take breast milk and only had formula for 6 months and went off it hes now 10 months old and has been drinking whole milk for 4 months now and he is a very healthy happy little boy. seems as your baby is a year in a months time i would just put him on whole milk. but ask your doctor for more advice if your still unsure. good luck and best wishes. :)

Elizabeth - posted on 02/12/2010

My son stopped taking formula at 9 months old. The doctor at this time told me it was okay to give him whole milk. See what you doc says, but I do not see it as a problem to start the milk now.

Margaret - posted on 02/12/2010

do what you feel is good for you..

Jennifer - posted on 02/11/2010

The way I understand it, the nutrients in either breastmilk or formula are much better than cow's milk, so its mainly a nutrient issue. He'll get more nutrients out of formula but there's certainly not a magical change at age 1 that suddenly allows his body to accept cow's milk- so I'm sure it'd be fine to give him that now. In fact, my 9-month-old eats dairy products all the time but I'm also feeding her formula for the nutrients. Its whatever you think is best for your child.

C. - posted on 02/11/2010

YES! Babies need the nutrients in either breastmilk or formula! You really shouldn't have waited so long to give it to him once he stopped breastfeeding. Make sure you get one with DHA and ARA. They need the DHA and ARA for their development.

And Kelly Lathrop.. Her baby is only 10 months old, so that's 2 months away from being a year, and generally doctors will tell you to use formula if not breastmilk, until a year old b/c if you give it to them sooner, it could potentially make them sick.

Huda - posted on 02/11/2010

Yes, give him formula or milk! Babies need lots of calcium(16-24 oz of milk/day); more than you can obtain from baby food. you dont have to wait until exactly one year to start whole milk. You can also start whole milk yogurt which teething babies love the cold feel of and supplement that w formula if you dont want to start milk yet.

Carla - posted on 02/11/2010

I would just try milk, watch him to see if he has any allergic reactions, and go for it. Many people wean their children off formula the last month anyway, by doing a week of 3/4 formula and 1/4 milk, then 1/2 formula and 1/2 milk for a week, then 1/4 formula and 3/4 milk for a week, then go to pure milk. He will need Vit D milk atleast to age two for its fat as that provides needed nutrition for brain development.

Michelle - posted on 02/10/2010

When my son was 11 months I went back to work. He was still breastfeeding, but I wasn't sure if I should have him drink formula or milk while I was at work. My doctor reccommended just starting him on whole milk since he was close to 12 months anyway. He did fine and we had no problems.

Tiffany - posted on 02/10/2010

I breast fed my oldest until I returned back to work at 7 mos old. I started mixing baby formula w/ breast milk, then formula w/ regular milk. Start gradually, or you are asking for a tummy ache. Keep on with the solid foods.

Elisha - posted on 02/10/2010

Try to keep breastfeeding, it protects the little ones so much when they get sick. Formula is a man made processed substitute full of pesticides and other rubbish. It has only been used from the generation before us. If he has to have it make sure you use BPA free bottles to protect from the risk of plastics poisoning which have been linked to childhood cancers. If you can express, do it.

Michelle - posted on 02/10/2010

yeah i pumped all my breast milk into a bottle too, thats how my daughter took it and i was happy that she still breast fed

Michelle - posted on 02/10/2010

I struggled with this when my baby girl was 7 months and now she is 9 months old. we have given her formula even though we dont like it and can't afford it but we also give her lots of baby foods and baby cereal. I thought it would make my baby too fat but shes actually under weight for her age, maybe it has to do with crawling and walking early but I say ask your doctor and hope they help, if not keep getting answers and do what feels right for you and your baby!

Amy - posted on 02/10/2010

Hi! NO absolutely DO NOT STOP breastfeeding. There are a lot of things that you can do to stimulate milk flow. First take Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. Take 4 tabs at breakfast, 4 tabs at lunch, 4 tabs at supper and 4 tabs at bedtime. Yes you counted right 32 tablets a day but it's so worth continuing with breastfeeding. That should be enough to get your milk flow to an adequate level to nourish your son. IF that doesn't work you can get a prescription for Maxeran and you take 4 tabs at breakfast, 4 tabs at lunchm 4 tabs at supper and 4 tabs at bedtime. Please visit Dr. Jack Newmans website for breastfeeding info. He has taught women who adopt how to breasfeed so there is no reason why you can't continue. ALSO - your son maybe more satisfied with the solid food and eventually you'll be cutting back the breastfeeding for all the other nourishment he's getting. I'm on my 3rd child and he's 20 months and I breasfeed once a day now and will continue to do so until he doesn't want to. My 1st child quit breasfeeding on me at 3 months and she took to a bottle so easily that I pumped until she was 6 months old and then gave it up. I had no support then and then with my 2nd and now 3rd I have gone to Toronoto and met with Dr. Jack Newman myself - he is a breastfeeding guru and a wonderful person. His assistant Edith Kernerman is wonderful too - - please don't give up if you don't have to.....hang in there - things will get better! ALSO NEVER let anyone tell you that formula is just as good as breast milk....breast milk is liquid gold!!!!!!!!!!!!! And nothing compares to it. Formula cannot provide the immunity that breast milk can; formula doesn't give natural antibiotics but breastmilk keeps babies healthy when exposed to viruses...............ALSO if need be WHOLE cows milk is an alternative after 10 months.............but breast is always best!
Take care, Amy

