Weaning My 6 Month Old

A., Is there a reason for you to wean her so soon? I have 3 grown boys. 26,24,22 years. The one I weaned the earliest @ 8 mos. is the least attached/affectionate. I'd do it differently if I had it to do over.

I have breast fed and bottle fed both my two youngest, I have found that enfamil is the best, it is the only one my daughters would drink. I never mixed formula and breast milk in the same bottle, but my sister did with her daughter and it worked just fine. My youngest daughter is now 10 months old and I am very close to having her completly weened, Good luck!!!

Hi Abby,

I was not able to breastfeed my kids for very long, and I had to use formula and I always used the Nestle Carnation Regular or with soy!! I have 3 kids and that was the best one for my kids. The Nestle Carnation breaks down more like brest milk that any others. The rest constipated my poor kids!!! Good Luck!! C.

Hi A.. I will echo a few other people on the board and ask why your weaning? I know it's a personal decision, and you don't have to explain yourself, but there are just sooooo many benifits to giving your baby breastmilk for as long as possible. The studies show over and over that breastmilk is the perfect food for growing munchkins. The World Health Organization reccommends breatfeeding for at least a year. Breastmilk and formula are not even close to the same thing. If your worried about her getting "enough" then talk to a professional Lactation consultant, not just your peditrician.
Jenny Bailey at everymotherandchild.com is FABULOUS!! That being said, if you are looking for a recipe for home-made formula, then I do have some good ones. Most start with a base of Goat milk. It's the closest to human milk. If you want them please let me know, and I will send them on to you. Hope I didn't offend. I am just passionate about the subject!
J. W

A., just curious why you are weaning so early especially if you're staying home. Isn't breastfeeding so much easier and cheaper?

A.,

This is A. i was just wondering why it was that you want to wean so early?

Just for the record, I would give it more time. There is a great book called THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING. The benefits of nursing longer are many.
Good luck,
A. (Mom of 7)

There really is no formula that is close to breastmilk. Breastmilk is a living fluid, with antibodies and perfect proportions of nutrients. If you can nurse for 3 to 6 more month, you can switch over to a milk of your choice at that time (cow, goat etc.). And avoid the high cost of formula. Especially if you have a supply in the freezer.
Be careful of your choice of formula if you do decide to go that route. Watch for recalls, and always record the lot number of your cans. Remember powdered formula is not sterile and most cans contain BPA, the chemical in plastic.
You baby should be good calorie wise, especially if you are starting solids. And at 7-8 months you will be adding other liquids such as juice or water, and nursing decreases naturally at that point. Good luck with your decision.
T.

I breastfed until my son was about 9 months however starting around 3 months I started to introduce a bottle of formula here and there to get him used to it. I used Enfamil GentleEase. I started that for the same reasons as you are doing now, I wanted a little independence and I wanted an alternative if I needed to run out of the house and I didn't have any stored breastmilk. I went back to work when he was 3 months and I would pump 3 times during my 8 hour work day however after a month or two, he would want to drink more than what I was pumping so I had the nanny add 1 oz of formula to 5 oz of breastmilk in his bottles. I did that for about a week or so and then I slowly increased the amount of formula and reduced the amount of breastmilk. As to reducing my milk supply, I slowly started to reduce the number of times I pumped at work however I would still nurse in the evenings and at night. I did that for about a month and a 1/2 until my body slowly stopped producing milk. I was worried that I would be emotional about not breastfeeding, however becuase it was a very slow process, it seemed like a natural progression. Hope this helps!

UPDATED: The pro-breastfeeding posts are not about guilt Deneen, we are sharing information and opinions and having a public conversation.

The World Health Organization's infant feeding recommendation:
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding_recomme...

A Natural Age of Weaning (interesting research article) http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detwean.html
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The pp made some excellent points!

I am *very* passionate about the benefits of breastfeeding (both physical and emotional) and believe that 6mo is far too early if you can choose otherwise. Perhaps you can share why you are deciding in advance to go this route?

Here is a very thorough website about all things related to breastfeeding: http://www.kellymom.com/

I'm with the other people. If you are staying home, why are you weaning? There is no formula that can come close to comparing to breast milk. Did you know that when you kiss your baby, the cells from her skin get on your lips and send a signal to the brain to produce milk specifically for that one baby?? Find me a formula that does that and you'd make millions! I'm still b-feeding after more than 2 years and I have the healthiest kids I know!
Thanks!

My ped recommended Enfamil because she said they do the most testing of the formula companies. The gradual mixing of formula with your milk seems to work the best. Good luck.

