How To Take Care Of Yourself During The Weaning Process
As you phase out breastfeeding, you may feel a rollercoaster of emotionsa sense of loss, joy, sadness or a mix of all three.
This is a time when self-care is really important, says Dr. Eglash. Do things that give you a sense of well-being. Thats different for everyone, so do what works for you, whether its exercising, seeing friends or playing the piano. No matter what, feel good about the breastfeeding you were able to do.
Bloomburg adds, Ill see moms who feel a lot of guilt, saying, I only breastfed my baby for four months. Ill say, What do you mean? You breastfed your baby for four months. You did a great job getting your baby off to a healthy start.
And remember, your childs need for nurturing is far from over. There are many ways in the months and years to come that you will help your child thrive with your love and attention.
What Food Should I Give To My Baby 11month For
Best Foods for Your Eleven-month-old Baby Fruits. A great source of vitamins and minerals, fruits should be an integral part of your babys daily diet. Poultry and Fish. Packed with proteins, fish and chicken can be extremely helpful in your childs brain development and growth. Cheese. Pulses and Grains. Dairy Products. Leafy Greens. Vegetables. Eggs.
Start Slowly Use The Right Nipple Relax And Enlist Help
Start by offering bottles filled with just a half ounce or so .
If your baby has been exclusively breastfed, Rosenfeld recommended starting with a wide, slow flow nipple that mimics the shape and flow of your own nipples, decreasing the chance that your baby will find it easier to get milk from a bottle than the breast.
A baby older than 3 months, however, may become frustrated with a slow flow bottle, especially if moms breasts have a fast flow, Rosenfeld warned. In that case, she recommended trying a faster flow nipple.
To ensure that baby is happy, relaxed and not too hungry, offer a bottle one to two hours after your babys last feeding. Crying is a late sign of hunger, and a hungry baby is easily frustrated.
If you are the first to offer the bottle, your baby may refuse and insist on nursing. Instead, ask your partner or another familiar caregiver to offer the first few bottles, if you can. This will not only help your baby get used to bottle feeding, but will help establish a feeding relationship with your partner , too.
Whomever is giving the bottle should try to relax and follow your babys cues. Babies sense stress and may reject a bottle if the person offering it seems anxious.
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Do Not Force Your Baby To Bottle Feed
If your baby refuses the bottle at first, do not force him to drink. Wait and try again later, an hour or two after their next feeding.Some studies have linked early overfeeding with an increased risk of later obesity.
For most healthy, full-term infants, parents can look to their baby rather than the clock for hunger cues, according to a webpage from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is called feeding on demand, or responsive feeding.
When bottle feeding, watch for signs your baby has had enough: turning away, pushing away the bottle, spitting out milk, chewing on the nipple, gagging or falling asleep.
Unlike breast milk, leftover formula in a bottle your baby has drunk from cannot be saved. Check out this A.A.P. guide to safely preparing formula.
What If I Want To Stop Supplementing With Baby Formula
If your milk supply seems low at first, there are things you can try to get things going again. For moms who are currently breastfeeding, continued breastfeedingalong with pumping between feedingswill encourage your body to make more milk.
Some babies seem to prefer the bottle to breastfeeding. If this applies to your baby, try breastfeeding when he is very relaxed or sleepy, just before a nap, at bedtime, or during a nighttime feeding. You can also encourage breastfeeding through more skin-to-skin contact.
For more helpful advice, see our guide to Breastfeeding Basics article.
* Not from human milk.
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Amount Of Formula Required
From five days to three months, a full-term, healthy baby will need about 150 ml of prepared formula per kilogram of body weight, every day. For example, a baby who weighs 3 kg will need 450 ml of prepared infant formula each day.From three to six months, this falls to 120 ml of infant formula per kilogram of body weight each day. From six to 12 months, it falls again to between 90 and 120 ml of infant formula per kilogram of body weight each day.Premature babies need more formula. At first, they usually need about 160180 ml of formula per kilogram of body weight per day. Your neonatal doctor or maternal and child health nurse will advise you.See your doctor or maternal and child health nurse if you are worried about your babys appetite or growth.
