[justplainbecky]

My baby is 10 1/2 months old. He only nurses 2 times a day now (morning and bedtime) and I'm ok with that because I know those two nursing sessions aren't going anywhere anytime soon, but I'd like to give him milk during the day with meals, and my freezer stash is running low...i've probably got enough for another 2weeks to a month of giving him a sippy of breastmilk with lunch and dinner.

So would it be ok to give him soymilk or rice milk with his lunch and dinner once my freezer stash runs out? He'll be about 11 months, 11 1/2 months old. I do plan on introducing cows milk eventually.

My oldest went to soymilk and rice milk w/ bm, but he was over a year when I finally introduced them, then to cows milk at around 18 months. I just didn't know if it was ok before a year.

 

[Tine]

I wondered the same thing when my DS was 11 mos. old. He was still nursing plenty, but I was weaning off the pump and running out of EBM, and I wanted him to get used to drinking milk from a cup. I started with vitamin-fortified rice milk b/c it's the least likely to be allergenic of the "milks" available. Also, the taste is mild and slightly sweet, like mommy milk. After 12 mos. I introduced full-fat, vitamin-fortified soymilk. DS liked both.

Incidentally, we never bothered with cow milk because DH is allergic and I simply don't like the taste of it. Even though DS shows no signs of dairy allergy (he eats yogurt, cheese, etc.), we don't want to have to buy different kinds of milk all the time. So we buy soy/rice milk by the case and all 3 of us drink it.

 

[Laurel723]

I would avoid soymilk like the plague. Soy is not good for you-regardless of what the formula manufacturers and pop-culture "nutritionists" say. I know these are all from the same place, I have more at home (I'm at work now-shhh) which I can send you if you are interested-pm me if you want them.

Rice milk is not all that nutritious either-mostly sugar and water....I'd bag both of them and give him bone broth or yogurt if you are concerned about the calcium-soy milk has so many phytates in it that he won't absorb the calcium thats in it, and the estrogen content is bad for little boys. You could try feeding him raw cows milk-its much easier to digest than pastuerized, and safer too, provided you get certified raw. (See www.realmilk.com for more info and sources.) Goat milk would be good as well, though it doesn't contain as many beneficial nutrients as cows milk (or breastmilk)

My dsd was fed soy milk exclusively due to a dairy allergy, and has no end of issues from it-early periods, hypothyroidism, allergies, ADHD, fragile bones, possible PCOS-she's only 13!
It's not the panacea it's touted to be. My family doc said all of these are seen in children who are fed soymilk at much higher rates (I've seen the studies as well...)

http://www.westonaprice.org/brochure...ertTrifold.pdf (takes adobe)
http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/mtsoy.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/women/three_cases.html#2

More on childrens nutrition from the same site-
http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyour..._children.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/children/babybooks.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/children/feeding.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/children/tricks.html

Good luck, I hope that helps...you might see the Traditional Foods thread as well-the ladies there are really helpful.

 

[justplainbecky]

Wow, Laurel, thanks for the info and all the links. Very eye opening!

 

[justplainbecky]

So another question, is it ok then to just give him water with his meals, and then consider cows milk nearer a year old? He'll drink anything, thats not my concern. I just want him to get all the nutrition he needs, he eats very well, lots of veggies and fruits, some meats, and breastfeeds twice a day. Sounds like enough then, huh?

I'm such a bonehead, this is my 2nd kid, you'd think I'd have it down by now!

 

[Laurel723]

Well, if its any consolation (likely not

) I'm still waiting on my first to get here (10 weeks to go and counting!!). I've become a little obsessed with nutrition ever since my dad got cancer and so I've done tons of research...(DH thinks I'm way over the edge

)

I just read back through that post of mine and it sounded a little, well, forceful. I hope you didn't think I was

: or anything...I see my dsd struggle so much with things that could have been prevented with a little work on her moms part, and it makes me sad. (There are some who genuinely don'thave achoice but to go to formula-dsd was never breastfed at all, and they tried one brand of formula w/ milk in it-never tried anything else. DH says her mom just gave up, too, so it isn't me being snipe-y about his ex. Beyond that, I really like her, just don't think much of her judgement about food...

The food you described sounds like plenty to me-but again, definitely no expert!! Check out the other spots on the WAP website, related to childrens nutrition, and maybe that'll help? Sorry I don't have more right offhand to give you...(the bone broths are stupid simple to make, and sooo good. I just chucked a whole chicken (not the vegetarian fed ones (which are more expensive anyway!), they don't gel up right-besides, that's like a carniverous cow-doesn't make sense!) into my crockpot w/ a wacked up onion, a boupland a jalapeno (Im a endorphin junkie, btw-love hot stuff) and cooked it for 36 hours on low and poured it through a strainer into a bowl. Skimmed the fat (was very little-I was surprised) and drank it-MMM. Even in the summer when it's hot (I put a spoonful of real, whole sour cream and let it melt.

The fat helps you absorb the minerals in the broth.)

Way easier than I thought it would be. I was scared to try

but wish I'd done it sooner. (I really hope that helps-

)

Seriously, check out the Traditional foods threads. They'll be lots more help than I am......

 

[alegna]

That is not nearly enough nursing at that age. He should be encouraged to nurse quite a few more times a day. Giving other milks is a weaning technique and he needs to nurse for another year- minimum.

To encourage more nursing- always nurse before solids. Offer often. Co-sleep. No other sucking (bottles, pacifiers, sippy cups)

-Angela

 

[Goddess3_2005]

I totally agree, nursing 2 times a day is not enough nutrition for a little baby. I would cut down on solids and up the nursing.

