From breast to formula or cows milk?

[mumofexboobmonster]

Hello,

I posted previously about my previously voracious BF 10 month old baby going on strike, probably due to illness and teething. We seem to be over that now, but he is still not feeding, and instead bites down hard so I'm having to accept that he has self weaned. I know it's early, but it is possible.

I am expressing enough for 3 feeds a day via bottle and have been using freezer stores for one more feed. However I'm going away next week and won't have access to my freezer. Will I need to use formula or can I move him on to cows milk? He will be exactly 11 months old. If I need to use formula - do I get stage 1 or follow on milk? Which brand might suit an EBF baby?

Thanks in advance!

I am planning on moving on from bf when dd is 10 months. I have seen something called 'big milk' which is a new milk. Basically fortified cows milk. Think I'm going to use this instead of using formula for a few weeks then cows milk. Just an idea.

I'd just move straight to cows milk tbh. It's not as if anything magical happens at 12 months exactly is it?? Depending on where you're going f cartons might be easier though because they don't need to be kept in the fridge. If you're going to have access to a fridge and cows milk would be easier I'd just do that.

I'd go for the formula. No, nothing magical happens at 12 months, but that guideline exists for a reason. He might be fine a month earlier, he might not, and a month is still quite a large percentage of his life at that age. Formula or breastmilk is still meant to be his main source of nutrition at that point, cow's milk simply will not contain all the things he needs. You're also probably talking about giving him quite a lot in a day, I presume probably ounces into double figures. I presume he's also not having anything close to that much cow's milk now. Holiday is not the time I'd want to find out if his stomach can take it or not.

In terms of brands, they're much of a muchness. It's true some babies suit one brand than another, but you can't really second guess that. There's no brand that particularly suits previously bf babies more than any other despite what some of them might like you to think. Main thing to remember is go for first stage not second stage: there are milks sold for 6 months plus, but they're just not necessary, can lead to constipation due to the extra iron and NHS recommend against.

Will you still be pumping? If so, and it's only for 1 feed, I'd just use cow's milk.

Hmm, I'd probably do formula for the next 2 months but use cow's milk for all cooking/cereal so he gets used to the taste and switch to cow's milk at 12 months. I weaned my DTs straight on to cow's milk and started to give them some in a sippy cup once a day from about 11 months, to get them used to the taste. DTD spat it out in disgust for the first few days but I gently persevered in giving it to her and she got used to it. There is no reason you can't give him both formula and cow's milk. How annoying for you though! If only he'd waited another month or six weeks, you'd probably have no qualms about going straight to cow's milk. Contrary little buggers, aren't they!

Hello,

Thanks for your messages, I really appreciate your input! I also consulted a health visitor who said move straight to cows milk and give a multivitamin dose every day. I've sort of done a combination though for the last few days to see how he is ahead of us going away on Friday. I've been giving breastmilk (4oz) + 3oz cow in the morning, formula at 11ish and 4.30, then 4oz breastmilk + 3oz cow in the evening before bed, along with multivitamin once a day. I've been using the ready made formula in little bottles for convenience which I can see will add up financially but as it's only for a short time I'm not concerned! We will have a fridge in the room where we're going so I think I might carry on with cow for half the feeds. I've been attempting to cut down the amount I express though, for comfort and also to reduce the amount of time spent expressing as I don't really want to be tied to the pump on holiday for massive amounts of time!

He seems to really like the taste of cows milk, although he hasn't had a full bottle yet, only mixed with breastmilk. It doesn't seem to be having any adverse effects on his tummy either. He was constipated for a day or so, but I think that was beans rather than milk.

Sorry it's taken a while to get back to you - I didn't get notifications that you'd replied!