Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Start Your Baby On Fresh Milk

Switching to whole milk can be an exciting milestone. It mean's your little one is growing into a toddler, but you don't want to do it too soon because your baby's tummy may not be ready for it. However, if it is the right time, cow's milk has calcium that your baby's body needs. Yet he may not agree and could reject the taste. If so, getting your little one to transition to milk might be quite the battle.


Instructions








Cup Introduction


1. Wait until your child is 1-year-old. According to Dr. B.D. Schmitt, MD, at C.S. Mott's Children's Hospital, fresh milk, or whole cow's milk should not be given to babies before 12 months of age due to increased risks such as iron deficiency anemia and allergies.


2. Pour one part whole milk with two parts formula or breast milk in a sippy cup. Mix well. You may have to start out with smaller amounts of milk if your baby does not like the taste.


3. Increase the amount of whole milk every couple of days. By the end of the week there should be no formula or breast milk remaining in the bottle.


Food Introduction


4. Mix rice or oatmeal baby cereal in a bowl with warm whole milk until it is the consistency of soup. It should be more milk than cereal.


5. Feed your baby spoonfuls of the cereal mixture at meal time or as a treat. Avoid flavored oatmeal or cereal because you want your baby to learn to like the taste of the milk and not the sugar in the cereal.


6. Increase the amount of milk daily until you are spoon feeding your baby only milk. Transfer the milk into a sippy cup.

Tags: whole milk, your baby, breast milk, formula breast, formula breast milk, Increase amount