my son is just about 6 months old and i want to begin weaning from nursing. he eats rice cereal and has started on baby food like squash and green beans. as i nurse him less, will i have to give him formula? also, what kinds of other liquids are safe for a baby to drink?
2006-08-23 03:53:03 · 11 answers · asked by pynki♪ 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Babies need formula or breast milk for the first year. A lot of the nutrients they need are not going to be found in food, just the different formula's & breast milk. So, yes, you would have to supplement his diet with formula if you choose not to nurse anymore.
2006-08-23 03:58:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you're ready to wean, you should make it as easy as possible on the both of you.
He will still need formula or breast milk until he's 1.
You can pump, but do it less often than you are now feeding .. this way, your body can adjust to producing less supply .. because the more you pump, the more you produce.
You can mix your breast milk with formula bottles. He may accept the new formula easier that way, too .. he'll taste the sweetness of your milk, and welcome the bottle. The formula will make him more full than the breast milk does .. so he may take longer naps, too .. or sleep through the night if he isn't already.
He may not be taking as many ounces now because he's more full from the solids, but give him a couple oz. after a solids feeding just to wash it down, and top him off. Also, give him a bottle before nap & bed time. He can have a bit of water now (don't add sugar like some do) But there is plenty of water (80%) in your breast milk, and other foods that he eats, so babies really don't need any supplimental drinks.
Good luck!
2006-08-23 11:13:07 · answer #2 · answered by K.rae 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if you choose to wean him then he will have to have formula. Why not continue nursing until 12 months when he can begin to have dairy milk instead? The AAP actually recommends 12 mos as the minimum age a child should nurse.
At only 6 months of age, breastmilk or formula should still be the majority of his diet. Actually, for the entire first year it should make up at least 75% of his diet.
The link below will give you some tips on how to go about weaning if that is what you choose to do. I'd suggest cutting one nursing session about every 5 days and replacing that with a bottle of formula (or if you have a freezer stash of expressed breastmilk, use that first). Go slowly to give your body time to adjust so that you don't become engorged, which can lead to painful plugged ducts and mastitis.
You CAN offer juice, but it shouldn't be a lot of it and it shouldn't take the place of breastmilk or formula. Be sure to dilute it ot AT LEAST 50/50 with water. White grape juice and pear juice are the best ones to offer first as they have the least acid in them and are gentlest on baby's tummy.
2006-08-23 11:02:03 · answer #3 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you will definately have to give him formula as you nurse him less. Babies need breastmilk or formula until they are at least 12 mo. You can't simply offer water or juice and expect that to be enough nutrition for him.
Talk to your Dr about what fomrula to choose. It's generally recomended to start out with the standard cow's milk based iron fortified formula and only switch to something else if baby has a problem with it. I personally would not give soy formula unless there was no other choice.
2006-08-23 14:19:39 · answer #4 · answered by doxhaelend 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
IF you choose not to pump your milk and feed that to him, then yes you will need to use formula until the baby is one year old. You can safely give your baby 100% juice, but I'd water it down about 50/50 and then only give 4 to 6 oz a day.
2006-08-25 20:47:53 · answer #5 · answered by busymama 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to give him formula. You can pump the breast milk and put it in a sippy cup or bottle. Other liquids safe for baby are water and apple juice. If the apple juice is too strong for your baby's liking, cut it with half water half juice. Start by feeding him from the breast and maybe switching one feeding a day to bottle with pumped milk and gradually work your way to fully weaned. Talk with your physician as well.
2006-08-23 10:57:55 · answer #6 · answered by d4cav_dragoons_wife84 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At 6 months old you should probably use formula as a substitute for the breast milk. Babies at that age can drink a little juice that is deluded with water about half and half. When the baby reaches a year you can start him on whole milk. Talk to your doctor about other choices.
2006-08-23 11:00:35 · answer #7 · answered by ny3boys 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am a mother of two, and just from personal child and development courses and all the pediatricians say to keep your infant on formula (for all the needed vitamins) until about a year old. Water is always good for your baby. Juices are really good in moderation, Apple needs to be diluted slightly, White grape juice also needs to be diluted slightly.
You could simply go down the baby food isle and just see what they offer.
2006-08-23 11:04:53 · answer #8 · answered by brishea 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can wean him to a sippy cup probably by now... but he will still have to have some kind of milk before he can have regualr cow's milk at 1 yr old. I have heard that soy formula is close to breast.. if he doesn't take a sippy cup you may have to give him a bottle, but he still needs milk in his diet. I posted some links for suggestions on weaning from the breast, good luck!
2006-08-23 13:40:34 · answer #9 · answered by nknicolek 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Babies need breast milk for the first 12 months if you stop nursing before then you will have to give him formula.
2006-08-23 11:09:40 · answer #10 · answered by aintgivinup79 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