I am thinking about weaning my 7 month old from the breast.?

Question

Should i offer him formula instead, or just have him eat solid food...I am so lost. everyone keeps telling me it's my decision, but I don't want to do anything that will hurt my little one. (by the way he has been eating solids very well for the last three months)

Answer 1

You want the straight dope, I'm giving it to you.

If you stop nursing you will have to supplement with formula. Your 7 month old can't thrive without milk that provides the fats and proteins in a way that he can digest them, and formula or breast milk are the only ways to deliver that nutrition.

There is, however, a HUGE difference between breast milk and formula. That's the truth, not just an opinion.

Your breast milk contains antibodies and immunities so if you stop feeding him your milk it could actually impact his health. He could be fine with formula, but the scientific evidence says that breast fed babies are less sick than formula fed.

The longer you nurse the higher IQ your baby will have--not to mention the decrease in your risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Formula is expensive. It's harder for babies to digest, they are more constipated, have more ear infections. Formula isn't as convenient, there's mixing, measuring, remembering how old it is, worrying about contaminations.

That's the straight dope.

Why are you thinking about weaning? Is there something or someone pushing you in this direction? If you need advice on something else specifically, we can help you.

Answer 2

Your baby needs EITHER breast milk or formula until he's one. Continue with the solids and either alternate solids and bottles for each feeding, or accompany the solid meals with a bottle. It's really no one's business why you want to wean your son, so please don't let the scare tactics keep you from making the best decision for you and your baby. Your son will be perfectly healthy whichever choice you make, provided he is a healthy eater. You do want to get him used to a bottle if he's never had one. My son had no trouble going back and forth and even gave it up on his first bday with no problem! You can introduce the bottle with breast milk or formula, mix the two, put it in a sippy cup, try a bunch of ways until he gets used to it. I've never experienced a let down or engorged breasts, so I can't help you there!

Answer 3

My twins had about 50% of their nutrition from formula and 50% from breast milk (from a bottle, I pumped for 10 months) for 10 months. From that point until a year they were on straight formula when we switched them to milk.

They are healthy, happy and to be honest....have been less sick (in terms of ear infections etc) then some of my friends babies who were breast fed until they were much older.

Formula is expensive and somewhat time consuming in terms of measuring and mixing. We had a special pitcher and would make about 1.5Qts at a time. With twins we went through that pretty quickly!

Women I know who have breast fed started the weaning process by simply cutting down the amount of times they put the baby to breast each day. The last feedings to go were usually the morning and nighttime ones...more as a source of comfort for baby and mommy than anything from what they told me.

GOod Luck.

Answer 4

He'll need formula until he's a year. You could try to get him to drink it from a cup, rather than a bottle so you won't have to get him off the bottle later. Try pumping and mixing a little pre-made formula to the breast milk. Slowly, decrease the amount of breast milk, while increasing the formula each feeding.

Solids are great, but he'll still need the nutrients from formula or breast milk a while longer. His tummy can not digest cows milk yet, so wait on that, too.

You should discuss it with his pediatrician if you have questions.

Answer 5

If you take him off the breast, you still need to offer him formula because he can't just have solids. While a baby can survive on only breastmilk until almost age one, they cannot survive without liquids. You cannot give the child milk yet so you would have to give juicy juice or water or something. I would think that the child would still need formula. I never fed my children formula - only breastmilk but this just makes sense to me. Good luck.

Answer 6

Babies need breastmilk (or formula) for at least one year. I'm not sure why you would want all the hassles of bottle feeding. My sister bottle feeds and it is time-consuming, expensive and not nearly as healthy as breastfeeding. I'm too lazy for formula, and I don't appreciate the environmental impact of formula. It is so easy to just plug your baby in when he's hungry! You never have to lug bottles with you or worry about keeping them cold. Breastfeeding is so much easier on moms. If you choose to stop breastfeeding, then offer formula at every meal, then solids. Alternatively, you could offer formula sometimes and continue to nurse at bedtime and in the morning, for example.

Answer 7

I weaned at 7 months...just give solids and a sippy cup of formula...he will be fine. Wean slowly...I started out slow and worked him into it. I had all but stopped...did it before bed only...then he lost interest in that as well.

Answer 8

If ur child does not drink from a bottle already, you are gonna have a hard time! They are supposed to have formula until they are 1 year. The other issue u may face is ur child may not like the taste of formula. My daughter did not like the taste of regular milk, so I had to mix formula with milk little by little until she drank milk. I would suggest pumping and giving him a bottle mixed so that he transitions slowly without a problem.
Good luck

Answer 9

Why would you want to do that? Let him supplement the breast with solids, fine but is there some compelling reason to wean him off? If not, why not let him go on.

Answer 10

give him formula for breakfast and solids the rest of the day. My daughters pediatrician recommended that to me so she is sure to get the fluids she needs.