Milk Intake: Your Breastfed Baby at 12-36 months

As a Lactation Consultant, my main clients are mothers whose babies are under 12 months of age, so when looking for information for my daughter-in-law, I found it hard to find anything on milk intake for babies older than 12 months.  After doing some research, I have come to the following conclusion that I thought I would share with all moms.

Babies who are 12-24 months of age and weigh 20 lbs or more should take in 16-20 oz of milk; more if they are underweight. Normal weight gain during this period is 2 oz per week. A typical schedule would be nursing or feeding expressed milk 4 x daily, feeding solids 3 x daily with one or two healthy snacks in between. If you are weaning to cows milk, it should be whole milk unless advised otherwise by your pediatrician.  For toddlers 2-3 years or age, typical milk intake is 3 servings or nursings per day. After 24 months, most pediatricians recommend switching to 2% milk if you have weaned from breast milk. Toddlers 24-36 months should gain approximately 1 oz per week and eat 3 meals per day with one healthy snack.

Between the ages of 12-24 months, toddlers can still get about 15 oz per day from nursing. These 15 oz provide the following RDA: 29% of energy, 43% protein, 36% calcium, 75% vitamin A, 76% folate, 94% vitamin B12, and 60% of Vit C so if you are pressured to wean before you or your baby is ready, stand your ground, even if it is in the snow!

Happy Nurturing,
Tanya
www.amamante.com

Weaning: Gradual & Partial

There are many considerations when deciding to wean your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at least one year. If you choose to wean before one year, first make sure your baby tolerates other foods well. Next absolutely, positively, do not wean cold turkey. Before you wean, consider your alternatives such as pumping at work or partial weaning. Partial weaning works well when a baby is older than 4 months. Moms can choose to use formula during the day while at work and still nurse in the morning and at night. This only works after milk supply is well established which is why you should wait until at least 4 months of age before employing this method and always follow the same schedule seven days per week. You cannot put the baby to the breast in the middle of the day, if you have weaned that feeding. Whether you choose to partially wean of fully wean, drop one feeding every three to five days. For example, if you are nursing 8 times per day, drop one feeding in the middle of the day, substitute formula, and continue that schedule for at least three days. At the end of the three days, if your breast have no plugged ducts or pain, you can drop a second feeding. If you feel discomfort, wait until the 5th day to drop another feeding. You continue dropping on feeding every 3-5 days until all feeding are dropped. After the last feeding is stopped, you may need to nurse or pump one or both breast a final time within the next week to make yourself comfortable. One pumping or nursing in a 24 hour period will not increase your milk supply and helps to alleviate any discomfort. This method is slow, but pain free. Sudden weaning can lead to clogged milk ducts, breast infections and even breast abscess. Both you and baby will be happy with gradual weaning.

Don't be misled by advice that tell you to bind yourself.  If you need to expedite weaning, cold cabbage leaves in your bra replaced every hour can help, but make sure you listen to your body and if it is talking to you by means of pain, you are weaning too quickly and you will need to nurse or express milk if you are feeling lumps.  If you have chills, fever or flu-like symptoms, call your doctor right away.

Best wishes for painless weaning,
Tanya