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How To Get An Infant To Revert Back To Breast Feeding From Formula Milk?
Question: I have a 9 month old that I'm trying get him off formula and put him on breast milk. What is the best way to do this?
Brief Answer:
At this age complementary feeding is the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi...I agree with you and appreciate your endeavours in getting back your kid from formula feeds to breast feeds. But exclusive breast feeding is best for the babies till 6 months of age and later on it should only be supplementing the complementary feeds.
I will first discuss about complementary feeds and then on method to revert back to breast feeds.
Regarding complimentary feeds - At this age you can start giving Cerelac stage one rice or Nestum rice stage 1 etc. All are same in calories and energy. Only thing is palatability which is subjective for each kid.
Other home-made food options will be -
1. Pulses and rice well cooked and made into a porridge along with ghee
2. Boiled apple or banana and mashed into a paste.
3. Any made cereal porridge preparation with additional ghee added.
Remember certain principles like -
1. Add one food material / cereal or fruit per week. This will be useful because if he develops vomiting or diarrhoea, we will know what to avoid.
2. Add vegetables and fruits made into a paste surely to avoid constipation.
3. Do not add too much sugar as it may cause diarrhoea.
The best way to revert back to breast feeding is to stop bottle feeding or formula feeding at a go suddenly. Initially the kid may be fretful and crying for formula feeds as he is used to it and the sensation of the bottle at the lips...but eventually the baby will learn to suckle at the breast and during this transformation the complementary feeding will give his the necessary energy for growth and development.
But never make breast feeding as major feeding proportion at this age.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
At this age complementary feeding is the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi...I agree with you and appreciate your endeavours in getting back your kid from formula feeds to breast feeds. But exclusive breast feeding is best for the babies till 6 months of age and later on it should only be supplementing the complementary feeds.
I will first discuss about complementary feeds and then on method to revert back to breast feeds.
Regarding complimentary feeds - At this age you can start giving Cerelac stage one rice or Nestum rice stage 1 etc. All are same in calories and energy. Only thing is palatability which is subjective for each kid.
Other home-made food options will be -
1. Pulses and rice well cooked and made into a porridge along with ghee
2. Boiled apple or banana and mashed into a paste.
3. Any made cereal porridge preparation with additional ghee added.
Remember certain principles like -
1. Add one food material / cereal or fruit per week. This will be useful because if he develops vomiting or diarrhoea, we will know what to avoid.
2. Add vegetables and fruits made into a paste surely to avoid constipation.
3. Do not add too much sugar as it may cause diarrhoea.
The best way to revert back to breast feeding is to stop bottle feeding or formula feeding at a go suddenly. Initially the kid may be fretful and crying for formula feeds as he is used to it and the sensation of the bottle at the lips...but eventually the baby will learn to suckle at the breast and during this transformation the complementary feeding will give his the necessary energy for growth and development.
But never make breast feeding as major feeding proportion at this age.
Regards - Dr. Sumanth
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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