Ideas on How to Wing Babies off the Breastmilk to Whole Milk

Hey--
I may not give you the answer that you want, but here goes. I am a breastfeeding pregnant mother of a 3 1/2 year old. After much research I have found the following:
1. If you take the extra supplements your children will get plenty of calcium if you're getting plenty of calcium, nutrients, etc.
2. You can always give your older child a chewable calcium supplement if you feel it is necessary.
3. The human body produces exactly the right kind of milk for your child. While conventional wisdom pushes cows milk, it is perfect for a baby cow---they have four stomachs and digest things twice.
4. Children know what is best for them. There are more nutrients in breastmilk if it comes from Mom instead of from a bottle, sippy cup, etc. If your son is spitting out cows milk there's a good chance he's allergic to it or simply knows Mom's milk is better for him.
5. In the US we're a little weird about breastfeeding. We're the only country in the world that only recommends it for the first year. The World Health Organization says for AT LEAST the first two years. Psychologists agree that the kindest, gentlest way to wean is to let the child self-wean. World-wide the average age that a child will self-wean is between 3 and 4. After toddler hood a child does not need milk. Calcium, yes, but not milk. To self-wean you use the don't offer, don't refuse method for the most part. My very attached 3 year old has boundaries around when I allow him to nurse. Basically for a few minutes at nap time and bed time....and once in a while when he's really emotionally upset for comfort. I do refuse at times and he respects those boundaries because I've held firm to them.
6. You might want to call a La Leche League leader for support. It sounds like you may just want your body back and need some other mother's to talk to. You sound frustrated about being at home with your babies and this breast milk issue is more about that then anything else. Remember, you have the rest of your life to work. Your little ones are only little for a very short time. Try to enjoy them because soon they'll be off and running and you will have more freedom.

I'm guessing none of this is what you wanted to hear, but hopefully it will help you adjust to your current situation.

Cows milk is not always the best food for humans and your child may instinctively know this. Try Almond milk which is high in calcium and more digestible than cows milk. Almond milk is at Raleys in the healfood section.

Breast feed as long as you can stand it -- studies show it is the best for your child. If it drives you nuts stop. Same with going back to work if you can stay with your children with out loosing your mind stay if you would rather be at work go to work. Everyone is happier if mama is happy.

Why does either baby need to go to breast milk. Cows milk is good for building big strong bones in cows. America has the highest rate of osteoporosis and the highest rate of dairy consumption. Excess protein is the cause of weak bones as the body excretes calcium when there is too much protein. Dont take my word. Do a little research and read Eat to Live and The China Studay. Sounds like you are doing a great job with your babies.

I am glad you are breastfeeding your boys. However, 2 years old is a bit much. Try 1% milk and warm it up to room temperature. It is thinner than whole milk. If you are pumping and feeding them from a bottle, mix the real milk with the breast milk and just keep increasing the amounts of real milk. Don't be worried that they are not getting enough calcium. They can get all the calciunm they need from food.....vegatables, cheese and yogurt. If you are still nervous about their intake give them a childrens vitamin. You need to take control and tell them what they are going to have. Of course they want what they want but you need to put your foot down and do what is most comfortable for you. Breatsfeeding is alot of work and sounds like you have been doing it for a long time. Trust me, babies will adapt to change if you stick with it. Don't let your mother-in-law get you down.......God Luck

As far as the 2 year old goes. You need to just stop that yourself. If he won't take whole milk, try 1% or 2%. If you are worried about getting enough calcium, there are alot of foods and juices with added calcium, not to mention children's vitamins. My philosophy on bottles or breastfeeding is, when your child starts walking around that's a time to stop. Besides, a child walking around with a bottle might fall and jab that bottle in thier mouth. With a cup, you tend to keep them still while drinking. Let your mother-in-law know that you appreciate her input, but those are YOUR children.

Hi,

I'm a Mom of 2 kids (8 yr old son and 13 month old daughter) and have successfully breast fed them, and am still nursing my daughter. I would suggest using milk in dry cereal (Rice Krispies or Cheerios), farina and/or oatmeal as a means of introducing it to your son. You'll be "sneaking" in the milk but he will be more concentrated on the taste of the cereal. Once he's turned a year old, you might want to add a little bit of honey to the milk.
Keep seeking alternative methods and eventually there will be one that your son will find suitable!

Best of Luck!
MN

K.

