SAHM, EBF, Milk Transition Help

So I feel like I'm a broken record about milk transitioning, but I think I just really need a game plan.

I'm a SAHM and we've always EBF. LO is 15 months today. She spits out all the milk, even pumped BM from a straw cup. Won't take a bottle. We're down to 4 nursing sessions a day, though sometimes they seem really short. We nurse in the a.m., before each nap, and before bed.

I'm happy to let LO self-wean or continue nursing for awhile, but I worry she's not getting enough nutritionally. Especially days when she doesn't want to nurse much OR eat much. She's never been one to cry or fuss when hungry for milk OR solids. If I accidentally miss a nursing session or solid session, she wouldn't even let me know. That's why I'm still addicted to Baby Connect!

I want to be able to give her any kind of milk at this point to supplement some calories, but not quite sure how to do so?

Anyone been in a similar situation and have tips on what to do? Should I try to transition the nurse-to-sleep habit and replace with a bottle, or a straw cup? It just all seems much more complicated than BF'ing, but it needs to be done eventually right? Plus, I'm leaving her for the very first time for a few days this month!

hilsy85
squash / 13764 posts

Jun 6, 2014

We were in the same situation! Does she like cheese/yogurt? That was our saving grace--even tho he hated milk, he loves those things and they're great for calcium/fat. If you are really truly concerned she's not getting enough nutrients I would talk to the pedi about a vitamin

If you're still nursing her I really wouldn't worry--she's getting lots of good stuff from that! For calories I would just make sure what she does eat is calorie heavy--avocado, olive oil for sautéing, butter mixed in. Trying to replace nursing sessions with milk never worked for us, so I really tried not to worry. I think I've told you that Lo hated milk--never drank more than an oz, if that. Well now he loves it!! I think the chNge actually happened when I weaned. So just bc she hates it now doesn't mean she always will! I would just keep offering in a cup.
Silva
cantaloupe / 6017 posts

Jun 6, 2014

I would check with your pediatrician if you are worried about her nutritional needs- I asked ours, and he said as long as I'm nursing I don't need to worry about a supplement / pushing certain foods. Do you still give vitamin D? He did say I could consider continuing to do that, but since its summer I'm not really worried about it. Did they check her iron levels at her 1 yr check up?
I think calcium is the other big one- how does she do with cheese or yogurt? Would she drink a smoothie- you could make a smoothie with yogurt and milk (plus bananas, berries, and spinach) and it would get her a ton of the good stuff.
How is her growth overall? I know she is small, but is she pretty much sticking to her curve? T dropped a little bit, but for the most part continues to hover around the 18% for weight and 10% for height- and as long as she keeps moving on the curve I'm trying really hard not to worry about the fact that she looks SO small compared to other babies.

Honestly, she's probably fine. Its hard to worry when they eat so little sometimes. I've seen good advice on the boards to look at a whole week rather than just one day. I know my kid will sometimes eat like a lumberjack, and other days barely touch a thing- but it really does even out over the course of a week.
bpcmarj
pomegranate / 3729 posts

Jun 6, 2014

LO is 2 and has never had other milk. We are still nursing 2-3 times a day. The ped has said so long as she is having cheese or yogurt for the fat and calcium, she will be fine. He also mentioned giving her a tums now that she is older as a calcium supplement.
lamariniere
pineapple / 12566 posts

Jun 6, 2014

I also agree with cheese and yogurt. When I stopped BF at 13 months, DS would drink less than an ounce of WCM at a time in the beginning (straw cup). I talked to the ped and she said it was fine as long as he had 2-3 servings of other dairy products every day. We did yogurt and cheese and then he finally got the hang of the straw cup and would drink 6-8oz from it.
Kemma
grapefruit / 4291 posts

Jun 6, 2014

Miss A will drink cow's milk in a sippy as a drink rather than a substitute for breastmilk, would that work for you?
shopaholic
bananas / 9973 posts

Jun 6, 2014

@hilsy85: Yes. She likes yogurt and we do a lot of that. Cheese not so much. Have you left L for a couple of days yet? I'm getting worried about what'll happen when I'm gone for 3.5 days.

@Silva: I know I do need to call him. My sister keeps telling me she thinks K could be anemic. They never checked any of her levels at her 1 yr appt and told me I didn't need to give Vitamin D if we get sunlight. She did require a nutrition check up at 13 month because she fell off the curve, but he was happy with her progress and she's always been low on weight - though she feels a lot heavier to me!

@bpcmarj: @lamariniere: Have you left your LOs for a few days yet and if so, what did they drink while you were gone?

@Kemma: I'm going to pull those out and try them!
Mrswonderwoman
cherry / 104 posts

Jun 6, 2014

We've done exclusive breastfeeding too. I work very minimally outside the home (I'm a wedding photographer) so LO hasn't had too many bottles in his life and was never a huge fan. Fast forward to now, he's 17 months and still nursing strong. I've had a few months off from shooting, but start strong tomorrow and I am SO worried. I don't pump anymore, so no milk from mama for him. Just a few freezer bags left! So DH is going to try organic whole milk for naps (we don't nurse to sleep, but it does help him settle down) and breast milk in a bottle at bedtime. Who knows how that will go! He's also not a huge eater still, but getting better. I used to freak out about it, but I've learned to trust him. Believe me, your LO won't let themselves starve!

We introduced owm in a sippy first. He was perplexed at first. But no big deal now. We didn't give it to him until maybe 2 weeks ago???
ALV91711
pomelo / 5621 posts

Jun 6, 2014

Have you tried giving her milk with meals instead of to replace nursing. That way she could get used to it and even if she doesn't drink much at first you could slowly work at getting her to drink more and nurse less.

DS is at daycare 10 hours a day and drinks milk fine there and then nurses when we are together and on the weekends. On weekends he will drink a bit of milk but prefers to nurse instead.

I haven't left him for multiple days though, so no advice about what to do for that. Are you going to be pumping while you are apart?
Arden
honeydew / 7589 posts

Jun 6, 2014

@shopaholic: In regard to iron and your worries about anemia, will she eat beans or spinach? Or creative options like humus or spinach dip? That's how Vi gets a lot of her iron.
lamariniere
pineapple / 12566 posts

Jun 7, 2014

@shopaholic: I didn't until he was 18 months and by then he was drinking WCM no problem.

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