Hi A.,

The lactation consultant I talked to at the hospital said that all formulas are the same, because the FDA requires it. Generic brands are good because they are less than half the price of Enfamil and Similac and have exactly the same ingredients. Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club, etc. are probably your best bet for the cheapest generics. One recommendation though, is to pick one with the additives of DHA/ARA in a high amount - like 17mg. Almost all generic formulas have this, but it's good to double-check. It's usually boldly listed on the front of the container, easy to spot. Hope this helps!

Good luck,
J.

I was forced to wean my daugther at 4 months because she wasn't gaining enough weight through breastfeeding and I used Nestle Good Start. It is very similar to breastmilk in the look and texture of it and it doesn't stain the clothes the way other formulas do. The baby did great with it and I started off by giving her about 2 ounces of breastmilk mixed with about 3 ounces of formula. I didn't have enough breastmilk to do half and half but she did great with it and slowly over a few weeks as my supply was really running out I just used less breastmilk and more formula until she was on all formula. By doing it that way I was able to stretch my breastmilk supply for almost a month so she was only on formula only for a short time before she started solids. The pediatrician told me that Nestle doesn't market to the doctor's offices which is why they never have samples to give moms, but overall it's a little bit cheaper than Similac and Enfamil. I hope that helps.

The breastfeeding thing didn't work well for my son and me, so although we gave up after about a month, I rented a pump and continued using that until he was 5 months old. He had been on both formula and breastmilk since birth because I just couldn't produce enough, and I had no problem mixing the breastmilk with the formula in the same bottle. I was never able to pump more than a few ounces at a time, so I would make up the difference with formula to make an 8-ounce bottle. As for formula brands, we used whatever we had coupons for or bought the cheaper store brands. Some babies (or is it their mommies?) are particular to specific brands, but luckily my guy drank up whatever we gave him! Good luck to you!

Don't let these other moms guilt you into nursing any longer than you want to. That's not right. It's a personal choice. I nursed my 5-year old son for 6 months and he's a strong, healthy boy. My daughter nursed for about a week and we both had a really hard time with it so I switched to formula and she's a vibrant, smart, wel-behaved 2-year old.

For both of my kids, I used Nestle's Good Start with Comfort Proteins. They did really well with it.

Good luck.

Hi. i have to say that I am only pregnant and have no actual experience, but I have heard that powdered goat milk is the best. It is avail at whole foods, sunflower... places like that. Or online (amazon.com). It is closer to human milk in than cow based formulas, and is absorbed better, and it is what I plan on using. My chiro. used it with his children. And I wouldn't use soy based ones, as they are too estrogenic for such a little body.

A.,

Good morning! From the time my daughter was born we always combined formula and breat milk in 1 bottle per day. We used Enfamil sensitive stomach which you can't find everywhere. I used to get it at Babies R Us or Target. Walmart had it for awhile but stopped carrying it.

My daughter was alwasy a good eater and when we started giving her solid foods at 6 months she had no interest in breat feeding so we switched antirely to the bottle and she was fine.

Hope this helps :)

L. Smith
http://www.regionzkidz.com

I am weaning right now as my son turns 6 months in 2 weeks. I am still using stored breast milk as well. I would put a call into your Ped for recommendations, but there are a lot of brands that say closest to breast milk like Similac or Enfamil. I have read not to combine both breast milk and formula. Call your Ped for best advice.

I did a similar thing with my now 1 year old daughter. I pumped exclusively, but sometimes had to supplement with formula when she was consuming more that I could provide. I used Similac Advance with iron. I usually combined 2 oz. formula with 4 oz. breastmilk...she didn't even know the difference. When I weaned her a few weeks ago, I gradually increased the amount of formula to breastmilk until it was just formula...again, she didn't even notice the difference. Hope it goes well for you!

I had to stop breastfeeding my daughter at 4 mos. because of low milk production. There are several brands of formula that are good these days - look for ones with DHA and ALA(I think ALA) since those are compounds found in mom's milk, that help with brain development. If you combine breastmilk with formula in the same bottle, the best way to heat it is in hot water (when I worked in a daycare we kept a small crockpot of water on all day to heat all bottles since we didn't have a microwave) since breastmilk heated in a microwave loses the good nutrients. Also remember breastmilk doesn't last as long at room temp. as formula, but shouldn't be reheated once it's already been heated and partially consumed - nutrient breakdown & possible germs, so you'll need to dump it if not consumed within an hour of initially heating. Most babies make the switch to formula easier if they are introduced to it slowing by mixing with breastmilk - then increase the proportion of formula to breastmilk - as they get used to it. Depending on what type/power of pump you have and the amount of your current production, you could be pumping for quite awhile so be prepared.

