Milk substitutes for babies

[Bena]

Not sure if this really belongs to this forum or the breastfeeding one, but here goes.

What would be the best cow's milk substitute for a 9-10 month old, considering the following:

-baby is still breastfed but mom is back at work, so we're talking something to have during the day
-pumping BM is not an option due to lipase issue
-baby is very likely intolerant to casein (hence the cow's milk substitute)
-baby has a good diet including a variety of fruit and vegetables, and cereal (rice and oats mostly) and chicken (won't eat red meat though) and beans legumes (mostly in the form of hummus!!)

[mommy212]

If he is going to be drinking it as a BM replacement, he still needs formula at this point. If it's just to give him something extra/to help ease thirst, you can always try rice milk. Soy or almond milk might work too if you know he/she is not allergic. I don't know if goat's milk is free of casein, but you can always look it up

[Bena]

Originally Posted by mommy212

If he is going to be drinking it as a BM replacement, he still needs formula at this point. If it's just to give him something extra/to help ease thirst, you can always try rice milk. Soy or almond milk might work too if you know he/she is not allergic. I don't know if goat's milk is free of casein, but you can always look it up

That's the thing...does a baby need a BM replacement at this point?

[hjrowan]

How long will he be left without without milk?

If it's all day then I'd say he needs something - and the "party line" here in the US is that it should be formula. Other countries say cow's milk can be introduced earlier but as he's casein intolerant that's not an option.

Can you give more details?

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Bena

That's the thing...does a baby need a BM replacement at this point?

If you're gone 8 hours? Yes, IMO. If you're only gone 4, I'd say no, assuming he eats a fair amount of solids, including a fair bit of protein and fat.

Also - if you're gone 8 hours/day without pumping, you may see your supply take a hit. It may be worth it to pump and dump. Or you can always look for someone local who can use the milk donation - we get milk nightly from a mom with heavy lipase (every night she works, that is). We have to use it immediately, but that's not a problem for us.

[Megan73]

ITA with Cristeen. I it was a few ounces a day, an alternate milk would be fine (as per Dr. Newman) but if it's all day, I would use formula.
I would also pump and dump to maintain supply so baby can be BF all day when mom is not working.

[mamadelbosque]

Another *yeahthat* for what cristeen wrote - if I was going to be gone for that long from lo and was unable to pump for that time period, I'd give formula.