Winging from Nursing, but Dont Want to Introduce Formula, Advise on Soy or Rice

Of the alternatives you've listed, I think soy formula is the best option. If you're firmly opposed to formula, why not work on increasing your milk supply instead? This website has lots of good suggestions. http://www.kellymom.com/

Rice Dream is largely a source of carbohydrate, whereas formula is a source of protein, fat, and carbohydrate. Rice Dream essentially provides no protein, and the protein it does supply is not of high quality. Calcium is another critical nutrient to be sure and find an alternative source for. I really think that replacing breast milk with Rice Dream would be reckless and detrimental to your daughter's health. Soy formula is a better nutritional choice than regular soy milk at this age.

Rice and soy milk do not have enough fat and nutrients that a 7 month old needs right now. They need the fat/nutrition content of breast milk until at least 12 months. Formula is made to mimick breast milk as close as possible regarding fat and nutrient levels. Soy formula is what I went with after weaning. If you absolutely don't want any formula then you should probably keep breast feeding for another few months.

You only have two options here. Breast milk or formula. Your baby's main source of nutrition until age 1 is through breast/formula milk. We introduce solids so they learn to eat for taste, texture, etc.... There simply is not enough nutrition in soy or rice milk for your baby's needs. If fact, I would call it neglect if you chose to feed your baby that way.
You need to consider what you really value here. If you don't want to use formula then YOU need to start pumping often to bring in your milk and have the supply to give her what she needs. I STRONGLY recommend you speak with your pediatrician about this. YOu have to do what is best for your baby, not what is best for YOU.

For your baby nutrient I would highly recommended some type of formula I like Cartation Good Start myself. I would only use soy if your child is allergic to regular milk. Soy milk does not have all the nutrient benefits as whole milk. I breast feed all my children and supplemented with formula when the time came. My last child is the only one who did not get formula only because he rejected. He ended up being iron deciecft for about a yr of his life and that was awful.
Also it says right on the soy container not to use as a formula. Its probably like whole milk a baby digestive track is not mature enough to handle it .

Consider weaning from breast milk this early carefully. The digestive system is not fully developed until the age of 2. The medical/scientific community is just beginning to understand the connection between the maturation of the digestive system and proper training of the immune system. Introducing the wrong kinds of proteins in milk or milk substitutes before the digestive system is fully developed can lead to long term problems (allergies being just one).

It is best to breastfeed up to one year or supplement with a formula. Table food alone doesn't have all the nutrients that the baby needs. I had the same issue as you with my youngest...but in the end I gave up the battle and started mixing half pumped milk and formula together..then my pumped milk lasted a little longer and he got used to the taste. I stared mixing in a little at a time so he would take it. One ounce, then two etc. There are great formulas out there. They have soy if you are looking for soy and Similac has an organic formula as well. Good luck

If I was weaning a sub-1 year old, I would not wean to anything but formula. You could use soy formula, if you don't want to use regular formula. But soy milk or rice milk alone will not have all the nutrients your baby needs.

Why don't you want to do formula? I breast fed my dd, she stopped nursing herself at 9 months, and never would take a bottle. Because she was so small, I felt she needed the extra calories, I put the formula in a cup for a few months. This worked out great. They really should have the calories for at Least the first year, for brain development--you may want to reconsider.

S., Do you not produce enough milk due to not pumping? (To keep up the supply by meeting the demand...) Or just that the baby is drinking less, due to starting rice cereal and organic foods? Or is there just not as much no matter what you do? My son weened around 14 months. But he absolutely would NOT take a bottle for ANY kind of liquid, mommy milk, formula, water, or otherwise. I agree that until your 7 month old is older, she will need an additional source of nourishment, however. Formula is soooh expensive. I would never have been able to afford it. I think that checking with her doctor would be the best thing at this point, especially since he/she knows your daughter's developemental history, and your family needs. Good luck.
J.

If I were you I would not do either, there is not enough nutrition in either one for the needs of your baby! I have always done goat milk it is the closest in nutrition to breast milk and very easy to digest. There is alot of sites on the web about it, I would definitly look some up and read about it, best of luck.

She can have whole milk. Unless she has a milk allergy I wouldn't give her only soy milk. It's fine to alternate the two. My aunt does. My cousin will drink either soy or cow's milk. But at first she needs whole milk for the fat. It helps her brain development. Also you could drink Mother's Milk tea and boost your own milk production so you don't have to quit nursing right now. And there really isn't anything wrong with formula. I definitely wouldn't use soy formula, tho. All I've read about it, your child needs to have certain conditions for it to do any good. Regular formula is ok, otherwise just put her on whole milk. Horizon Organic is very good. My daughter loves it.