She's 17 lbs 11 oz (has only gained 1 lb 7 oz in 5 mths.) At her 1-year appointment Friday Ped. said there's no nutritional benefit to breastfeeding after 1 year (not sure I believe him...) & to get her on milk so she'll gain weight.
He said cut her off cold turkey. I'm reluctant to do that b/c if she DOESN'T start drinking milk then there won't be an option to at least breastfeed her. Plus I've been gradually weaning her from 5 feedings a day in September... we're down to 2 a day now. I planned to have her entirely weaned by 1st week of January.
She wouldn't drink formula either (tried 8 weeks ago.) I was hoping we'd be okay when we got the green light for milk, but no luck. She does LOVE yogurt, cheese & ice cream.
How can I get her to drink milk? I've tried it warm, cold, strawberry flavoured, sippy cup, regular cup, offering her MY cup... nothing's worked.
I know she knows she can still get BM from me. Is the Ped right? Do I cut her off and risk NO milk at all?
Thx!
2006-12-03 11:21:40 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Thanks for the ideas so far!!
She drinks water from a bottle, sippy cup or w/ a straw at her meals... I'm trying to introduce the milk in either the sippy cup, regular cup or with a straw (not in a bottle) since I'd like her off the bottle sooner rather than later too I don't want to start with milk in a bottle.
Good idea with the mixing BM and whole milk... I'll have to give that a try. I do have a pump, but I'm pretty sure that I can't get 6 oz anymore... (haven't pumped since May...) only feeding her twice a day now my supply's not what it once was, but I can certainly try with whatever I can get.
I also have a cup that (without adding anything to them) freezes liquids and when you scrape the sides it makes like a slurpee that you can eat with a spoon... since she likes ice cream I'm thinking of trying "slurpee milk" ...
2006-12-03 12:11:29 · update #1
Your doctor is wrong to suggest a cold turkey weaning. Weaning WILL NOT necessarily cause her to gain weight. You may have more problems because she may not be eating/drinking other things well yet. PLUS cold turkey weaning is hard on baby and on mom's body. I suggest you talk to a Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League Leader for some more nursing-friendly advice.
Check this out -
It's not uncommon for weaning to be recommended for toddlers who are eating few solids. However, this recommendation is not supported by research. According to Sally Kneidel in "Nursing Beyond One Year" (New Beginnings, Vol. 6 No. 4, July-August 1990, pp. 99-103.):
Some doctors may feel that nursing will interfere with a child's appetite for other foods. Yet there has been no documentation that nursing children are more likely than weaned children to refuse supplementary foods. In fact, most researchers in Third World countries, where a malnourished toddler's appetite may be of critical importance, recommend continued nursing for even the severely malnourished (Briend et al, 1988; Rhode, 1988; Shattock and Stephens, 1975; Whitehead, 1985). Most suggest helping the malnourished older nursing child not by weaning but by supplementing the mother's diet to improve the nutritional quality of her milk (Ahn and MacLean. 1980; Jelliffe and Jelliffe, 1978) and by offering the child more varied and more palatable foods to improve his or her appetite (Rohde, 1988; Tangermann, 1988; Underwood, 1985).
The average calories in human milk is about 22 calories per ounce. Whole cow's milk only has 18-19 calories per ounce.
Make sure the solids that she is eating are nutrient dense and have lots of good fats in them. Avocado is a good example.
2006-12-03 11:35:12 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Doc may be right, but I am curious...does she take BM from a bottle? If not, she may be wanting the nursing more than the substance she is getting.
She won't die from lack of milk if she is getting all the other dairy products but being that underweight could be a serious health problem eventually. I'd be trying to get her to eat more soon to protect her skeletal growth.
Additional:
So she is only getting a few ounces of breast milk a day? It seems as if you have almost weaned her anyway, so the only problem is how to get her to take whole milk? If this is the case then I would say you are making far too much out of this. Even babies have taste preferences, and if she is getting enough calcium and liquids from other sources she will be OK on that count.
Her weight worries me more. Why is she underweight? That is what I would work with the doctor on as it would seem that is his concern from what you have written.
