Extended Breast Feeding and the Introduction of Whole Milk

An alternative to cow's milk is Toddler Formula. I've had my son on Baby's Own Toddler formula since he was born (it's called "Toddler", but is great for infants too- better than those others). It's organic and has a lot of great stuff in it. It's ashame to me that so many infants go straight to cow's milk at 1 year and lose all that iron that they need. Iron is so important for their growth and cow's milk has hardly any. The Toddler formula also has DHA and ARA, those great things found in breastmilk. I get mine at Market Street in McKinney (where it's actually cheaper than online). My son will be 2 in November and is already 36" tall and talking up a storm (iron is important for physical growth and brain growth).

The amount of milk the doctor told you is the daily recommended amount for a growing child your son's age. It is important, not only for the calcium he needs for his teeth and bones, but, also, for brain cell development. He can, also, replace some of it with other dairy products. But try to see that he gets as close as possible to the amount of milk that the doctor recommends.

As a child care provider for over 21 years, we are given the same guidelines for feeding the children for which we give care. After the age of 2, your child can be changed over to low fat or even skim milk, as long as he gets the right amount per day as he continues to grow. But *not before* the age of 2. At that time, you can begin to watch and cut his fat intake. The calcium and vitamin D are very important, though.

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Well, my son's proof that they don't HAVE to have milk. He has a milk allergy and still drinks formula (So sad I couldn't keep on a strict diet and BF longer) b/c he can't tolerate milk (intolerance), soy (intolerance), or rice milk (wont drink it). The GI dr said the same thing 16-20 oz of milk is ideal, but not necessary except for calcium purposes, which he said also can be achieved through cheese and yogurt. Maybe their thoughts have changed about the fat issue. When I mentioned that as a concern both the reg and GI ped's said not to worry, and my son is only in the 40%ile for weight, so not hefty! So, I'd say if he likes your milk, more power to him! Cow's milk was made for baby cows, not humans as my GI and LLL leaders say! Hope this info is helpful!
R.

Hi J.,
The amount the Doc gave was a recommendation- not a "must get". Milk is just one facet of an infants diet- where as Breast Milk contains ALL he needs.
Many moms wean between 12-18 months for various reasons, but in other cultures it is noy unusual for babies to be breastfed for 2-3 years.
At approx 12 months nutrition needs change. Insted of getting all of their requirements from breast milk or formula most kids get it from solid foods.
Keep in mind that sme children are allergic to milk and never drink the stuff- they are haoppy and healthy.
I really recommend a book called Your CHild's Nutrition put out by the American Acadamy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org). It goes over nutrition, serving sizes, food battles etc... and covers birth through 18 years. It is avaiable on their web site.
PLease feel free to email me w/ any questions!
D.
Pedi RN and mom of 4
____@____.com

I breastfed until my daughter was a year old. I was only doing it 3 times a day. We were out for lunch and she had already finished her juice. I had to get her something to drink and take with us. We were at Chick-fill-a. I got her a whole milk from there and she loved it. Your child may not want it at first, but continue to use a sipper cup and whole milk. As long as you don't give in and nurse he will learn to drink the whole milk. I gave her 2 bottles of milk a day. About 18 oz. But she also ate cheese, yogart, and somedays had milk with her cereal. It all adds up. Some great advice too. ~~~~My daughter really got fat after drinking whole milk for a few months. I started splitting up her bottles with part whole milk and part 2%. She has been the perfect weight and height and is now 2 1/2 yrs old and gets only 2%. Talk to your doctor about it.

J.
I give my kids milk with each meal and water in between meals. They are very healthy. You are still nursing so you dont have to worry to much. Like some else mentioned give him other dairy product like yogurt and cheese that also counts towards his dairy intake. It does take awhile for them to get use to the taste of cows milk well at least for my 18 mo it did. I nursed my 18 mo until 14 mo when she started to enjoy milk a little more.
Good Luck! :)

My boys have all nursed until well past two, and our pedi was not at all concerned that they weren't drinking cow's milk. There are plenty of other good sources of calcium, dairy and otherwise. I'd offer him cheese, yogurt, smoothies etc. combined with other nondairy calcium containing foods. But your breastmilk is still the most optimal food for him, so keep it up!

J.,

this is the normal amount of milk protein for a 1 year old not recieving this protein from another source. However, following the formula for nutrition simply replace the whole milk with your breast milk. A lot of moms I know ensure an adequate amount of milk protein by breastfeeding first and then offering solids. This keeps baby full of good nutrition and your milk supply in for as long as you want to, it also allows time for you to explore foods your child likes without worrying if the nutritional value is adequate since your milk supplies a large amount of protein and everything else gives the complement of carb's/vitamins and minerals that may not be in adequate supply in your breastmilk for babies increased demands at this age.
If your baby discontinues breastfeeding by all means fall back on the whole milk.

Hope this helps,
K. Willis, RN, IBCLC

affect his nutrition how? My 19 month old was introduced to whole milk at 12 months and he gets around 16-20 ozs a day and is as healthy as can be. 30 pounds and 34 inches tall. Tall boy, but slimming down now that he's RUNNING every where.