How to Switch Your Baby From Breast Milk to Formula
For reasons of health or convenience, some mothers want to wean their babies from breast milk to baby formula, but they don't know how to make the transition. There are several types of formula available for you to choose from. Some are soy-based and some are milk-based. Others are enriched with iron or are organic. You can follow a few easy steps to switch your baby from breast milk to formula.
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Instructions
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Purchase your supplies. You'll need a breast pump, bottles and formula for your baby. Playtex nursers are considered a good choice for moms who both breast- and bottle-feed because the nipples are designed to simulate sucking patterns associated with breastfeeding.
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Pump and store breast milk. La Leche League provides guidelines for breast milk storage.
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If you haven't already, introduce your baby to the bottle. Start by feeding your baby the pumped breast milk during the morning feed, when he'll be hungry and may be more likely to drink from the bottle. Having someone other than you offer the bottle may be more successful.
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Start mixing formula with your breast milk in the bottle for feedings. Start with a ratio of 3/4 breast milk to 1/4 prepared formula and increase the ratio of formula to breast milk over the course of two weeks, until your baby is drinking 100 percent formula.
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Tips & Warnings
Having your spouse introduce the bottle may prove more successful because your baby doesn't associate him with the breast.
Pay attention to how your baby tolerates formula. A skin rash, irritability or diarrhea can be an indication of an allergy to the formula.
Your baby may have a change in bowel movements as his digestive system adjusts to processing formula instead of breast milk.
Cow's milk is not appropriate for children under age 1.
Soy milk and rice milk are not appropriate for babies. Dairy-based formulas and milks are best for babies because it is most like breast milk and are easy for a baby to digest.
Resources
- Photo Credit baby's bottle image by Georgios Alexandris from Fotolia.com
