Articles and Advice: Your Baby 6-12 Months

There are many reasons why you may choose to supplement breastfeeding. Some of these may include:

• Returning to work and finding it inconvenient to pump your milk or to breastfeed there
• Physical or medical reasons that require you to do so
• Deciding that you want to start weaning your baby

If you are breastfeeding and want to introduce formula, it is best to establish exclusive breastfeeding beforehand. Once you have decided to use formula, introduce it slowly by offering one to two feedings a day. Remember that your breast milk production is based on the law of supply and demand. The more you breastfeed, the more milk you will produce. If you offer more feedings by bottle and less nursing, your milk production will decrease.

Before you start weaning, you should also decide which formula you will use.

According to Health Canada, if an infant is not breastfed, or is partially breastfed, commercial formulas are the most acceptable alternative to breast milk until 9 to 12 months of age.

The use of nutritionally incomplete alternate milks as the sole source of nutrition for infants is inappropriate. Pasteurized whole cow’s milk, however, is an important component of a mixed infant diet after 9 months of age. For infant unable to take cow’s milk products, continue commercial soy formula until 2 years of age.

Introducing formula to my baby

Reference:
http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/init/kids-enfants/care-soins/nutrition-alimentation/index-eng.php