How Do I Get My 1 Yr Old to Switch from the Boob to Real Milk . . . Help!

Updated on October 01, 2007
R.W. asks from Mobile, AL
14 answers

My daughter will be 1 in a week or so and I am desperate to stop breastfeeding. I have done my duty, then some lol and now I would like my boobs back for at least 1/2 year until I get pregnant again this spring.
I keep giving her whole milk to try, since it's sweeter than 2% but she is not liking it at all . . . I think I might try mixing vanilla soy and whole milk to make it sweeter, but who wants to waste all that money?!
Any suggestions are good suggestions! Thank you!

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W.E.

answers from Louisville on

I don't have any suggestions for the milk but I am thinking about working from home and was interested in what you do. I have been a stay at home mom but finacially we need 2 incomes.

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G.L.

answers from Huntsville on

If you drop one nursing every few days, before long she will be weaned. Give your breasts 2-3 days between dropped feeds to adjust. As far as milk goes....there are many other sources of calcium. Is there any history of allergies to cow's milk in either your or your husband's families? Soy milk is an option, and another option is Sweet Acidopholus milk by Purity.

Good luck

2 moms found this helpful
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J.D.

answers from Biloxi on

My twins are 3 1/2 yrs old and went from lactose free formula to lactose free milk and whole milk at a year or so old. I used half formula & milk for a bit to see if they would tolerate it. Which they did and then went completely whole milk. Then as a treat I would add a little bit of chocolate syrup to the milk, and they loved that.
About a year ago, I started using Soy milk some times, since my daughter starting having bowel issues...thought it was helpful and both loved it. I got the Very Vanilla flavor.
With the price of milk at almost $5 here, I ended up buying a big thing of Soy milk and half gallon of whole milk.
My dr says that they are fine with whole milk, but they can have 2% now, that it won't hurt them, but I just get the whole milk to make me feel better, since I know they are still growing.
You may want to try pumping (I know it will be a pain in the butt) and using equal parts of milk for a few days so she gets used to the different taste. Then slowly end the BM and see what she does.
I didn't get to BF for long because I didn't produce a lot to begin with, so formula was my only choice. Hope this helps.
The other option is to call your doctor and see what they recommend.
You are on the right track though. Just go slow to make sure she doesn't have any reactions...by 1/2 gallons to start off with, so you don't waste it, if she doesn't like it. :)
Lets us know how you make out.
Take care,
God Bless,
J. D

Mom to Ashleigh & Austin ~ 3 1/2 yrs old

1 mom found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Jackson on

Hey I just went through this with my son. I followed his doctor's advice and everything went smoothly.

The doc's advice was:
Week One bottles of 3/4 breast milk to 1/4 whole milk
Week Two bottles of 1/2 breast milk to 1/2 whole milk
Week Three bottles of 1/4 breast milk to 3/4 whole milk
After the third week whole milk until age 2.

I had to pump a lot the first week but it really helped him make the switch. The doc said that the mixing not only helped with the taste difference, but also helped his stomach with the change (sometimes it can upset their tummies and/or give them gas). I sped it up a bit and did it in about two weeks, by giving him the mixes for five days a piece instead of seven, and it still worked fine.
I also warmed the milk up to just above room temp, and made sure to hold him close and snuggle while he was feeding to try to mimic nursing as much as possible.

We are three weeks in and have not nursed for four days!

Hope this helps
S.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from Birmingham on

try cayro syrup..it will also keep her regular

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A.C.

answers from Birmingham on

First, Congratulations for breast-feeding for this time! You are right, though, and not selfish for wanting this to come to an end. My little girls were both different experiences breast-feeding, but both did not like swapping to whole milk. I first gradually changed them ( a little younger than 1 yr.) to Carnation formula in a bottle. It was the only one they would take. I started substituting it more and more for my milk in a bottle. Then, when I switched them to milk at about 12 to 14 months, they refused whole milk at all. I drink skim milk and one day i just used that. My daughter drank the whole cup!
It was a very gradual process and one child went faster than the other. We went to milk all day and nursing at night, then eventually substituted that routine with a cup of milk with dinner and bathtime and rocking and reading as a night routine. If she had had enough to drink but just wanted to nurse, I gave her water in a sippy cup as a choice. That gave her something to do, but wasn't something she really wanted to drink and helped break that habit.
Sorry this is so long, hope you find something in it that helps and works for both of you!

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J.D.

answers from Montgomery on

I am breastfeeding my 20 month old. I have to stop cuz of being pregnant again. I know that its gonna be hard but try to knock out at least one feeding, like the one before she goes to bed, she will cry at first but she'll eventually get the point. you can try adding vanilla powder, or chocolate syrup.

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T.T.

answers from Mobile on

If your baby wont wean with the distarction method, you could try rubbing vineger on your breast and telling her that the milk is yucky now and she should try the sippy cup. A few smells of the vinegar and they decide that it is yucky. T.

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M.T.

answers from Birmingham on

I could not breastfeed but I know people that did and has the exact same problem. They thought the same as you, not sweet enough, but its the comfort and bonding they love and what they are used too. A friend said she tried lemon juice to make it sour and also after she got used to that taste she switched to hot sauce. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

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A.K.

answers from Birmingham on

R.... your question cracked me up! Your little one IS getting real milk from you.

Try limiting feedings, to say 3-4x a day and 1x before bed/nap. Those are often the hardest to give up. Give her milk/toddler formula/beverage of your choice in a sippy cup.

Transitioning at bedtime might be more time consuming. Read/bath/teddybear/rocking.

Hope that helps,

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S.R.

answers from Lexington on

I have heard that you can mix your breast milk with the cow's milk to make the transition easier. Start out with mostly breast milk and just a little bit of cow's milk. Then gradually lessen the breast milk until it is all cow's milk. I was very fortunate and my son loved cow's milk right off the bat so I personally did not try this but I have heard people have great success with this method. Good Luck!

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J.D.

answers from Lexington on

I just stopped nursing my 1 yr. old and what i did is just slowly gave up nursing sessions...most of them she didn't even miss and finally I ended up giving up the bedtime feedings....I think I was more upset about it than she was... I know she's my last baby and so It was a little hard to give up that closeness and face the fact that she's growing up!....Also, try mixing breastmilk with whole milk...start off with more breastmilk then as she agrees to drink that then start adding more and more whole milk! Good luck

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D.D.

answers from Huntsville on

R.:

Have you tried warming the milk? Breast milk is warm. Warming the milk might help.

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R.R.

answers from Jackson on

First of all have you talked to your child's doctor? If not talk to the doctor. But just keep feeding her real milk and do not give in and she will get use to the real milk.

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