2006-12-03 11:34:04 · answer #2 · answered by Batty 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your baby hates milk because she obviously knows best here what's good for her. By the way it has already been proven, though many scientists are trying to hide this fact for the sake of the dairy industry, that milk from cows has no purpose for humans at all. Plus it has many ingredients that are giving the human body a hard time to excrete. Also it makes sense that your baby likes yogurt and cheese. The source that i know all these things from (Some Dr. and Prof. i can't recall his name; in a statement called "The Tale Of The Milk") was saying that cheese, cream, yogurt and such are better because they include less of the bad ingredients. So if your baby doesn't like milk you shouldn't try to manipulate her to take it in. The pedestrian doesn't seem very informed. Because BM is always at any rate better than cow milk.
2006-12-03 12:05:26 · answer #3 · answered by tinkerbell4573 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The yogurt is a good thing. Its almost the same as milk really. How about milk in cereal? That's how I got my son started on milk and he loves it now.
I hate to even say it because I'll probably get grief about it, but did you try chocolate milk? They have sugar free etc. nowadays so its not as bad as the regular stuff. Maybe just put a tiny bit of chocolate in the milk so it just has a slight taste to it and go from there. Hope this helps!
2006-12-03 11:27:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't stop breast feeding either...doctors can be stupid sometimes! I'd say if you can pump some breast milk, and mix it w/ a little regular milk...I'd say 2 oz of whole milk and 6 oz of b/m...then gradually put more milk than breast milk until she's drinking mostly whole milk...but continue to let her nurse if she wants and that way you should be able to have her weaned by January (since you said you were hoping to have her weaned by then). Also, maybe if you take in more (healthy) fat she'll start to gain more weight...also give her more fatty foods (avacado, meats, yogurt, cheese..) I think you are right, don't stop nursing, so many doctors don't support breast feeding, its crazy!! Best of luck to you and your little one!!! Don't let that dr. tell you not to nurse your baby...you're her mom, you do what you think is best!
2006-12-03 11:48:07 · answer #5 · answered by Renee B 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Honestly trying to change a child's patterns can alert the child and set off unwanted behavior, so this is just my suggestion.. ween her as you planned right now its a security thing for her and the ped didn't exactly word it right... he means she needs more nutrition then just your breast milk.. some people feed up to to two years, each child is different, so this is the thing.. you need to maybe try different things there is a specific drink made for those who hate or can't drink milk and it help with nutrients.. its called nutralite or nutria-sure I can't remember I took it in high school because I couldn't have much milk and its what my doctor suggested
2006-12-03 11:29:38 · answer #6 · answered by Mikentab R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had the exact same problem. I took my 15 mth old daughter to the ped. for a well baby visit and my daughter was 17lbs. even.All of my kids were breastfed and I put them directly on the cup around 14mths.No weaning. It was much easier that way.My ped told me to try Carnation instant breakfast after my daughter would'nt take milk or pediasure.I did and in 2mths she gained 5lbs. just like that I gave it to her 3xs a day.Another tip I had a premature baby and I use to give him 1Tbs. of whole cream or whipping cream to 2 of his drinks a day.No more than that becuase to much weight gain to fast is dangerous.That part ask your doctor first,but the carnation is fine.Good luck.
2006-12-03 12:14:08 · answer #7 · answered by Victoria05 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daughter wouldnt drink milk either, I weaned her at 15 months. She did drink soy milk for a while, but as long as she ate cheese and yogurt, the drs said not to worry about it. Shes 4 years old now, and she loves milk.
2006-12-03 11:34:41 · answer #8 · answered by Deanna Q 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Try putting a little strawberry or choc syrup in her milk. Taste great and she will never know. That is how I got my son to take whole milk.
2006-12-05 08:28:23 · answer #9 · answered by ocean12684 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try her on soy milk or rice milk. you can find both in health food stores and a few grocery stores. not only did i not like milk as an infant but my mom found out i was alergic the doc said that is why i probably didn't care for it. so she gave me soy milk.
another one to try is pediasure it is really sweet like breast milk.
as far as breast feeding goes you doc it wrong women used to breast feed up to 3 or 4 years just to keep their babies plump in the 1800's. and third world countries breast feed till they run out cuz they have nothing else to feed their kids. we were created to produce milk for our kids why would God let something of his creation become worthless.
2006-12-03 15:02:31 · answer #10 · answered by emotionalyhurtmom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