I would like to know how to wean a breast fed baby to cow's milk?
By equuslove from Gulf Breeze, FL
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Article, How Do I Wean My Baby:
www.llli.org/
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Feeding: (go down to "Weaning" there are many articles)
www.llli.org/
* For more information contact the La Leche League via e-mail. They are free & have many knowledgeable breastfeeding counselors:
The La Leche League:
www.llli.org/
Florida Chapter (go to this URL then click on your region):
www.lllflorida.com/
Here's a few tips from me: (someone who raised 4 kids)
If your drink less liquids, you make less milk. An easy tip for YOU to not feel as full is for up to 1 week for you to drink less liquids. This way, you'll make less milk & reduce your breast feeding &/or pumping little by little. If you stop breastfeeding all at once you very well may be in pain.
Most children after 1 year can easily switch from the breast to a cup or a bottle. If it's a bottle, make sure the nipple has a tiny hole in it because breast-fed babies tend to suck harder.
Babies & small children need sucking. Don't be in a big hurry to take the bottle or breast away. I gave my kids a bottle when they were sick, even when they were 4 years old. I figure that when they are sick, it's an easy way to get liquids into them & also easy to have them drink while in bed & laying down. With my first, I removed the breast & also the bottle way too early. They're only young once, unless it's super-important (like you need to go back to work or have an emergency) let's not force our little ones to grow up fast. You're not competing with anyone, so listen to your own inter voice, not to your friends or your mother-in-laws. Sheesh! If I would have listened to my mother-in-law, I would have weaned my youngest from the breast at only 3 months. She'd say "Oh my gosh! you're still breast feeding! (& he was only 3 months old!) Take you time to wean from the breast and the bottle!
Now a days they know how giving our kids solids to early can cause allergies, back in the day, the pediatrician would tell you to start baby food at 2 months. Now we know that breast milk is the perfect food & they can be healthy with nothing else but breast milk for a year or so.
If you have more questions post them here or send me a note. Like, what are your exact concerns & questions & how old is your baby?
* Be sure to read the top URL on "How Do I Wean My Baby? It's put out by the La Leche League. The people who have helped breastfeeding moms for decades.
Wait until your baby is at least a year old before introducing cow's milk. As you get closer to that time, *if you can*, drink more milk yourself; what you eat flavors your own baby's milk. Pay careful attention to your baby's health and behavior, and be ready to back off at any sign of allergy--milk is one of the 8 most common food allergens.
With those in place, you can offer your toddler a little bit of cow's milk at a time and see how s/he take to it. There are some good tips for getting a reluctant toddler to try cow's milk at www.babycenter.com/
Absolutely wait till you ask your Doctor! If baby is too young or has a family history to milk allergies, you could hurt the child's sensitive stomach. Cow's milk has some seriously hard to digest enzymes for children.
Good grief? Is this your own baby? If so, you should be asking your doctor this question. Don't take advice about your baby from anyone but your doctor or your baby's doctor.
Well, yes this is a complicated question. I can tell you what I've done with four of mine. I nursed for roughly a year, then started them on fresh goat's milk. It's MUCH easier to digest for a child than cow's milk. The doctors will say that there's not enough B vitamins in goat's milk, so fill in the gaps with a high quality infant vitamin from the health food store.
Good luck!
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