Expert: ruth kraft - 7/7/2011

Question
My son is nearly 11 months old. He has been eating solids (rice cereal, baby oatmeal, greek yogurt and veggie and fruit purees) for about 6 months. He likes eating the solids and has always struggled to finish his milk (he doesn't nurse for very long - approx 5 mins a side) and also fights the last ounce or two of a 5 oz bottle of either expressed breastmilk or formula.

I am committed to nursing for the first year but am becoming nervous that he is still getting enough milk. He gets 16 ounces of breastmilk and formula, 3 meals of solids, nurses 2x (once in morning, once at night).

Since increasing solids, he seems less interested in drinking his bottles or nursing. The morning and evening feed seem to be shorter and shorter and it turns into a battle to keep him drinking longer than 5 minutes. He has given up the left breast and seems only interested in the right. I still pump 1-2x per day and leave one bottle (5oz) of breastmilk during the day and the rest is formula.

Is this the normal weaning process - more food less breastmilk - and i should let him set the tone for what he likes to eat? Or is it key to try to somehow get him to drink more breastmilk in this last month? I hear that most of his nutrients should still come from breastmilk until age 1.

Thank you
Mandy

Answer
Yes most nutrients should come from breastmilk until age 1, however some babies don't like to go by everyone elses rules, so my suggestion is to follow his desired path. Only HE really knows what he is feeling inside in how much he wants.

The breastmilk becomes more concentrated as a baby ages, so nursing 5 minutes does not concern me. nor does 4 ounces of breastmilk. Formula is different as half of it is waste product and does nothing for him nutritionally. so 2.5 ounces of breastmilk is equivalent ( in general ) to 5 ounces of formula.

Unless he gets dehydrated, follow his lead. He is at the age where food becomes second and developing becomes first in other areas. It sounds like he is right on target :)

Ruth Kraft CD CLD HBCP FOCEP CCCE
Mother of Emma & Jacob
Doula Trainer & Mother Mentor
www.honoringwomen.com