Expert: ruth kraft - 1/16/2010

Question
Hi, I have been breast feeding my son for 11 months exclusively now, but feel that he is ready to be weaned off.  He was born 7lbs 8 oz now weighs 18 lbs.  He normally would have breast milk at 6:30, then breakfast for example readybreak with cows milk, then breast at 9 am.  Nap from 9:30 - 11, breast, at 12, lunch and pud.  2:00 PM breast then nap.  On wake breast then at 4:30-5:00, dinner and pud, 5-6 breast, then bath then breast/bottle and bed.  I am trying to make the transition from breast milk to bottle milk as i feel he could do with a little more.  I have 3 children in total, both of the others no problem and very 'bonny'.  George (my 11 month old baby) not so keen on bottle and too be honest find it quite difficult to get a whole pint of formula milk down him, he prefers full fat cows milk, but understand I'm partially breast feeding him as well which would obviously play a part in him not wanting as much formula.  All i want is the best for my little one and i think now is the right time for him to switch to the bottle.  He has had a cold for a month or so, been on 3 types of antibiotics now becoming better, not so 'chesty', i want to 'beef' in up a little.  Any ideas much appreciated.  Michelle

Answer
Hello. If you son is having cols and issues with illness, it is MUCH better for him to continue breastfeeding. In fact, the formula can make it worse. The cows milk causes more mucus in the body, ( any cow dairy does... cheese, cows milk etc.. ) So his chesty cough and mucousy colds, could be made worse by the formula and cows milk. Here in the US, the academy of pediatrics reccomends nursing for at least  full year but preferably 2. I don't know how the UK does it but I know we see many studies from the UK that also promote breastfeeding much longer.

So my suggestion would be, that you should continue nursing vs weaning.Becuase what will likely happen if you take him off the breastmilk, he will get sicker. He will no longer have the anitbodies from your immune system from nursing which will hinder his ability to get better. If you stop eating dairy, and not let him have any, he very well could improve his colds and cough. He might have an allergy as well and formula often makes that worse.

On another note, a baby who is bottle fed often has more issues with teeth decay and speech impediments. SO at 11 months old, skip going to a bottle and go right to a sippy cup or straw top drink as that is much better developmentally.