Weaning from Breastfeeding to Formula and Solid Food
For Babies 0 to 6 months old
Weaning may be defined as the process of introducing a baby to formula and solid food and reducing the intake of breast milk. This process begins when a baby is given anything other than breast milk. “Anything” could be formula, cereal, fruits and mashed vegetables.
How fast the transition takes place depends a lot on how eager baby is when you introduce him to new food. Rushing a baby is not necessary since up until 6 months of age, all of your baby’s nutritional needs can be met by either breast milk or formula. It is only when a baby goes beyond 6 months that solid food becomes an important part of a baby’s diet.
Weaning from breastfeeding to formula should be done with the guidance of your pediatrician to find out what kind of formula is best for your baby, especially if allergies run in your family. Switching from breast milk to formula feeds should also be done gradually so that baby can have enough time to learn how to drink milk from a bottle.
When is the right time to introduce solid food to your baby? It is highly recommended not to feed baby solid food before he reaches four months old (or 17 weeks of age). Doing so increases his chances of contracting some of the following conditions:
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Skin Allergies and Asthma. Giving him solid food in a very early stage may give him a higher chance of getting eczema (itching skin allergy) and asthma.
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Food allergies. He can also get early allergies from certain foods like cow’s milk, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and some cereals. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, colic, and itching or swelling of his lips, tongue and throat – which can be life-threatening at times.
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Kidney problems. If your baby is given very salty food at an early age, his kidneys may develop complications as most of his body functions are not fully-developed yet.
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Tummy problems. Aside from allergies, your baby may not make enough enzymes to break down lactose (from cow’s milk) and other food components. If he has trouble digesting, this could lead to possible excess gas, stomach pains, diarrhea and vomiting.
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Weight gain. A baby can become obese too. He can get more calories and (for now) unnecessary fats from his new food that his body stores it as body fat.
But this doesn’t mean that you should delay the introduction of solid food and leave it out late either. It’s best to be guided by your baby’s readiness. Most doctors recommend introducing solids when baby is 4 to 6 months old.
Initially, when you start giving baby solid foods, you may want to give him iron-enriched baby cereals. Aside from being easy to prepare, it’s also something that you can have in very small servings. Your baby will be eating very little as she masters how to get food off of a spoon.
When starting your baby on solids, here are some things you need to prepare:
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Gather the “baby things”. Make a list and check if you have everything you need to feeding baby: baby bowls, spoons, sippy (non-spill) cups, bibs, food blender or food grinder (to process new foods), and a high chair (for baby to sit on while feeding and to help facilitate good eating habits). Also have mats or newspapers around the chair to keep your floor food-free.
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Give baby home-cooked foods. Cook foods well before giving them to baby. Do not add corn syrup, salt and sugar to the food. NEVER feed honey to a baby less than 12 months old as it contains a germ that can possibly cause botulism (food poisoning that causes inability to breathe and even temporary paralysis).
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If you are still breastfeeding at this stage, don’t forget to breastfeed. You still need to breastfeed at least 4 times a day. If you are using formula, your baby will need around 20 fl.oz. of milk daily on top of his solid food.
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Take it slow. Some babies learn to eat quickly; others take much slower. Remember, he’s exploring a new world, learning different sensations like touch, smell and taste as these are all interrelated. He will also learn how to swallow real food, as swallowing milk is a different thing. Let baby learn at his own pace.
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One at a time. Give baby small amounts of food, then you can increase it slowly over the next feedings. Let him get used to one kind of new food first. After a couple of days, try introducing a new one. Observe if the new foods give him any problem or irritation for you to recognize if he’s developed a certain aversion or allergy to it.
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Is he still hungry? Give him some more, but not too much. Be guided by your baby. Likewise, if he seems full and doesn't want to take another spoonfull of his food, don't force him to finish off his place.
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Let him eat what you usually eat. This teaches the baby not to be choosy with foods in later life. Also, this sets him up for a later routine – eating with the family during mealtimes. Of course, initially, you want to prepare an unseasoned version of your family meals and puree or mash it before you give it to your baby.
Breastfeeding is best for baby at this age, so if you can continue to breastfeed, we highly encourage that you do. But if you can’t, weaning from breastfeeding to formula and to solids should be done gradually so that the transition will go smoothly for you and your baby.
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