Your 2 year old you can wean at anytime. If he won't drink cows milk give him watered down juice and insted of milk do cheese or yogurt. He is old enough that he can be weaned. Your 10 month old needs to be on breast milk or formula until 1. You are supposed to wait until 1 yr to introduce cows milk. Good luck~

L.

I breastfed my son until 15 months and my daughter until 20 months. It was much easier weaning my son, but neither one really ever took a bottle. My son weaned to a bottle, but had it for about a month before he lost interest. He wasn't really into the whole milk, but he did eat cheerios with milk EVERY morning and always drank the milk. My daughter wouldn't even take a bottle and that is why it took longer to wean her. When I finally did stop breastfeeding she was not drinking whole milk. She received her nutrients from fruits, vegetables, chicken, turkey and yogurt. She would eat yogurt like it was going out of style. I wasn't really into giving her gogurt, but grandma did and this also helped. Gogurt has a lot of added sugar, but she was at least getting the calcium. I guess my advice would be to introduce some foods that contain calcium and protein and not worry so much about the cow's milk. I never forced whole milk on my children and they both love it now! They drink a min. of 10 oz a day. Good luck and happy weaning!

Oh my... you have quite a few challenges in your life. About your question... first, I think your MIL has had her say and needs to respect YOUR decision about how long to nurse your children. The advice I've always received from pediatricians regarding cow's milk is kids can start it at 1 year. Back to the bottle... my guess is that as long as you are present, your boys will want to nurse and/or continue to refuse other methods of feeding. Ideally, you could get help from your husband and MIL... if they would give bottle feedings of breast milk (for the baby) while you leave the house for a bit that might help. The two-year old is a bit trickier... my guess is that he'll eventually start drinking whole white milk if you give it to him and just take it away... "Okay, I see you don't want that right now" when he spits it out. Do they drink water? Perhaps presenting two options w/meals would help. I strongly believe that weaning your kids at this time will help you be the best mom you can be. As for employment... I don't know what you 'do', but is part-tiime work an option? Because a mom who is ready to return to the work force will be a better parent if she can do so.

I happen to be an at-home mom getting ready to wean my 3 year old--I am ready, he is not. We all need to travel our own paths as individuals AND parents. I wish you the best. And I also wonder if you and your husband could have some counseling. His lack of support for you is... unacceptable, in my opinion.

My youngest son, now 15 months, was a hard one to ween. Here is how I did it. The first 3 days I added 2 ounces of milk into his 8 ounce bottle of breastmilk. After the three days passed I upped it to 4 ounces milk, 4 ounces breastmilk, three more days passed and it changed to 6 ounces milk, 2 ounces breastmilk, 3 more days and it was all milk. It took a little bit but once you get them used to the taste they will take it. My son was drinking out of the Nuby 3-in-1 trainer... with the sippy ccup nipple.
Good luck and happy holiday's!

My kids both weaned themselves early, so I don't really have much to suggest on how to wean, but I did want to share with you that my kids (6 and 3) don't drink milk. They just don't really like it. Consider separtating your two issues: one is waening and the other is dietary intake of calcium. It is very easy to get calcium from other sources besides milk. Also, some experts believe that calcium in other sources is much more easily absorbed by the body. So, in my house, we eat sesame seeds on top of food or in granola or cerial or oatmeal. We have a "dessert" every night of plain whole milk yogurt with Agave Nector and sunflower seeds. We eats lots of almonds and my kids, amazingly enough, love seaweed! So maybe consider offering other types of food to your children. Most kids LOVE yogurt!

I have one friend who put band-aids on her nipples every day and when her toddler went to breast feed, she said, "Oh, you can't, Mommy has boo-boo." And the child was fine with that!Good luck!

T.

When I switched from formula to milk I did it gradually. The first week I used 75% formula and 25% milk. Then the next week I mixed it 50% formula and 50% milk. The third week I mixed 25% formula and 75% milk. And finally the fourth week I gave my son 100% milk. This gave him the opportunity to get used to the new taste gradually and I did not have any problems with the switch. Good luck.

M.

K. T,

I was nursing my child and I slowly would mix breast milk and similac. Then slowly gave her other drinks and water. Then slowly started giving her whole milk. i started off with 2% milk at first because she was lactose intolerant. But i think she carries her father's genes on the milk thing because he doesn't drink milk often either. Now that she is 5 she barely drinks milk even if it is in cereal. I still make her drink it because she needs the Vitamin D for her bones. She complains but she end up drinking it but it is so often she eats cereal and milk together. Good Luck!