Can I Give My Breastfed Baby Expressed Milk From A Bottle
Gradually build up to giving a full feed of expressed breast milk from a bottle. Ideally your breastfed baby should be alert, but not too hungry, the first time she has a bottle of expressed milk, so that she is as relaxed as possible. Your baby may be confused or frustrated when you offer a bottle, as shes used to your breast.
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What Are The Different Types Of Baby Formula
All formula sold in Australia needs to meet stringent nutritional and hygiene standards. Most baby formulas are made from dried cow’s milk with vitamins, minerals and vegetable oils added. Straight cow’s milk is not suitable for a baby’s digestion, unless it has been altered to make it easy to digest and so the nutrients can be absorbed.
There are 3 types of formula:
- Milk-based formulas are made from cow’s milk, with added vegetable oils, iron, vitamins and minerals.
- Soy-based formulas are made from soybeans and have added vegetable oils and nutrients.
- Specialty formulas are made from cow’s milk which has been ‘predigested’ and the protein removed or reduced. There is also a range of hypoallergenic formulas available. Most specialty formulas are designed for babies who have a milk intolerance or who are allergic to cow’s milk. Formula might also be the best choice for babies who have a food protein allergy or other form of digestive, malabsorption or gut problem. Specialty formulas can be used for specific cultural or religious reasons too.
Other types of formula include:
When To Introduce Formula
Gradually transitioning to formula can make it easier for both of you. If your baby needs to be fully bottle-fed by a certain time, you’ll want to start about a month before then. This can help them adjust to bottles. It also helps ease breast engorgement for you, which might happen if you stop breastfeeding too quickly
If you plan to nurse and supplement with formula, its probably best to wait until your baby is at least three to four weeks old before introducing a bottle. By then, you’ll likely have a feeding pattern and solid milk supply.
I had to go back to work at 6 weeks postpartum and I wasnt able to build up enough of a supply to have frozen breast milk for my son while I was working so we had to find a formula that worked for him. It was hard for me at first because I felt like my body was failing my child . Enfamil® mom
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Why Combine Breast And Bottle
You may want to combine breastfeeding with bottle feeding if you:
- are breastfeeding and want to use a bottle to offer your baby some expressed breast milk
- want to breastfeed for some of your baby’s feeds, but give bottles of formula for 1 or more feeds
- are bottle feeding your baby and want to start breastfeeding
- need to leave your baby and want to make sure they have some milk while you’re away
Introducing formula feeds can affect the amount of breast milk you produce. There is also a small amount of evidence to show babies may not breastfeed as well because they learn to use a different kind of sucking action at the bottle than at the breast.
These things can make breastfeeding more difficult, especially in the first few weeks when you and your baby are still getting comfortable with breastfeeding.
Your breastmilk supply will usually not be affected if you start bottle feeding your baby when they are a bit older, you are both comfortable with breastbeeding, and you breastfeed every day.
Tips For Breastfeeding And Supplementing When Going Back To Work
Once you have your feeding schedule figured out at home, it may need just a few adjustments when going back to work. If you want to continue feeding with breast milk, you can make plans to pump while youre at work.
- Start making changes at least 2 weeks in advance to give yourself some peace of mindand to give baby time to adjust to a new feeding routine. If being at work means you will miss two feedings a day, start by giving your baby a bottle once a day.
- Give her a full week to get used to the single bottle-feeding, and then move on to two bottles per day. This will also help your breasts adjust more gradually, if you’ll be supplementing with formula instead of pumping and feeding breast milk.
- Have someone else give your baby a bottle of either breast milk or formula. Your baby knows your scent and may expect breastfeeding if she senses your presence, so it can help to have another person feed her bottles at first.
- If you want to use breast milk whenever you can, pump between breastfeeding. This will help build up a supply for day care or anyone else taking care of baby. Remember, breast milk can be stored at room temperature for up to 4 hours or up to 4 days if refrigerated. You can also freeze breast milk in clean bottles with secure caps or in pre-sterilized bags meant for breast milk.
To learn more about feeding, check out our Supplementing & Breastfeeding Basics page.
