How do I introduce milk?

[ShamroxGirl]

Declan is a very happy nurser. He's slowly nursing less - both in length and # of sessions per day. He nurses 4x a day most days.

So our pediatrician said that D should be offered milk and IDK how to do it. Someone told me to mix it with breastmilk but aren't they different in fat content, will they mix well? D had to be tested for anemia, because he's breastfed, but the ped told me that whole milk won't give him iron.... and that breastmilk isn't really giving him much nutrition anymore.

But he never told me to wean him....

D eats 3 solid meals a day and snacks too, but he's only in the 20-30th percentiles in weight. To me he looks like he's too skinny. But he's in the >95th percentile in height. So I suppose if he were in the 50th percentile he'd look less skinny and more normal.



On a side note... I just watched a Baby Story... since when is it "medically necessary" to have a C-section after "baby's heart rate dipped twice"? WTF?

[etenney]

Could you mix it with soy milk? Or give him some milk-based formula first, then slowly replace it with milk by mixing the two for a while? And I would not worry about his weight if he's eating and nursing well and isn't sick. He'll probably be tall and thin all his life, that's just who he is. And BTW, I think the cow's milk and BM would mix together fine.

[ShamroxGirl]

Well I tried to pump and I got less than 1/2 a syringe. I know he nurses well and gets MUCH more than that. It HURT to pump anyway...

I don't want to give him formula.

We started with Soy Milk yesterday and he seems ok with it. It's not his favorite, but he drinks a little bit at a time.

[duck411]

I wouldn't rush into giving him milk unless you just feel like you want to decrease his nursing frequency, eliminate it, etc.. My DD is going on 1 and her bloodwork is great - and her nursing sessions are really down now that we're hitting the solids heavier and my pediatrician has not once mentioned introducing milk or supplementing with formula. She is also in the 25th percentile for her weight. But she is sooooo active. And don't let them fib to you and say your b'milk isn't so nutritous anymore - that's a load of crap. You don't need to force milk or any other liquids on him as long as he's nursing, no matter how few... as long as he is having adequate wets/dirties and happy/active!!! GL w/ your decision mama! Wish you and your lil guy the best!

[ShamroxGirl]

Ty Celia! I was sort of wanting to give him something more nutritious than juice or water. He's still a big nurser, and for him a little soymilk won't make the booby less desireable!!

This afternoon he had what looks like a prickly heat rash on his chest, when he gets heat rashes (and he does, this is Hawaii, lol) they're slightly raised and small... this one has some larger almost pimple like bumps and they're very raised. That's not an allergy rash, right? He's had tofu before, he's been eating that for months. He does have a runny-nose/nasal post drip sort of thing he picked up from a couple of kids last week..... so maybe that's what the rash is coming from?

[CierosHotMomma]

Originally Posted by etenney Could you mix it with soy milk? Or give him some milk-based formula first, then slowly replace it with milk by mixing the two for a while? And I would not worry about his weight if he's eating and nursing well and isn't sick. He'll probably be tall and thin all his life, that's just who he is. And BTW, I think the cow's milk and BM would mix together fine.

I believe many people advise against soy milk because of the estrogen like hormones, especially for boys.

[ShamroxGirl]

Originally Posted by CierosHotMomma I believe many people advise against soy milk because of the estrogen like hormones, especially for boys.

ok... then what am I supposed to let him drink?

[Nicki]

Originally Posted by ShamroxGirl ok... then what am I supposed to let him drink?

There is rice milk, almond milk...lots of different kinds.
Do you have a healthfood store near by?

[ShamroxGirl]

Sort of, it's about a half hour away. But we're moving in like 3 weeks so we probably won't have access to one for about a month and a half.

[ShamroxGirl]

Is it ok that he eats tofu? Tofu is one of the few things he'll eat nearly every time I offer it and besides ground beef it's the only meat or meat-like thing he'll touch.