Weaning from breast..how Much Formula?

Updated on May 22, 2007
S.S. asks from La Grange, IL
6 answers

Hi, I am just starting to wean my 10 month old from the breast. He currently nurses 4 times per day (upon waking in AM, after AM nap, after PM nap and before bed). We are starting with one of the 2 mid-day feedings, so he gets one bottle a day right now. He is a pretty good eater. He has the equivialant of 2 jars of baby food (approx 8oz) three times a day. My question is, how much should he be drinking a day? I have read anywhere between 24-32oz per day. I obviously don't know how much he gets while breast feeding, but he only nurses of one side (except at bedtime), which he has pretty much always done since birth. He gets the sippy cup with meals of water, sometimes juice, but that is only maybe an ounce. Should I not worry? He poops often and daily, and has no signs of dehydration. If I had to guess, I think he drinks approx 20-24 oz/day. When he takes his bottle he drinks 5-6 oz., occasionly he will drink more.

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C.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like he is doing absolutely fine! 5-6 oz. bottles as he takes is just fine, especially when he's having 8 oz. of food with it. At 10 months, he's transitioning his PRIMARY nutrition being from food as opposed to the bottle. Sounds like he is doing absolutely fine. :) Just keep going with what he wants and try not to worry about the ounces. Oh, I think it was at the 12 month and 15 month checkups that the peds said they shouldn't have more than 24 ounces of milk a day because then they are not eating enough food. Your son is getting to that age, so somewhere AROUND 24 ounces a day sounds perfect. Sounds like you guys are doing great! :)

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J.R.

answers from Chicago on

I would actually call your ped and ask.
DO you pump?Do you know how much you pump when you do? Also, so he gets enough iron and calcium make sure you are mixing it with his cereal.
I would replace that weaned breast feeding with a bottle. Start with maybe an 8 oz bottle. let him drink as much as he wants, but don't force him to finish it. When he shows disinterest, or fullness, stop even if he hasn't come anywhere near finishing. If he only ever finished 6 oz, then you know to only make a 6 oz bottle.

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P.D.

answers from Chicago on

S.:

As I said on another post.. cow's milk is not necessary in the human beings diet... water is ample for hydration.

It is difficult to know how much a person needs... your sons urine first thing in the morning should be light in color and not have a strong oder.. if that is the case he is appropriately hydrated.

P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com

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M.E.

answers from Chicago on

my 7 month old usually eats about 7 oz at a feeding. he is on the same schedule as your boy, 3 feedings a day. But every child is different and if hes eating/drinking, peeing, pooping normal, and has a normal weight gain he's doing fine.

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

Why not just hold out for a couple more months and avoid formula all together. You can start on cow's milk after 12 months!

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K.

answers from Chicago on

You may not want to hear this, but why not just wait another 2 months and skip the formula altogether? It's expensive and you've made it this far, so you might as well just finish the job and pat yourself on the back for a job well done :)

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