Is it Ok to give Whole milk diluted with water (50-50) to a 9 month old?

Question

Hi..my 9 month old has been breastfed up until now..but i feel my milk supply is going down..tried supplimenting with formula but he hates it..could i give him whole milk diluted with water half and half? Has anyone done this? Thanks!

Answer 1

I started my children around that age. What you need to do is NOT half it with water. You would have to at first try approx. 1oz of 2% milk to make sure there are no allergies or reaction to the milk. Mix the 1oz with the breast milk (at this age I would assume he/she is on 8oz so, that would be 7oz). If there are no reactions you GRADUALLY increase until eventually the baby is completely off the breast milk. It will not be overnight. This will take approx. a month of slow increasing. This of course I only share with the thought that your child is also on soft jar foods !!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not a DOCTOR, but, this is how I did it with my children. You might want to give your pediatric physician a call. Sometimes the physician/nurse might even be able to discuss this right over the phone.

Good luck!!!

Dahrma

Answer 2

As a nurse.... and having a 7 month baby. I've gone through this problem. I was breastfeeding my daughter and my supply was diminishing b/c I worked so much. I tried Enfamil LIPIL with Iron and that helped alot... but I noticed her stool changed so I switched to Similac Advance but that had too much iron so I gave her Similac with low iron and she loves it. Now she's only 7 months but I introduced her to fruit juices (which by the way should be given at 1 year) but it varies from child-to-child if they are eager to try it then give them a limited amount. She drinks 2 oz of whole milk and she's doing well but I would recommentd trying an oz first and check how the stool is. If your child is not constipated then you can add 1 extra oz, but continue to breastfeed that is the best nutrient your child can get.

Answer 3

Depends really if they have an allergy to it. If they don't I don't see why it would be harmful, but formula should be the first and only choice until your baby is 1 year old. So, I wouldn't unless you absolutely have to, formula is what gives them the nutrients they need until their first birthday. :) Try to pump (or hand express) your breast milk and use half of your milk and half formula if youfeel your supply going down it maybe time to wean anyway. That worked for me with my son, he still tastedme and the formula flavor wasn't as strong. Try 3/4 yourmilk first, then goto 1/2, then to 1/4, then all of formula :) Good luck!

Answer 4

No, you shouldn't give him any milk (cow, goat or other) until he's a year old. Milk doesn't contain anywhere near the nutrients he needs now. It's high in calcium and vitamin D, but he needs so much more than that at this point.

I'd suggest trying a different formula. Maybe buy one with low iron to avoid that metallic taste.

Answer 5

This is an old recipe for formula (50-50 whole milk and 1T dark corn syrup) most Pediatricians advise against it because the milk proteins are hard to digest and most babies get stomach distress. Try a different formula - my kids only liked Good Start while breast feeding and they stayed with it after I stopped. Different formulas taste different - try to get samples from your Dr or local WIC so you don't have to spend to much to see which one your baby prefers. Good Luck!

Answer 6

If your baby is eating other foods, and drinking juices, then the amount of breastmilk you are producing for him is probably fine. Formula tastes awful compared to breastmilk. If you are trying to wean from the breast, then whole milk is fine undiluted. Breast fed babies have more trouble with the lactose in cow's milk though, so if he shows any signs of intolerance (spitting up, increased crankiness, diarrhea) then try nutrish, or Lactaid milk. If these do not sit well with him, goat's milk is often much more tolerable.

Answer 7

I nursed my son until he was nearly 8 months and when I stopped I put him on powdered milk. It is not so strong and he adjusted well without throwing up. The whole milk is to strong for a little one even tho diluted. Trust this helps. Our son is now 30 and going strong. Sharon

Answer 8

No. If you give him milk at all, don't dilute it. It will take away the nutrients he needs. And at 9 months, he needs whatever is in formula. Try different brands. If you MUST give him whole milk, don't dilute it.

Answer 9

I would just give him the whole milk plain. And ask your doctor at his next check-up and see if he should be having whole milk. My little sister who is now 2 didn't start drinking whole milk until she was 1. You should just give him formula.

Answer 10

No milk until after 1 year old unless your pediatrician gives the OK. Baby's tummy can't digest it.