Anita - posted on 02/10/2010

Try a mixture of formula and whole milk, maybe like an ounce of whole milk and the rest formula. It's a good way to start weening him onto whole milk.

Sanithia - posted on 02/10/2010

I think its ok to give him regular millk. He will be 1 soon and I don't see how it will hurt. Have you tired giving him formula yet? I don't think he will like it. Just my opinion though. I hope it helps.

Krystle - posted on 02/10/2010

Definitely get him on formula!! He needs the nourishment for his brain. :) Then at a year do the milk of your choice. Just make sure it has all the nutrients. Then at 2 the children can have 2%, no fat because the first 2 years are most important for getting the fatty for the brain to develop.

Christine - posted on 02/10/2010

that is a tricky question, as every child is different. I have 6 children and each one has been different. My oldest just went straight to whole milk, one is allergic to cow and soy milk. But I agree, goat's milk is the closest to human milk, while the formulas that they make now are very good they are still a cow milk base (unless you buy a soy milk base). My 4th, 5th, and 6th all did goats milk.

Karen - posted on 02/10/2010

I had both my children on whole milk (diluted slightly) from 9 months..it didnt hurt them, they both turned out great with no health problems.

Jennifer - posted on 02/09/2010

if he isn't breast feeding or taking formula, what is he drinking? i was always told to start them on milk a month or so before they turned 1, to get them used to the taste. (mixed with formula) they need the nutrients in formula/milk. i'd def call and talk to the dr/nurse

Stacey - posted on 02/09/2010

you should ask your Dr on your next visit ,But being as he is only a month shy of being 12 months im sure the Dr would tell you to just put him on Whole milk..Just my opinion.I am a mother of 4 and all my children were on whole milk before they were 12 months and they are all healthy children.

Kathy - posted on 02/09/2010

there is infant formula and the there is oldwer baby formula
I use enfamil, but now that she is turning one year soon I'll start to use enfamil (next Step). now there calling it enfagrow

Danae - posted on 02/09/2010

depends if he is getting enough protien... my kids alot of yougart and cottage cheese, but you are going to start milk next month... I have heard goats milk is closer to reg milk.

Emmalene - posted on 02/09/2010

Both my boys went onto goats milk after breastfeeding, same reason it's close to human milk. But he should be having some type of formula. I avoided the soy milk for the boys as I was informed by my natropath it has female hormone properties with in the milk. It's something you have to research but really shouldn't have normal milk before 12mths (for me it was 2yrs).

Good luck

Melissa - posted on 02/09/2010

Babies need formula until they are 1, but you can give them cows milk at 8 months. Just mix it with the formula to ease him into it. I heard babies can get constipated. My son is just about 9 months and he has been drinking regular homo milk mixed with his formula for the past couple weeks. he's had no problems

Angela - posted on 02/09/2010

My pedi said goats milk is the closest to human milk. Look up info on it but i think thats what we are gonna do. Its so much better than cows milk for you.

Lisa - posted on 02/09/2010

thats a tricky one. I had my son stop bf around 10, 11 months and I saw no need to have formula, he never had it before, so I gave him milk but he was allergic to milk and it might have been becasue I gave it too soon so I had to do soy milk for about a year. Maybe you can pump and do it that way for another month. I dont see a point in giving him formula if he has not had it and in a month switch again to whole milk. But he does need something. thats my opinion, And I am sure your doctor mught have some good advice too.

Kelly - posted on 02/09/2010

I would ask his doctor but I'm sure the doc will just tell you you should give him whole milk because if hes only a month away from being one i doubt they'd make you switch to formula and then go to whole milk right away that would seem silly...but I think it'd be best for him to start on whole milk lol but thats just my opinion!

Natalie - posted on 02/09/2010

Definately give him formula. I couldn't breast feed after about 6 months with both my girls and put them on to the S26 range and they had this, no cows milk until they were 3 years old. They were always and still are (now 15 and 12) very healthy, bright babies and kids. These days formulas are just as good as they breast and I think much better than cows milk. A clinic nurse is also a better option than a doctor with stuff like this.



Hope thats helps a bit. Nat.