My sister is going to wean her 5 month old!!

[Summertime Mommy]

My sister is weaning her 5 month old because she has reflux. I am soo upset!! My mom just told me this and I want to scream!! She says that the baby isn't as sick on soy milk, and changing around her diet isn't helping the baby. I really want to give her some advice to make her continue nursing. I am so seriously upset that she is weaning her little 5 month old baby!! I feel so sad for her poor dd. I am pretty sure the real reason she is weaning is that she never nurses her kids past 6 months, she always comes up with some reason to quit. She is very mainstream, and is even leaving her baby here in FL with my mom and dad for an entire week while she goes to Las Vegas. But, I'd still like to pass along some good advice that might make her decide to continue nursing. I am just so sad for her little baby and feel like I should do something to try and help.

[alegna]

no real advice. I deal with the same thing from some in-laws.... sigh. people...

-Angela

[Peppamint]

Here's a link to the reflux information at kellymom.com if you think that might help.

From my understanding, babies often start doing better around this age because they are more upright as they learn to sit up etc. If I was your sister, I'd continue the breastfeeding and keep baby upright for awhile after each feeding. Personally, as much as I hate drugs I would rather use medication and continue nursing than give my baby formula, but that's JMO.

[Momtwice]

I hope you mean soy formula, because soy milk should not be used as a replacement for infant formula. My understanding is that it says so on every box. Some babies got sick from nutrition deficiencies that way.

You must be so sad. Kellymom is a very trustworth site. If the reflux page doesn't offer it, you can also check out what Kellymom says about allergic babies...because the improvement on soy may be only temporary if that is the issue.

[maria423]

The bad news is that her baby will be deprived of many more months (and years!) of wonderful mama's milk.

The good news is that the baby at least got 5 months, which is more than many babies get.

I definitely suggest printing out some info from kellymom and giving it to her. Maybe you can change her mind.

[mama24-7]

you could also site or give her the AAP's guidelines that babies need BM exclusively for the 1st 6 months.

it's sad. my dh's aunt is weaning her 16 m.o. who has dairy & other food issues. unfortunately, we can't *make* them cont. to nurse. we just do what we can & try to reconcile our feelings of disappointment & sadness for the babe's loss.

sus

[Siana]

I feel for you mama.

My son had reflux which later developed in to eczema. It was only when I went on an elimitation diet that I discovered his food allergies and sensitivities and now he is almost eczema free (A doctor reccomended I put DS on formula, prematurely introduce solids and use cortizone cream as a best solution I can't begin to understand why there is so much misinformation out there about infant conditions such as reflux).

Anyway, now my DS is 9-1/2 months and only eats a bean or two a day (mostly because otherwise he'd never give me any peace while I eat!) -- he is otherwise only on mamas milk. Babies with allergies like my son tend to wean off slower than healthy babies and these babies certainly need mamas milk (preferably with allergens eliminated) to give their gut some protection (protection that no artificial formula can ever replicate).

I wish I knew how you could voice your concerns to your sister, besides giving her links which she might just ignore (I know my mainstrean SIL ignores everything I email her : ). Try to just have a heart-to-heart talk with her if you have the option.

[JamesMama]

I feel for you mama, of course most of my friends didn't even attempt to nurse...so look at the sliver lining, at leaste the babe got 5 months and all that colustrum (sp?)

[LauraN]

The difficult thing about family relationships is that you can't make your sister do anything she doesn't want to do. It's so frustrating! My sis weaned her three kids at 6 mths, 5 mths and 4 mths respectively. It's frustrating b/c other than that my sister and I see eye to eye on lots of other stuff (OK, she did let her first baby CIO--but she's with me on nutrition and gentle discipline otherwise) and for the entire infanthood of her three kids I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to make her nurse them longer. But I can't make her. So I've just tried to understand that for whatever reason, breastfeeding makes her nervous and stressed (she always hits a desperation point beyond which she just can't continue.)

Anyway, I wish I could have done something about the bfing (and the CIO) but I ultimately had to realize that she's their mom and she has to decide what's best for her family, even if it makes me cringe and mourn for her kids.

ETA: Accepting her decisions has been made easier by the fact that she's one of the few people in my life who doesn't tell my I'm nuts for nursing my 3 y/o. She accepts the things I do even if they make HER cringe, too.

[MizLiz]

Maybe you could put your sister in contact with the nearest La Leche League leader to discuss her reasons for wanting to wean, why breastfeeding through reflux is the best for baby, and, if she does decide to wean in spite of all of the info, she could get advice on the most gentle and least traumatic way to wean her dd (meaning not going cold turkey on her).

It must be hard to have this going on in your family... best of luck to you and your little niece.

[DahliaRW]

Of course, how's she supposed to leave the baby for a week if she's still breastfeeding!

Some people! But, like the pps said, atleast 5 months is better than nothing (though still inadequate in my book!)