10 month old and breastfed?

Question

My 10 month old baby has only been breastfed and has 9 teeth. I have had a few minor biting injuries before, but right now both nipples are injured due to him biting, and its so bad that I am trying not to cry every time he nurses. Because of this I am tense and I suspect that he is not getting as much milk as normal.
So I went to the Dr. for a 9 month check up a couple weeks ago and she suggested that I switch to formula or WHOLE MILK, becuase we have tried formula in the past and he would not drink it. She said that as long as I make sure he gets enough iron in his diet,( he is eating baby food with cereal 4 times a day), that he will be fine with out formula or breastmilk.
Okay, so here's my question, has anyone switched to whole milk before their baby was a year? I really don't want suggestions on the biting because I have tried everything, and in truth I am just done breatfeeding. I am a full time student and don't have the time or patience to pump.

Belinda- He is still nursing 2 times at night and I lay down with him to do it, so sometimes I fall asleep and he has bit me then, and right now he is teething and thinks my nipples are the best teething toys! I have "thumped" him on the chin, I have taken away the boob after a bite, and also saying a very stern "no" to try and get him to stop. Your right, maybe I could solve it but really, I am just done breastfeeding. I love my baby more than anything so I will do it, if I have to, but if he can still be heathly without breastmilk then I am done.

Answer 1

If there's one thing I learned about the medical community, it's that they don't know squat about breastfeeding! I had many troubles while nursing and not one doctor or nurse could really help me, until I met my LC, who was very helpful and sweet. I agree with the pumping comment, but I think that an LC would give you better advice without having you risk putting your son on milk too soon.

Answer 2

Get a manual pump to just pump enough to last a week. You can freeze breastmilk up to 6 months (Lactation consultant at Children's hospital informed me of this). Try mixing the whole milk and breastmilk 1/2 & 1/.2 for the first couple of bottles. Gradually increase the amount of milk until it is all milk. This is what I did with my son when we switched him from formula at 11 months.

Answer 3

I don't understand how he has the chance to bite you that much. I've been bitten pretty badly because I wasn't paying attention, but paying attention and keeping my finger ready to get between those jaws kept me from getting injured. You absolutely could solve this. You said you're not interested in working at it anymore and if you mean it I'll respect that. Sometimes we just need an extra push to keep breastfeeding. I know that I've needed it before.

Your doctor is probably right. Many of us were switched to whole cow's milk at that age or earlier. I drank 2% milk when I was 6 months old. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I'm fairly healthy. That's it.

Luke is totally right. I don't think anyone should use nipple shields without a lactation consultant, but he's totally right about the kidneys.

Toddlers ate my brain is totally right about your doctor's advice being dangerous and antiquated. Cow's milk will probably be fine, but there's no way to know.

Answer 4

With my first child I started at 11mo, and even that I think is too early.
I knew of a friend once who started at 10mo....everything went fine.
Thats a tricky situation, you just don't know for sure one way or the other if your son will be fine without.....
Personally, I would fix the biting and keep nursing...but since thats not an option for you, I would use formula or at the very least forified Toddler milk for a few more months.
Goats milk is another option...it has much less hard to digest protein then cows milk. But still, your missing lots of vital nutrients.
Iron in cereal is not substantial enough...IMO anyways.

Answer 5

Here hope this helps. My son was about 101/2 to 11 months when I started him on whole milk. Though he also was breastfed until he weened himself off at 12 months. Good luck!
Cow's Milk
Cow's milk should not be given to your baby before 9 to 12 months of age. At 9-12 months of age whole (homo) milk may be introduced. Do not feed your baby 2%, 1% or skim milk before two years of age as these milks do not contain enough energy or fat for a growing baby. Cow's milk protein may cause unseen bleeding in the intestine. The protein and minerals in cow's milk are hard for the young baby's kidneys to handle. Cow's milk contains too little iron. The type of fat found in cow's milk is also too hard for a young baby to absorb.

Answer 6

Make the time to pump. It's your child's health and well being that is at stake.
Do not give a child whole milk before age one. He wasn't drinking the formula for a reason. Listen to your child.
Two more months of breast feeding or pumping is a very short commitment on your part but will be worth it in the long run.

Answer 7

I did not give whole milk earlier than 12 months. Have you tried all of the formulas? There are many out there, I know it would be expensive to try them all, but if you have any friends or family with babies perhaps they can lend you a samples. I had my youngest on Enfimil Lipil because it was gentler on her stomach. My only concern would be what you fed him for liquids. Water of course would be best and you wouldn't want to give him too much juice. Maybe Pediasure?

Answer 8

I would not go to whole milk. If you really just can't do it anymore he still needs nutritionally packed milk... cow's milk does not provide all that formula does, nor does soy, rice, almond, or goat's milk.

I'm very much into breastfeeding and would love to help you continue, BUT if you have to stop, use formula - he's just not ready for anything else yet.

Answer 9

I quit breastfeeding as well, as soon as my baby started biting. Just like you I was tense and knew that my baby could sense my anxiety and it was no longer a comforting experience for either of us. I was able to swith straight to formula and then to milk at a year. If the doc says milk is okay then try it. Have you tried the Nutramigen or soy formulas?

Answer 10

I think breastmilk is best for the baby, my entire family has breast fed, (part of our culture). If you can't breast feed anymore due to pain, and biting injuries from your baby, use a pump and bottle feed him.
This way its still your milk, and he's not biting you :)

Good luck