 

[justplainbecky]

Angela, I get what you are saying, but really I can't (and won't) force him to nurse. He doesn't co-sleep and even when we tried it, he wouldn't wake up, he's a very heavy sleeper and even with a diaper change (including a cold wipe on the bottom!) he still wouldn't eat. So I just let him sleep. He's happy nursing first thing in the morning (and he drains my breast well, I can pump about 6oz, so I know he is getting plenty), and again at bedtime, draining the breast.

I'm ok with where our nursing relationship is at. If he nurses for another year morning and night, great! If he adds more sessions, great! If he decides he's done in a few months, its ok. Again I won't force him, that just frustrates me and him, and thats not good either.

I was just looking for an alternative liquid to go along with his meals when my freezer stash of breastmilk is gone.

 

[Ruthla]

If he's only nursing 2X a day, he probably needs some formula in his diet, since infants should be getting most of their nutrients from breastmilk or formula. If you're really hesitant about using formula, cow or goat milk is probably more nutritionally balanced than soy or rice milk, even if the baby isn't quite a year old yet, since he'll still be nursing.

 

[twins10705]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justplainbecky I was just looking for an alternative liquid to go along with his meals when my freezer stash of breastmilk is gone.

If you can't pump enough for him, I would recommend making your own raw milk based formula following one of these recipes: http://www.westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html

 

[alegna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by justplainbecky Angela, I get what you are saying, but really I can't (and won't) force him to nurse.

I agree with not forcing him, but it really does need to be more strongly encouraged. Breastmilk is the main nutrition that babies need for the whole first year.

-Angela

 

[Goddess3_2005]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twins10705 If you can't pump enough for him, I would recommend making your own raw milk based formula following one of these recipes: http://www.westonaprice.org/children/recipes.html

Yes this is the best option. Raw goats milk would be my second recomendation.

 

[justplainbecky]

Quote:

I agree with not forcing him, but it really does need to be more strongly encouraged. Breastmilk is the main nutrition that babies need for the whole first year.

Will be working more on it today, but if not I guess I can break out the pump and just pump a session during the day to give him a few extra cups of milk during the day.
Thanks, everyone, for your advice. My oldest kind of stopped nursing abruptly after he was already on cows milk, etc, and thinking back it was probably a nursing strike, he went from 2 feedings a day to zero. I offered for a couple weeks but he never came back.

THanks again.

 

[alegna]

Offering other milks is a weaning technique. At this age (up to at least 2 years old as a rule) he should NOT get any other milk so that he will be encouraged to get the good stuff.

Ways to encourage more nursing- offer often in new places- baths together work well. NO other sucking- sippy cups, pacifiers, bottles. Nurse BEFORE each meal or snack. Do not spoon feed at all- allow him to self feed.

good luck!

-Angela

 

[sunnysideup]

I agree with Angela that at 10mo a baby needs more than 2 feedings of breastmilk a day. Until after the first year it should be the primary source of nutrition. Ideally, the best thing would be to encourage more nursing sessions. If that can't be done for some reason, pumping and feeding the baby breastmilk in a cup is the second best option. If neither of those is possible, then baby should have formula.

 

[Tine]

I've been wanting to get back here with a follow-up comment. Just a heads-up, FWIW....

I think the nutrition/agriculture research done by the Weston Price foundation is interesting and worth considering, but it does have a somewhat anti-breastfeeding slant. (See the articles listed at the bottom of this page: http://www.westonaprice.org/children/index.html)

Interestingly, WP is also very anti-commercial infant formulas. What it advocates most strongly vis-a-vis infant feeding is homemade raw milk-based formulas.

This makes WP a bit suspect, IMO.

 

[MamaTessa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tine I've been wanting to get back here with a follow-up comment. Just a heads-up, FWIW.... I think the nutrition/agriculture research done by the Weston Price foundation is interesting and worth considering, but it does have a somewhat anti-breastfeeding slant. (See the articles listed at the bottom of this page: http://www.westonaprice.org/children/index.html) Interestingly, WP is also very anti-commercial infant formulas. What it advocates most strongly vis-a-vis infant feeding is homemade raw milk-based formulas. This makes WP a bit suspect, IMO.

Can you reference the SPECIFIC article in which WAP is "anti-breastfeeding"? The WAP foundation encourages breastfeeding!

"So, what is best for baby? It comes down to nutrition! Hands down, healthy breast milk is perfectly designed for baby's physical and mental development, but this is only true when mom supplies her body with the right nutrients." This is saying what all dr's say, too. Don't eat crap when you breastfeed.

 

[alegna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaTessa "So, what is best for baby? It comes down to nutrition! Hands down, healthy breast milk is perfectly designed for baby's physical and mental development, but this is only true when mom supplies her body with the right nutrients." This is saying what all dr's say, too. Don't eat crap when you breastfeed.

The bolded part is NOT true. Even the most malnourished women makes better milk than can be re-created with a formula.

-Angela

 

[MamaTessa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna The bolded part is NOT true. Even the most malnourished women makes better milk than can be re-created with a formula. -Angela

Don't get me wrong, I am very much a lactivist. However, I disagree with your statement. Many infants breastfed by malnourished women in third world countries die due to malnourishment. I DO NOT suggest that women switch to formula, however I do think that diet is very important when you are breastfeeding.

I know of a few women that fed their babies the WAP "formula" bacause they had to stop breastfeeding. IMO, the recipe on their site is much better than what you can buy in a can.