M.
Good luck.

Hi A.,
What I did with all my 3 children at their weaning stage is used breastmilk during the day when we were all at home (fresh and stored) then I introduced formula at night. If we did have to go somewhere, I would bring formula milk with me not breastmilk. easier too and doesn't get spoiled easily.
I have had good success with all 3 using the Nestle Good Start (orange can). This has ben a good brand for me no colic, indigestion or other reactions.
I never had done mixing breastmilk with formula - have not read anything about it and no one has recommended me of doing so. I did get a lot of recommendations of good balanced complete nutrition for both mom and baby - best advice ever and sharing the same with you. The kids hardly get sick, no major health complications since they were born,alert, happy ... with me - I feel great, focused, mental clarity, have more energy and losing weight the healthy way.
take care of your precious little ones and yourself too. Health is wealth - as what they all say and definetely very true!!
live.laugh. love.
--M.
Independent Reliv Distributor
###-###-####
www.reliv.com

When I wean each of my children, we switched them to soy formula. First 100% breast milk in the bottle then decreased it by 25 % every other week. You will need to do the same with the breast. Start with one bottle a day to replace and then increase every three to four days.
K.

Hi A.,

I am doing the same thing with my daughter Ava Paisley who is 5 months. First, off find the bottle that she will love. We tried six on Ava until she settled on Avent. For the formula, I use Similac Advance (no specific reason why, it's just what we used with our son). And, yes, mix the formula. With my son, I started at 5 months with 3/4 breastmilk & 1/4 formula for week one, week two 1/2 breastmilk and 1/2 formula so by 6 months he was totally used to only formula. It worked great.
Right now with my daughter, she is getting formula all the time except before she goes to sleep at night. I could not mix my breastmilk with formula because I have too much lipase (excess enzymes which are actually good for your child). The problem with the extra enzymes is that once my breastmilk is refridgerated or frozen it gets a sour, bitter, soap like consistency taste. So, I've had to go more cold turkey with her on the formula.
Good luck in weaning Isabelle and I hope this helps.
A.

I had problems with supply when I was nursing my daughter so I had to supplement. I found that since her body was used to digesting breast milk, she could only handle soy formula. She would just throw the other stuff up. Maybe you should try soy since I'm told it easier to digest, like breast milk is. My daughter did well with Similac Advance with iron. In the beginning, I believe you should also slowly add the formula with the breast milk to help her body get accustomed to the change.

A., I went back to work when my son was 3 months old. He did great with bottles of breast milk (i pumped) and nursed when with me. As he got older I mixed formula (Enfamile Lipil) with breast milk to make enough bottles for the day. This was a smooth transition when I stoped nurseing adn transitioned him to milk. Super smooth. Good luck.

A.,
I'm with Deneen, I don't know why other people are adressing why you are weaning instead of how to wean. It is your choice and works best for your family. I don't produce enough enough milk and work full time so my son does have formula (I do nurse at lunch and night). He's healthy. My mother only breast fed me until I was 5 months and she is my best friend. I don't think that just because you wean (before your child can stand up to breast feed) means they won't be lovable.
Good luck, it's your family, do what works for you.

I am also trying to wean my 8 month old...He does take a bottle with formula in small amounts I am still nursing am and pm for now but would like him totally weaned by 9 months...I would also suggest sippy cups...seems like I can get him to drink more over time from the sippy cup. I also bottle fed my daughter so this is my first experience as well.

That being said I don't think the woman who posted the question needs to hear countless responses from people saying what the world health organization recommends etc. I'm sure she is well aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. Women who either choose to wean early, or choose not to breastfeed at all should not be made to feel guilty...it is okay to want a break some time. Formula in this day and age is a healthy supplement for a baby my daughter was exclusively formula fed and had her first antibiotic at age 2 and we have a wonderful bond, no different than I feel for my son who is breastfed. He by the way has already been on an antibiotic.

If people on here choose to breastfeed their children until they are 1 or 2... then I think that's great but don't push your opinions on how long to breastfeed on someone who has decided to wean....her question was about how to help wean, not whether or not to wean.

Experts suggest not to give children cows milk until they are at least 1 because many develop allergies to it. Formula has corn syrup in it, which I would never give to a baby. Goats milk is closest to mother's milk, and your best bet if you are going to wean. Of course your milk is far superior. It is special made just for her, fresh and at the perfect temperature, so of course there's nothing she wants more. I commend you for wanting to still breast feed even if it is from a bottle. Good luck!