Hi K. T my name is M. Lopez, I am a Dr. from Venezuela, a Midwife in Las Vegas, and a Mom of 2 children. Diego my oldest is 6 and Paola is 2. They both wing themself of the breastmilk at different times. My Son was almost a year and my Daughter at 25 months. I think that they have their own, process to do it. This way is less traumatic for them. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your babies as far you are getting your prenatal vitamines and an excelent nutrition yourself. But I understand that you want to stop. Have you try soy milk, goat milk or organic milk?. With my daughter I started to tell her that she could nurse just at night before bed and in the morning when she woke up, and she was old enough to understand. Then I told her that she could nurse at bed time only and little bit after she wasn't interested anymore. Remenber that your children get calcium from other sources like dairy products( cheese, yougurt) salmon, sardines, seafood and dark green leafty vegetables.Also almonds,oats, figs, prunes, sesame seeds, soybeans and tofu are great sources of calcium. I know that kids are peculiars eaters but as parents we have to introduce them to all sources of healthy foods little by little and they lear by example as well. I hope that this can healp you some how with your concerns.
Happy Holidays
M.

Hi K. T,

Have you tried adding the smallest amount of whole milk to your breast milk, and once your children drink that, you up the whole milk? So maybe start out 90% breast milk, 10% whole milk for a week, then change it gradually to 80/20, 60/40 50/50 and so on.

Good luck!

I would suggest mixing your breast milk with skim milk and then gradually move up to whole milk. The consistency is so much different between breast milk and whole milk...like water and cream. If it's gradual, they may take it eventually!! Good luck!

My mom had the same problem with my brother, he wouldn't take a bottle or whole milk-didn't matter the flavor. Her remidy was to add kayro syrup (light corn syrup) to the whole milk and this made it sweet like the breast milk and viola he took it! They (pediatricians) say not to give whole milk until 12 months, but my 2 kids took it at 10 months, and never had a problem. My youngest is now 5 weeks old so it will be a while before she's to that point.
For your two year old (now this wont work if you still nurse your 10 mo. old) you could do what my neigbor did when her son turned two-she put band-aids over her nipples and told him she had boo boos and he never asked again.

Start blending a little whole milk into the bottle with the breat milk. As time goes on start move the ratio toward the whole milk spectrum with more whole milk and less breast milk. It will be a slow and smooth transition and will allow his tastebuds to get used to the new flavors. He will grow accustomed to the tiny changes and by the time it is mostly whole milk, he will be used to the taste.

I did the same thing with rice milk and regular milk. My little one is prone to ear infections and cows milk is the culprit. We did the switch and now he LOVES rice milk. (and not a single ear infection and NO TUBES OR SURGERY)

Good Luck,

J. G

We did 10 oz. whole milk with 1 serving chocolate Carnation Instant Breakfast in a cup and then in an Avent flat nippled cup. It is high in fat, so if you don't want them to gain a lot of weight, you might try 2% for a while, but the baby does need some fat. Our son who liked this never did anything but nurse for 11 months straight. When he discovered this, he weaned in two days! Ouch!! GL

You shouldn't need to worry about nutrition of both your toddler or infant while they are still breastfeeding.

From kellymom.com: "Many nursing moms are told that they must introduce cow's milk at a year. Your nursing toddler is already getting the best milk he can get - mother's milk! Breastmilk has a higher fat content than whole cow's milk (needed for baby's brain growth), and all the nutrients of human milk are significantly more bioavailable than those of cow's milk because it is species specific (not to mention all the components of mother's milk that are not present in cow's milk).

There is no need for additional milk or (or the equivalent nutrients from other foods) as long as your baby is nursing 3-4 times per day. Cow's milk is really just a convenient source of calcium, protein, fats, vitamin D, etc. - it's not required. There are many people in many parts of the world who do not drink milk and still manage to get all the calcium, protein, fats, vitamin D, etc. that they need."

(http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/toddler-foods.html)

But breastfeeding is only working if both you and baby are still happy with it. If you're feeling that you want to stop bfing your toddler, here are some websites to find helpful advice for gentle weaning:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/index.html
http://www.llli.org/NB/NBweaning.html

As with all parenting choices, do what you feel is best for your family, not what your mother-in-law says.
Good luck!