Thinking about weaning in a couple months....need your thoughts and opinions

[organicmom3]

So I just discovered last week that we are expecting again!  :)

I am still breastfeeding my one year old (just turned one at the end of March) and am thinking I'd like to wean in the next few months and give myself a break for a few months before having the baby.  But I'm not sure how to go about that or what to offer instead.  I know some of you will advise to keep breastfeeding ds as well as the baby but I am just not cut out for that.  So I really do want to wean probably by the time I'm 4-5 months along if not before.

The thing is, ds still seems highly sensitive to cow's milk.  We introduced butter and yogurt at almost 12 mos and his excema got worse, so that's not an option.  Does he need a higher calcium/protein like drink before I wean?  He doesn't eat much meat either...we only introduced chicken thus far (and a taste of ham on Easter) and we don't eat it much ourselves....so I'm wondering.  I read that raw goat milk would be great only I can't find any sources for it....

any thoughts? PLEASE?

[Baby_Cakes]

Since you are set on weaning (congrats on making it to the year mark, and on your new pregnancy!!), I would just look into alternative milks as you slowly eliminate nursing sessions.  

We're vegan, as is DD, so after a year, we offered soy milk during the day instead of pumped breastmilk.  We still continued to nurse on demand, but all you would really need to do is offer the other milk instead of the nursing.  The trickiest session to give up (usually) is the bedtime one, and it's completely up to you how you want to handle cutting back.  Honestly, as you move along in your pg, your milk might dry up/supply might reduce and your LO might not want the breast as much anyway.

On the whole vegan thing though, "no meat no dairy no eggs" are in DD's diet and she is doing just fine.  No crazy supplements needed.  Since your LO is a year, no need to intro a special formula.  

I have heard that goats milk is usually fine for babies with a cows milk sensitivity/allergy, too.

[D_McG]

DS was sensitive to dairy and soy so we went with rice milk. Mostly I pushed food though. I didn't really rely on a milk substitute at all. I found when I started weaning him his hunger took over and he started eating way more. Congrats on your new baby!

[organicmom3]

Thank you.  We do eat all whole foods so I guess I shouldn't worry....its just that we have held off on introducing a lot of foods due to the advisement of our naturopath....but I'm thinking we should introduce more.  We are not vegan, but I don't believe much meat is necessary and I don't believe milk is necessary at all....but we as a family haven't had a lot of success with staying away from it as much as I'd like...working on it, but at least haven't introduced it so much to ds that he should at least avoid being 'addicted' to it like we seem to be.  I guess I forgot to mention we don't do much soy either.  I guess what I'm worried about is the vitamin d, the calcium and the protein since ds still doesn't do much greens, beans(casues him gas) or nuts....the things that we as a family get the most calcium and protein from.  I guess I just need to work on introducing those things more....he does well with green beans...I wonder if there are other beans that cause less gas than others? Anyone know?

[tibeca]

Rice milk does NOT contain the same combination of protein/fat that is necessary for good brain growth in babies. I do not consider soy milk a good substitute either. There is some concern about estrogen from soy sources. There are other ways to get enough fat/cholesterol and protein, but it will require WAY more effort than substituting a drink for breastmilk.

Since cow milk is not an option I would opt for goat's milk, including having it shipped to me or traveling further to get it. A Whole Food's store is a good place to get it.
 

Comparison on fat/cholesterol in milk: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/milkcalories.html

Compare to Rice milk: http://www.tastethedream.com/products/product/1482/203.php

Choose carefully. 

[organicmom3]

I know about soy....that's why we don't eat much from it...just raw soy sauce. Whole foods doesn't sell goat's milk raw as far as I know.  I'm not sure of anywhere else that I could do that either. I'm really not all that  worried about the fat or cholesterol... mostly just the protein since he doesn't eat a lot of vegetable foods high in protein yet.

[Marissamom]

does he eat eggs? they're a great source of protein and some of the fats. 

[LadyCatherine185]

we gave liam coconut milk when i got pg with ian (around 18 mos old) and we began weaning. lots of good healthy fats. and just made sure he was eating a healthy, well rounded diet.

[JudiAU]

Many toddlers will naturally wean at around 20w. You might want to nurse on demand until that point and see if your supply drops/LO self-weans. Easier on everyone and LO will still get the max bm possible.

You could also consider offering a toddler formula if LO is slow on solids. Our local Whole Foods just started carrying a goat's milk toddler formula so that would be an option. Looks like an ethical formula. Coconut, hemp, almond, and organic soy are all nutritious.

[organicmom3]

Coconut Milk?  Hmmm....I am assuming you mean from the coconut and not canned....or if you did use canned, was there a particular brand? 

[Marissamom]

Originally Posted by organicmom3 

Coconut Milk?  Hmmm....I am assuming you mean from the coconut and not canned....or if you did use canned, was there a particular brand? 

my grocery store has coconut milk for drinking next to the cows milk. 

[LadyCatherine185]

it is in a carton, Silk makes one as does So Delicious.. the silk one has more calcium i think

[JudiAU]

Coconut milk is the trendy milk du jour, prepared as if it where a cow's milk-like beverage. So Delicious is a widely available beverage. Quite tasty, similar to almond milk. Much tastier than soy and not any of the estrogen issues.Usually shelf stable but now available refrigerated in some places to compete directly with cow's milk and soy.

http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/product.php?p=so_delicious_cultured_coconut_milk_original

[Oliver'sMom]

Originally Posted by JudiAU 

Many toddlers will naturally wean at around 20w. You might want to nurse on demand until that point and see if your supply drops/LO self-weans. Easier on everyone and LO will still get the max bm possible.

You could also consider offering a toddler formula if LO is slow on solids. Our local Whole Foods just started carrying a goat's milk toddler formula so that would be an option. Looks like an ethical formula. Coconut, hemp, almond, and organic soy are all nutritious.

I was going to suggest a toddler formula as well since it sounds like your little guy isn't a big solids eater yet.  I used Baby's Only organic formula with my first son until he was 2yo.  He wasn't ready for a full diet of solids until then, so I kept with the formula to make sure he got all of the vitamins and nutrients that he needed.

[tibeca]

Coconut milk does not have enough fat, cholesterol or protein. Compare whole cow's milk here: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/69/2

Be sure when offering solids to make up for these insufficiencies. .

[organicmom3]

Originally Posted by tibeca 

Coconut milk does not have enough fat, cholesterol or protein. Compare whole cow's milk here: http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/dairy-and-egg-products/69/2

Be sure when offering solids to make up for these insufficiencies. .

I'm sure that's true when you are speaking of  the store bought in a carton variety.  Cholesterol is not needed by our bodies (our body actually makes it's own protein)  so it's just a bit of fat and protein I'm looking for.

I'm thinking homemade nut milk or possibly coconut milk from the actual coconut may suffice...and I'm not doing this right away...it will be a few months yet...so by then he may be eating enough other high protein veggies to make up for it with just a bit of nut milk to boost.  I really appreciate everyone's input.  Very good thoughts here.  Thank you.