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What Is Supplementing With Formula
Simply put, supplementing is providing breast milk plus some formula feeding. There are many reasons why you may choose to supplement and many ways to do it. And, you can decide to supplement at any time during your breast milk feeding journey. Its up to you and whatever makes sense for your family and lifestyle.
Its also possible to alternate between breast milk and formula. Your baby may seem to like breast milk or formula better, but many babies like both equally. However it works best for you, combination feeding is a great way to keep giving your baby the important nutrients in your breast milk.
Common reasons for supplementing breast milk feeding with formula:
- Low breast milk supply
- Less frequent stools
Your little one may sense something has changed
Your baby associates your smell with breastfeeding, so it might be confusing if you are the one who gives him formula for the first time. Some moms find that the first bottle-feeding goes more smoothly if they arent nearby. If your baby senses your presence, he may be less likely to take the bottle and expect to be breastfed.
He eats faster from a bottle than from your breast
Some parents are surprised at how quickly their baby eats from a bottle. This is because your baby can better regulate the pace of feeding from the breast, compared to bottle feeding. Even though your baby may be eating faster, it’s not always a sign that he is hungry for more.
Baby can go longer between feedings without getting hungry
Who Should Not Breastfeed Only
Breastfeeding only is almost always recommended. But your healthcare provider may have reasons to recommend giving your baby formula or other liquids. They include:
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Your baby has certain health problems. Breastmilk only is usually recommended, but you may need to add formula or other liquids. For example, your baby may need this if he or she has low blood sugar , or loss of body fluids .
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You have or have had certain health problems. There are few reasons why you should not breastfeed your baby. Some infections can be passed through your breastmilk. Also, women taking certain medicines or using drugs or alcohol should not breastfeed..
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How Can I Tell If My Baby Is Getting The Right Amount For Growth And Development
Babies may have different needs when it comes to how often and how much they eat. Follow your babys lead. The same hunger cues that you use when breastfeeding also apply to your baby when you offer a bottle. Here are some things to look for:
Follow your babys lead
- Feed when he naturally wants to eat
- Pay attention to hunger cuesrooting for milk, sucking motions, or putting hands to mouth
- Crying can be a late sign of hunger
Measure amounts of breast milk and formula
If you are already bottle-feeding pumped breast milk to your baby, you should have a good idea of how many ounces of formula he will eat at one time. If you are only breastfeeding, its hard to be sure.
As you begin feeding your baby, he will give you cues to let you know if hes getting enough to keep him full. As he gets older, you may find that he is able to eat less often and eat more at each feeding.
To see Similac® formula feeding guidelines for babies from 1 week to 1 year old, download our baby Feeding Tracker.
Tip: You can also track feeding amounts, with Similac Pro-Advance® Ready-to-Feed baby formula. It requires no mixing and comes in premeasured 2-fl-oz and 8-fl-oz bottles.
Count the wet diapers
You can also tell whether baby is getting enough food by counting how many diapers you change each day. Six to eight wet diapers and 1 or 2 passed stools per day is common for babies fed formula. Contact your babys doctor if you have concerns about your babys eating or digestion.
Your baby’s weight gain
If At First You Dont Succeed Try Try Again
Dont be discouraged if your first attempt to introduce a bottle is met with confusion or outright rejection from your baby. In fact, this is likely to happen! Just give your baby time to get used to the feel and smell of the bottle. If you keep at it, even if it takes several attempts, youll find that your baby will be happy to take a bottle before too long.
You may need to time this just right, so that they are hungry and ready to feed but not grumpy or overtired. It may also be necessary to play around with the temperature of the formula or the consistency, in order to find the optimal feeding conditions for your little one. Some babies are fine with room temperature formula, whereas some really like to have a warm bottle ! Keep trying some of the strategies mentioned here, such as introducing the bottle with some breast milk on the nipple, or giving your baby a bottle before completely finishing a breastfeeding session.
Although they are different from breast milk and may take some time to get accustomed to, the formulas recommended here are all tasty and appealing to babies, having been made with high-quality, wholesome, organic ingredients and no artificial additives or chemicals. Sooner or later, your baby will get used to the feel of the bottle and the taste of formula, and will soon be looking forward to bottle feeds with their mother, father, favorite relative, or family friend.
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