Transitioning to Formula - Haverhill,MA

Hi
24oz of breastmilk is just right. But you mentioned him eating 5 jars of baby food a day? He should be getting more table food. Infants generally can have anything like canned fruit or vegg (or fresh cooked very soft.)

Nutritionally speaking he needs:

2 servings of fruit/vegg group at each meal.

1oz of protien twice a day.(I suggest buying jar meats and mixing it with something he loves...sweet potatoes?)

He also needs a serving of iron fortified cereal at each meal.

two or three small snacks a day should include a bread group and a fruit/veggie group.

hope this helps

Wow- what a hungry little boy! My 10 mo old daugther does formula and breat milk. I nursed exclusively until 6 mo. and then we started solids and slowly worked in some formula. We've just been using the Parent's Choice Wal Mart brand which has been fine for here (we recently bought the organic version and it's been great).

My daughter also loves to eat- I've been giving her more and more table food- we do cherioes, bananas, kiwi, bread, cheese, puffs, cooked squash, canned pears (wihtout sugar), yo baby yogurt, french toast (yolk only), peas, corn, quartered grapes- and just about anything else soft enough that I can cut up-

as we started giving her more table food she started nursing/taking less and less formula. She is now down to nursing in the morning when she wakes up, at night before she goes to bed and before her nap. Other than that I give her one 4p.m.ish bottle of formula along w/ breakfast, lunch and dinner-

to transition to formula I started by mixing the formula w/ breastmilk because she initially refused the formula straight out. I also used to warm the formula bottles in a cup of hot water, but now she'll just take it however I give it to her! Which can be quite convienent. I often carry a bottle of dried formula w/ me as well as a bottle of water when we go out in case she gets hungry/fussy- works like a charm!

I think I would try more and different foods. Does he like the baby rice cereal or oatmeal? You can add that twice a day. Also, you can try some foods beyond the jarred purees...mashed banana, mashed avacado, soft small bites of peaches or pears, cheerios, pieces of pasta, etc. There's a great book called Super Baby Food that give you a chart of what foods you can try when as well as recipes for making your own food or snacks.

I nursed and used formula when my babies were that age. I think 25 ounces is enough. Yes, you can do both, but go gradual on your body when you wean. Maybe drop off one of your pumping times (replace amount with formula for him) for about two days, then drop another one...wait a few days...continue like that. I think the guideline was broad...20-32 oz per day.

Hi R.,

I have an 8 month old daughter myself. I was hoping she would never have formula, but when I transistioned from part time work to full time which was right when she was 6 months old, I could no longer keep up with the pumping, so now she does have both breastmilk and formula and she has no problems with it. I did wait until 6 months to start solids which she gets twice a day. I always nurse her when I am with her, and if I pump twice at work, I can usually get one good bottle. She only eats 5 times a day, so during the work week I nurse her in the morning and at night so 3 feedings are breastmilk and 2 are formula. When I asked my pediatrician about which formula to use, his answer was it doesn't matter they are all the same. I use Enfamil Lipil because I had a sample of it and she ate it no problem, so we kept giving it to her. As far as how many ounces a day, rom what I've read on kellymom.com most babies eat between 25 and 30 ounces a day of milk or formula.

I hope this info is helpful, good luck with everything!

1st - you should know that 25 oz in a day is amazing! Most people get like 12 -15, me personally I would get about 6 oz a day when I pumped!

2nd - your boy is clearly getting enough to eat if he is 23lbs at 8 mo.

3rd - you can give milk and formula as long as you want, you dont have to start cow milk the day he turns one.

4th - as far as what formula to give him.... WIC says to give Nestle good start... there are always coupons for that brand too but I would ask your pedi, they will be the best to recommend something. Mine recommended Similac becasue it was the only brand that didnt have sunflower seed oil in it(?).

5ht at 8 months I believe he only needs 20 ounces of milk/formula in a day. Check with your pedi to be sure (put a call in and ask to speak with a nurse - this will be faster - and they will have an exact idea to give you).

Good Luck!

Hi R., I have a 21.5 lb 9 month old who I weaned around 7 months (gradually) to formula. We just had his 9 month appt and his doctor said between 20-32 oz a day. (we average 26-28 a day). We do Parent's Choice Organic because it's half the price of Similac Organic (at Wal-Mart). At 8 months we put pieces of soft foods or even thick puree on his tray - and self-feeding is a huge hit. I asked about protein & the doctor said it's a good way to fill him up - we do either yogurt, egg yolk or cottage cheese once a day. Best of luck to you, he sounds like a very healthy boy!

Hi R.,

I have a 6 month old who seems to be constantly hungry too. She's naturally very tall, so I can see why she'd be hungry. I stopped breast feeding early, but have transitioned from feeding her the Nestle's Good Start Supreme to the new product Nestle has, Nestle Good Start Supreme: Natural Cultures...it helps with the immune system. She had a runny nose, and slight cough right before I began giving it to her, and after 1 day of the new stuff, she was all better. It has also been the best for constipation problems (I usually add one extra ounce of water anyway). Since you fear allergies with your son, this brand of milk might be great for him. I have 3 daughters, all who have been on Good Start, and they all have done great with less gas, and spit-ups. May I suggest a bottle brand for you too? After trying 4 different bottle brands and types with my first daughter, I found (and have always used since) Playtex Vent Air, and have for all of my daughters. Their design helps eliminate a lot of the air the baby intakes while feeding, and so reduces spit up, and gas. They also just came out with an improved new model of the bottle, which is just as great as the last, if not better. They clean so much easier than other bottles, because they open at the bottom, and so you don't have to be worried about old milk sticking to the bottle. The Vent-Air bottles combined with the Good Start milk, your baby should be the happiest baby ever! Just make sure to buy the large bottles for the baby, the little hungry eater. :o) Good Luck!
P.S. Remember that your baby may be going through quick, back-to-back growth-spurts, and that makes him more hungry during those times.