We know breast milk is the perfect food for babies, but what should you do when you need or want to stop nursing or you need something to supplement breast milk?
Breastfeeding for a minimum of several months should be a mother’s goal, but this isn’t always possible. Moms may have problems with milk supply, they may need to return to work and are unable to pump, some babies fail to progress satisfactorily while breastfeeding, and some babies just lose interest. Before throwing in the burp cloth on nursing, read this article on how to maximize milk supply. If you’ve exhausted all attempts at keeping baby on the breast, here are some suggestions to insure baby is nourished and thriving.
Supplements for Babies Too Young for Solids
There are several options for moms aiming to wean babies that are still too young for solids.
- Commercial Formula– Made popular in the 1950’s, most baby formula is extremely processed and not a great substitute for mother’s milk on its own. If you choose to go this route, here are some guidelines:
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Organic Only- to avoid feeding toxins directly to your baby.
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Avoid Soy which can be a major disruptor to human hormones
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Supplement with probiotic powder for optimal digestive health and omega 3’s for brain and nervous system development. You can also add one egg yolk if this is in your comfort zone. Read more here.
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Homemade Formula – This is time consuming and will turn your kitchen into a bit of science lab, but the benefits are that you get to control exactly what goes into your baby’s only sustenance. Westonaprice.org provides a recipe that can be modified for cow or goat milk as a base. You can find all the ingredient for the WAPF Homemade Baby Formula here – in one easy package.
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Happy Medium – If you’re still breast feeding and are just looking to supplement your supply, I first recommend that you try these suggestions for increasing milk supply. Then, if baby still needs more because she is not gaining weight, you can avoid commercial formula and opt instead for a simplified version of the homemade formula using raw cow’s milk or goat milk.
- **If your little one has been diagnosed with Failure to Thrive or you or your pediatrician is concerned about your child’s delayed growth, talk to you Chinese medicine practitioner immediately. Chinese herbs and other therapies often have excellent results in getting babies back on track.**
have an enzyme and energy rich liquid food from hidden fruits,suitable for babies and has other health benefits.would you like to take this for further test and on?
Just found your website, great stuff here! I just wanted to mention that the WHO and UNICEF both recommend exclusive breastfeeding (no other liquids, no solids) to a minimum of 6 months, continuing through solid food introduction to a recommended 2 years and beyond.
The WHO recommends, in this order:
-breastmilk directly from the mothers breast
-the mothers expressed breastmilk
-breastmilk from a wet nurse or milk donor
-formula
Notice that formula is recommended last, AFTER breastmilk from a donor mother or wet nurse. There is a global breastmilk sharing network called “Human Milk for Human Babies” which helps mothers in need of milk with mothers who have surplus. Here is some quick info- much more is on their website, including a comprehensive FAQ.
HM4HB is a global milksharing network, a virtual village, comprised of thousands of people from over fifty countries. We are mothers, fathers, adoptive families, grandparents, childbirth and breastfeeding professionals, volunteers, supporters, donors, and recipients that have come together to support the simple idea that all babies and children have the right to receive human milk. We use social media as a platform for local families to make real-life connections and come together as sustainable milksharing communities where women graciously share their breastmilk. HM4HB is built on the principle of informed choice: we trust, honour, and value the autonomy of families and we assert they are capable of weighing the benefits and risks of milksharing in order to make choices that are best for them. We hold the space for them and protect their right to do what is normal, healthy, and ecological.
Just wanted to point out this option, so that mothers who are struggling with supply can look into this option and decide if it might be a good choice for their babies.
Thanks for a wonderful site! Love the nutrition info, can’t wait to share with my doula clients (hard to find good nutrition info out there for expectant mamas, and I LOVE the Weston Price approach). I look forward to exploring your site more!
Blessings!
My problem is that i could not feed my baby by breast feeding coz of unable to produce milk,So i started bottle feeding but as doctor’s suggested that cow milk is not good for infants better to give milk powder.But with that baby’s stomach gets upset and has a loose motions.So really im worried which milk powder is good for him.If anyone knows any good brand name of milk powder with the experience or brand name of goat milk please suggest me soon.thnx