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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

Which milk for ebf baby from 6months to a year?

25 replies

barbamama · 03/02/2008 20:16

I am about to start weaning my nearly 6 month old. So far he is exclusively breastfed. i am trying to decide whether to keep it that way or introduce formula - maybe one evening bottle or just for cup and food. My question is what do other ebf people use for milk in food like porridge, cheese sauce etc. I don't think I could keep up the expressing for every breakfast.

Also, why can't we give then full fat cows milk until they are one when that is what is in a lot of the ready prepared baby cereals eg organic bananna porridge which say suitable from 4 months?

Can I use cows milk in food from 6 months? If so why can't I use it in bottles at 6 months?

Or have I misunderstood the guidelines?

OP posts:

MaeWest · 03/02/2008 20:17

You can use cows milk in food from 6 months, then as a drink from 1 yr.

Original poster

barbamama · 03/02/2008 20:24

if ok in food why not as a drink as well I wonder? Seems silly to have to use a formula just for 6 months.

OP posts:

harpsichordcarrier · 03/02/2008 20:26

hello barbamama, it is fine to use cow's milk from six months, the guidelines are that cow's milk shoul dnot be the main drink (sodium content too high) until twekve months.
but fine for cooking and in small quantities

MaeWest · 03/02/2008 20:27

AFAIK it's to do with iron either that cows milk doesn't contain enough iron (as the babies stores will start to deplete at 6 months) or that it inhibits uptake of iron, have read several theories.

I didn't introduce formula at all, just continued to bf and went back to work part-time when DS was 11 months.

HTH

MaeWest · 03/02/2008 20:28

or what HC said

harpsichordcarrier · 03/02/2008 20:30

hmmm yeah I don't think it's to do with iron, iron needs to be found from six months in increasing quantities
you def don't need to give formula ever. neither dd1 or dd2 have ever had it and they have survived just fine

mears · 03/02/2008 20:30

The milk in food is not replacing breastfeeds or bottle feeds initially. Cow's milk is not suitable in it's composition for actual feeds as such as a baby's needs are different to that of a calf.

I personally did not introduce formula milk when weaning because you start to decrease milk feeds when you are weaning anyway. I didn't see the point of introducing the faff of making up formula at all.

3 of my 4 children never had milk as a drink at all because they didn't like it. They got enough dairy from the foods they ate. Once established on solids they had water or juice to drink with meals.

So yes you can use cow's milk in foods. It should not substitute actual feeds of breast or formula milk initially. You can actually give it as a drink if you so wish alongside breast/formula though but it really isn't necessary.

terramum · 03/02/2008 20:34

When I wanted to mix things like porridge for DS I used water initially as I didn't want to express plus we avoided dairy until he was over a year. Then we gradually introduced milk in sauces and porridge later on.

Pannacotta · 03/02/2008 20:38

With both of mine I have used cows milk in cooking and continued to breastfeed.
Cant see the benefit of faffing around with bottles/formula when I can much more easily breastfeed which is better health wise anyway.
Neither or mine has had ever formula either and they are v healthy.

andiemustlosehalfastonemore · 03/02/2008 20:43

jack newman says cows milk can be given as a drink alongside bf after 6 months here

Original poster

barbamama · 03/02/2008 20:56

hmmm I'm confused now - add a bottle or not? Cows milk or formula? He is a few weeks off yet (22 weeks) but just seems really hungry on breast alone - and is not the worlds greatest bf'er (have been to see a councellor)

OP posts:

Original poster

barbamama · 03/02/2008 20:56

OP posts:

Pannacotta · 03/02/2008 21:11

Isnt it easier to carry on breastfeeding and then give him solids? That would be my game plan but of course its your call...

Original poster

barbamama · 03/02/2008 21:19

grateful for all opinions and advice, I seem to have got this thread going in breastfeeding too see www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1364/470816?stamp=080203211021 - you're right, maybe I should just tough it out for a few more weeks and the just do solids and bf. I am just worried that he is hungry on the bf alone.

OP posts:

Pannacotta · 03/02/2008 21:47

I'd stick it out, not long at all till he will be having solids and he can hoover it all up if he has a big appetite.
If he is hungry then just feed him more often, its only for a few weeks as you say.
Thats my opinion anyways....

andiemustlosehalfastonemore · 04/02/2008 08:32

I agree with panna I would stick it out and then introduce solids at 26 weeks cow's milk at 22 weeks is too early not long to go

dal21 · 04/02/2008 11:52

Barbamama - IMO it really depends on what you are going to be doing between 6 months to a year with regards to bfeeding.

I had this dilemna and after long consideration I know I want to stop bfeeding after 6 months, my reasons are many. Since I now know that I am definitely going to be introducing formula to DS, I have started replacing the nightly dreamfeed (which was bottle of ebm) with ff. Intend to replace a feed a week (depends on norks) with ff. I have moved onto SMA gold with no probs.

If you intend to keep bfeeding, then maybe stick it out til you start weaning. And then cows milk in the cooking etc is fine.
If however, like me you plan to stop or want to cut back then intro some ff.

Just be aware that if you do wish to continue bfeeding and replace a feed with ff - this may still impact your supply longer term and it may start tailing off...

dal21 · 04/02/2008 11:53

dilemma even. oops.

Original poster

barbamama · 04/02/2008 12:51

Thanks guys you have helped me get my head round this - the decision to be made is whether I want to keep going with bf or stop at 6 months. As I do want to keep going until a year I am going to persevere with just bf and wait for solids. dal21, good luck with the switch over - hope the norks don't hurt too much!

OP posts:

dal21 · 04/02/2008 13:25

thanks barba - and well done you for wanting to get to a year. i simply am not selfless enough.

Original poster

barbamama · 04/02/2008 14:19

6m is bloody good! Is it your first? I think we beat ourselves up too much - anything we do for our babies is selfless - even the decision to stop bf will benefit them in the long run if it makes life easier for you. Happy mummy = happy baby I alway say. I am using a year as a guideline as that is what ds1 did, pretty much of his own accord, but who knows what will happen.

OP posts:

dal21 · 04/02/2008 16:19

Thanks. yes, DS is my first. I love breastfeeding and emotionally am a little upset to be stopping - but rationally i really do want to stop. I am so glad that I got to 6 months, there were times that I didnt think i would!

Original poster

barbamama · 04/02/2008 18:35

Tell me about it - 6 months is a massive milestone. I'm sure you will be fine about it in a few weeks - all of a sudden from 6 month plus they suddennly seem much more "grown up" if you know what I mean and less newborn and fragile. Then you will just worry about how much/little food they are guzzling!

OP posts:

Littletug · 04/02/2008 20:28

My daughter is now 9 months old. She was ebf until 6 months when I started weaning. I now use cows milk in cooking but not to drink.
My daughter has been gradually losing interest in bf over the last month and really only bf first thing in the morning now.
I do not intend to introduce formula but have started giving a vitamin supplement on the advice of my health visitor.

mears · 05/02/2008 11:39

posted on your other thread

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